For you history guys, and I guess that means all of us since we are here, this is a neat deal. It's an e-book on Speedweeks at Daytona 1969. The pictures are from Don Hunter who was an outstanding photographer who has passed on.At only 10 bucks, it has a lot to offer.
http://store.blurb.com/ebooks/384506-speedweeks
I talked to the author, Don Smyle, Tuesday night at a NCMA mixer in Mooresville. He has a tremendous respect for the history of the sport being preserved and some more projects on the drawing board. Check out some of his work at www.smyle media.com.
Don is a member here though he doesn't post often anymore. Agreed Randy. Really into the history of racing. And he has been super to me individually. He has given me permission on more than once to share a photo in my Petty history blog posts. In some cases, he dug deep into his archives to find and share a photo rarely if ever seen before. I commend him for his business in (1) helping maintain the history and (2) having a company to help distribute works by photogs such as Don Hunter.
Bryan's work is great too - though not included in Smyle's new e-book. For the limited life of its web existence, some of Bryan's work was shared on Rick Houston's StockCarHistoryOnline.com.
The late Don Hunter was an outstanding photographer. For many years he was chief photographer at Charlotte Motor Speedway. When Bruton Smith agreed to build the new Cup garage compound at Charlotte, Don did a tremendous amount of experimentation before the lighting system was installed in the garage complex to assure the very best quality light for photography. Don did a lot of work to insure photo professionalism at NASCAR events, including having darkrooms in the Charlotte infield media center and having a dedicated professional photographer's compound on site at CMS.
Don Hunter (photo & writeup courtesy of Octane Press)
Don Hunter's iconic images span nearly 50 years of stock car racing and represent a Hall of Fame roster; Lee Petty, Curtis Turner, Fireball Roberts, Richard Petty, Fred Lorenzen, David Pearson, Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Darrell Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt to name only a few. He spent a lifetime documenting the men, machines and rarely seen moments that fueled this American obsession. His images capture the emotions, drama and determination that unfolded each weekend at tracks around the nation. One of the true legends of racing photography, Don's body of work is timeless.
Born in Asheville, NC Don was an avid racing fan from an early age. Shortly after his discharge from the Navy Don began documenting the exploits of some of NASCAR's early pioneers on the dusty dirt tracks surrounding his hometown. Lexington, North Wilkesboro, Greenville-Pickens and Asheville-Weaverville were some of his early favorites. There he watched as men like Curtis Turner, Lee Petty, Cotton Owens and Ralph Earnhardt began driving careers that would turn them into legends.
In 1954, Don began work at the local Asheville paper. He spent countless hours working in the darkroom where Don learned first hand the importance of lighting and the art of photo developing. These early experiences would create a style that made his images instantly recognizable. Don would eventually get his shot as a photographer for the paper where his talent was quickly recognized, winning a national photo competition. Although he would cover numerous stories while working for the paper, Dons true passion was motorsports photography. In 1959 he went to work for the Charlotte News (Charlotte Observer) where his career and his reputation continued to flourish.
During his career Don found himself covering a multitude of stories and events around the United States including celebrity appearances, cultural events and even Presidents. Don's reputation continued to grow, as did the personal acknowledgments. Numerous awards for his growing body of work inspired Don to excellence. Always captivated by the human condition, many of Don's most noted images document the character and intense emotion of his subject. A knack for being in the right place at the right time often found Don in position to capture compelling moments as they unfolded. This skill would lead to his highest honor.
Don retired from the newspaper business after a 29-year career and soon accepted a position as Director of Photography for the Charlotte Motor Speedway. He also continued his work with nearly every major racing publication in the United States, including his long term relationship with Car & Driver. He worked for Chrysler and was 7-time Champion Richard Petty's official photographer during his final season in 1992.
After a lifetime as one of the premier photographers in the country, Don "unofficially" retired in 2001. His vast archive continues to yield treasures that evoke emotion and offers a glimpse into the past. Although Don passed away in 2008, there is little doubt that his enormous body of work will continue to inspire, captivate and educated people for many years to come. His images are as relevant today as the day they were captured.
