Motor Sport collection: Signed of the times - 50 years of WRC

Signed Commemorative World Rally Championship print

The year is 1973, and January’s Monte Carlo Rally is about to blast into life to kick-start a run of 13 events that would take the top crews everywhere from Europe to the US and Africa. The inaugural WRC was quite a spectacle, and Jean-Claude Andruet’s win for Alpine on the Monte set up a title-winning campaign for the French brand (there was no drivers’ title then – that arrived in 1977).

Fifty years on the WRC is still rocking, and what better way to mark the half-centenary than this epic Automobilist offering. Limited to eight copies, it’s signed by 17 notable drivers or co-drivers representing the golden years of ‘maximum attack’ on the special stages… Those included are (deep breath): Ari Vatanen, Michèle Mouton, Fabrizia Pons, Miki Biasion, Luis Moya, Tina Thörner, Louise Aitken-Walker, Carlos Sainz Sr, Nicky Grist, Isolde Holderied, Derek Ringer, Robert Reid, Marcus Grönholm, Petter Solberg, Sébastien Loeb, Ott Tänak and Sébastien Ogier.

Phew. Get your order in fast! £1241

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Pocher Lotus 72D model kit

With the racing season coming to a close, many of us need something to fill the void before things get going again. That’s why this super-detailed model kit from Pocher is perfect for whiling away hours, days, even weeks at your kitchen table. Comprising over 800 parts, construct your very own homage to the Cosworth DFV-powered Lotus 72D that Emerson Fittipaldi took to five grand prix wins and the 1972 world championship. When completed it measures a hefty 523x235mm (1:8 scale). £789.99
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Graham Turner Benetton print

Elsewhere in this issue you can discover more about the superb story of the Benetton F1 team – but while you’re on this page, here’s Graham Turner’s artwork depicting Giancarlo Fisichella tearing round Monaco in his 1998 B198. The Italian would score one of the team’s last podiums – Benetton drivers would appear on the rostrum just six more times after this before the team name disappeared after 2001. £95
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Nigel Mansell signed pencil print

If you’re after an artwork with a truly unique twist, check out some of Emma Capener’s work. She takes a humble photograph and, using pencils, elevates
it to a whole new level of atmospheric beauty.
This limited edition print focuses simply on Nigel Mansell during his victorious 1992 campaign and shows him ready for action aboard his Williams FW14B. Limited to 92 copies, each is numbered
and signed by Capener. £399.50
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SS Jaguar 100 book

Fancy discovering more about one of the sport’s lesser-known historical heroes? This book focuses on the 1935 SS Jaguar (SS standing for Williams Lyons’ Swallow Sidecars before it morphed into Jaguar). The subject found fame thanks to husband-and-wife team Tommy and Elsie Wisdom’s perfect run in the 1936 International Alpine Trial. Covering the history of chassis 18008, it casts new light on one of the sport’s early stars. £35
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The Expert View

F1’s forgotten clubs

Let’s talk about a little-known corner of the collectibles market, one that risks being almost entirely forgotten – which also makes it so appealing. I’m speaking about Formula 1 drivers’ clubs.

Now, these weren’t some clandestine, ritual-rich occasions during which drivers were sworn in, swaddled in robes. These were more light-hearted social groups that came about in less commercialised times.

Way before the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, there was the Club International des Anciens Pilotes de Grand Prix F1, which catered for current and retired F1 drivers. With only around 300 members it was super-exclusive, and therefore anything to do with it is like a history of sporting society at the time.

Founded by Louis Chiron in 1962, with Stirling Moss as its inaugural president, the club would put on functions for drivers all around the world, building to an AGM (boozy party) usually in Monaco. In 2012 a wonderful limited-edition book was published by the club celebrating 50 years – The First 50 Years of a Small but Exclusive Club. It’s one of my prized possessions, signed by Stirling. It captures the atmosphere and achievements of the club and its members.

Club artefacts are hugely collectible within the right circles. Membership cards, yearbooks, car badges… all these things were produced as sidelines, so they have sky-high appeal to the right people. Clubs like this are fading from memory, but their appeal comes roaring back for anybody willing to discover their stories.

Another paddock-associated club is the Dog House Owners’ Club, which was formed by the wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers (named by Betty Brabham, when Jack got in trouble!). This is a charitable, fundraising sort of coffee club, of which Bette Hill was a driving force. They produced decorative plates and keyrings, which have become highly sought-after.

These are the sort of pieces that many people don’t spot, or even know about, but to those interested in the history of the drivers and personalities of the sport, they can mean the world.

Andrew Francis is director at The Signature Store, thesignaturestore.co.uk

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