Peter Helck
Encyclopedia
Peter Helck was an American illustrator
who specialized in depicting racecars. He estimated that he had produced more than 600 sketches, drawings and paintings during his career. Helck developed an early interest in automobiles, and as a boy caught rides with the race car driver who tested Simplex
cars. He attended the Vanderbilt Cup
on Long Island
in 1906. He studied art in New York City
, where he could observe the new automobiles displayed in showrooms. His first sale was to the Brighton Beach
Motordrome, and he was soon receiving commissions from the Sheepshead Bay
Speedway.
Helck worked for many of the major automobile magazines, in particular The Autocar
, which took him to England
and to major races in France
and Italy
. In the 1930s Helck was commissioned by the Sinclair Oil
Company to produce a large format road map. This map did much to build Sinclair's reputation and to promote driving for pleasure.
In the mid 1940s he was commissioned by Esquire magazine for eight paintings depicting early motor racing. These did much to further interest in the old car hobby.
In 1941 Helck acquired the famous Locomobile
Old 16 racecar, which had won the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup, the first American-made car to win a race against international competition. Helck kept the car in its original paint. Old 16 was given to Helck's son Jerry, who later sold it to the Henry Ford Museum.
Helck was one of the founding faculty for the Famous Artists School
. He also wrote and illustrated many articles, along with two books, The Checkered Flag and Great Auto Races.
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
who specialized in depicting racecars. He estimated that he had produced more than 600 sketches, drawings and paintings during his career. Helck developed an early interest in automobiles, and as a boy caught rides with the race car driver who tested Simplex
Crane-Simplex
Not to be confused with American SimplexCrane-Simplex is a defunct car manufacturer, operating in New York City, USA at the beginning of the 20th century.-History:...
cars. He attended the Vanderbilt Cup
Vanderbilt Cup
The Vanderbilt Cup was the first major trophy in American auto racing.-History:An international event, it was founded by William Kissam Vanderbilt II in 1904 and first held at a course set out in Nassau County on Long Island, New York. The announcement that the race was to be held caused...
on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
in 1906. He studied art in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he could observe the new automobiles displayed in showrooms. His first sale was to the Brighton Beach
Brighton Beach
Brighton Beach is an oceanside neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. As of 2000, it has a population of 75,692 with a total of 31,228 households.-Location:...
Motordrome, and he was soon receiving commissions from the Sheepshead Bay
Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn
Sheepshead Bay is a bay separating the mainland of Brooklyn, New York City from the eastern portion of Coney Island, the latter originally a barrier island but now effectively an extension of the mainland with peninsulas both east and west...
Speedway.
Helck worked for many of the major automobile magazines, in particular The Autocar
Autocar
Autocar is a weekly British automobile magazine published by Haymarket Motoring Publications Ltd. It refers to itself as "The World's oldest car magazine".-History:...
, which took him to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and to major races in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. In the 1930s Helck was commissioned by the Sinclair Oil
Sinclair Oil
Sinclair Oil Corporation is an American petroleum corporation, founded by Harry F. Sinclair on May 1, 1916 as the Sinclair Oil & Refining Corporation by combining the assets of 11 small petroleum companies. Originally a New York corporation, Sinclair Oil reincorporated in Wyoming in 1976...
Company to produce a large format road map. This map did much to build Sinclair's reputation and to promote driving for pleasure.
In the mid 1940s he was commissioned by Esquire magazine for eight paintings depicting early motor racing. These did much to further interest in the old car hobby.
In 1941 Helck acquired the famous Locomobile
Locomobile
The Locomobile Company of America was an automobile manufacturer founded in 1899. For the first two years it was located in Watertown, Massachusetts, but production was transferred to Bridgeport, Connecticut during 1900 where it remained until the company's demise in 1929...
Old 16 racecar, which had won the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup, the first American-made car to win a race against international competition. Helck kept the car in its original paint. Old 16 was given to Helck's son Jerry, who later sold it to the Henry Ford Museum.
Helck was one of the founding faculty for the Famous Artists School
Famous Artists School
Famous Artists School has offered correspondence courses in art since it was founded in 1948 in Westport, Connecticut, U.S.A. The idea was conceived by Albert Dorne as a result of a conversation with Norman Rockwell...
. He also wrote and illustrated many articles, along with two books, The Checkered Flag and Great Auto Races.