This site has been up exactly six months on Christmas Day and I want to thank everyone who has written to say that they liked it. Many of you have added wonderful information about the people featured here. Others have been searching for information about your fathers or grandfathers who raced. I have treasured getting to know all of you and look forward to continuing our relationship in 2007. This is my dad's Christmas card from about 1938. To see other period cards from the racing fraternity, read on.
Photographic Christmas cards were very popular in the 1930's and 1940's and they were often home made. Kodak produced special photo papers with various textures and the distinctive "deckled edges" that added a custom look. I found these cards among my dad's things and they offer a glimpse of how much members of the racing fraternity lived and breathed the sport. Enjoy them and my best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year.
Al and Nora Blixt at Christmas in the late 1930's. (photo and card by Al Blixt, Sr.)
Ann and Andy Barto's card from the late 1940's. Andy and his brothers-in-law, Vic & Frank Ianelli and Jim Capello, bought Detroit's Motor City Speedway after WWII and made it a legend for mid-West racing until it closed in the late 1950's. (photo and card by Al Blixt, Sr.)
Driving great Sam Hanks sends holiday greetings, probably about 1940. There is, no doubt, someone out there who will recognize the car and can tell us the year. (photographer not identified)
George Vargo was a fabulous racing photographer and a good friend of my father. He took over photographing after my dad assumed the duties of Program Director at Motor City after the war. This photo shows action at Motor City and is from about 1947. (Photo and card by Vargo)
Another card from another year by George Vargo. I am not sure who the driver is but from the smoke coming from the cockpit, it was not a good moment for him. (Photo and card by Vargo)
Merry Christmas and a real happy new year to you and your family. The cards are interesting. One of my former drivers Jerry Nemire always has a race theme card.
Posted by: Edward J.Graf | December 23, 2006 at 02:28 PM