Short account of a long journey

The journey started in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, with a teenage birthday present of a plastic Kodak 127 camera. With my father, it accompanied me to races at St Albans, East London and other club events. I would bicycle to St Albans in time to visit the pits before racing.

In 1961 the plastic Kodak went with me to the UK. Just before returning home a year later, I bought a Russian 35 mm camera from an impoverished Australian for five quid and in a hectic round used it at Brands, Goodwood, Aintree and the Isle of Man.

None of these photographs is a masterpiece, and only after a fair bit of soul searching did I include them in this collection. But their historical interest is evidenced by the surprising number I’ve sold, so take a close look: the gem you have sought may well be here.

Back in South Africa, a succession of Minolta cameras recorded an enjoyable few years in the 1960s when I raced mostly at club level in an Anglia. With that over, I could afford a Minolta 101 SLR and a 135 mm lens. Telephoto heaven! By then I was in the erstwhile Transvaal and helping the Sports Car Club on race days at Kyalami in the press room. This meant I couldn’t really watch the races, but I had free run of the pits and track during practices and when off duty, and attended the presentations afterwards.

Today I’ve switched to digital photography like everyone else, but making the magic of yesterday’s motor racing accessible to you with the magic of today’s technology has been my passion. Enjoy the results!

David Pearson