Special limited-edition Ford Racing history artwork is unveiled at the annual SEMA show as part of the Ford press conference
Famed automotive artist Sam Bass created the artwork at the request of Edsel B. Ford II, with proceeds from sales of limited-edition autographed prints benefiting JDRF
Drivers and Ford race vehicles featured on the special artwork include Henry Ford (Sweepstakes), Trevor Bayne (No. 21 Fusion), Dan Gurney/A.J. Foyt (Ford Mark IV), Bob Glidden (NHRA Thunderbird), Jackie Stewart (Tyrrell F1), Jim Clark (Lotus-Ford Indy car), John Force (NHRA Mustang) and Parnelli Jones (SCCA Mustang)
LAS VEGAS, Oct. 30, 2012 – Just as Ford Racing drivers try to lock down major 2012 championships on the track and consumer holiday shopping begins off the track, Ford Motor Company is unveiling a special limited-edition Ford Racing history print today at the SEMA show that will be sold to benefit JDRF.
This special Sam Bass artwork celebrates Ford’s storied 111-year racing history, with proceeds from the limited-edition prints benefiting JDRF. Commissioned for his private collection by Edsel B. Ford II, great-grandson of Henry Ford, the original artwork dramatically portrays some of the greatest moments in Ford Racing history.
There will be only 500 numbered prints created, all hand-signed by Edsel B. Ford II and Sam Bass, and retailing for $449 on www.fordimages.com. All proceeds from sales will benefit JDRF.
Print No. 1 will be on display at the Ford stand at SEMA, and will be sold as part of a special online auction on eBay. The link to bid on Print No. 1 is http://item.ebay.com/180992921115. Both eBay and Channel Advisor are waiving their fees to support this charitable effort.
In addition, a collectible Fathead® peel-and-stick graphics piece featuring the artwork, Ford and JDRF logos will be available at the Ford merchandise trailer during the show.
The lower center of the artwork, in black-and-white, features Henry Ford himself, on top of his Sweepstakes racer, which he took to an upset win over Alexander Winton, the greatest racer in America, on Oct. 10, 1901. Ford’s victory, with mechanic Spider Huff perched on the side to assist him, helped him gain the investors to start Ford Motor Company in 1903. That race is considered the start of the Ford racing program. Below Ford is a rendering of the cut-glass punch bowl he received for winning that day, a prized racing artifact lost for more than 60 years.
To the left of Ford is the 1965 Indianapolis 500-winning Lotus-Ford 38/1 Indy car driven to victory by Jim Clark. The Lotus-Ford was the first rear-engine car to win Indianapolis and it changed the sport forever. Clark’s victory for team owner Colin Chapman was assisted by NASCAR’s Wood Brothers Racing team, which was brought in by Ford to pit the car that day.
Just above the Lotus is the famous No. 15 Boss Mustang driven by Parnelli Jones to the 1970 SCCA Trans-Am Championship. The late 1960's and early 1970's were considered the golden era of Trans-Am racing, and no car and driver better represent that era than Jones and his Bud Moore-prepared Mustang.
Just above Jones is the NHRA Mustang Funny Car of racing legend John Force. Force drove the Mustang to his record 15th NHRA title in November 2010, coming from behind on the final day to capture a victory for the ages. The championship – at age 61 – was even more special due to the fact Force had fully returned from serious injuries that almost ended his career just three years earlier.
To the right of Force and just below the Ford oval is Elf Team Tyrrell of Jackie Stewart, who took the Ford-powered car to his third and final Formula One World Championship in 1973. Stewart, certainly one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time, scored the final victory of his career with this car in Germany, ending with 27 wins in just 99 starts.
To the right of Stewart’s car is the Motorcraft Ford Fusion of Wood Brothers Racing, the longest-running NASCAR team in history. No. 21 is shown as a new 2013 model NASCAR Fusion at Daytona International Speedway, recalling the Woods’ most recent victory at the 2011 Daytona 500 with Trevor Bayne. That victory was the fifth Daytona 500 win for the Wood Brothers, and Ford’s 600th in NASCAR Sprint Cup.
Below the Fusion is the famous Motorcraft Thunderbird NHRA Pro Stock car of Bob Glidden. Glidden was the king of Pro Stock racing, ending his career with a then-record 85 victories. He also won 10 NHRA Pro Stock championships, including five in a row, with his family race team.
Finally, in the lower right corner is the Ford Mark IV race car that won the 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans. The No. 1 car remains the only all-American car, powered by an American engine, prepared by an American team with American drivers to win Le Mans overall. Racing legends A.J. Foyt and Dan Gurney drove the car to victory, the second of four Ford wins at Le Mans in the late 1960's.
Source: Ford
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