A signed photograph of Mike Hawthorn at the wheel of a Ferrari Silverstone, 1958. Part of a collection of Motor racing memorabillia being offered for auction on Tuesday, 26th September 2012 at Honiton, Devon. Estimate: £300-£500.
A unique single owner archive of motor racing from the late 1950s through to the early 1960s has been consigned to Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood for their Specialist Sporting and Collectors sale of 26th September 2012. Photographs of some of the greatest names in motor sport such as Farina, Ascari, Fangio, Moss, Hawthorn and Collins driving at Silverstone, Spa and the Nurbergring are amongst many other original photographs taken by racing enthusiast Max Werner.
Born in Eschwege in Germany, Max Werner loved cars from a very early age. Combining his passion for motor racing and his hobby of photography, he began documenting race meetings, beginning with the 1951 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, where he caught a very youthful Stirling Moss in the paddock at the wheel of his Cooper 500.
Max Werner began his own racing career in 1958 at an International Sportcar meeting at the Nurburgring in a Mercedes 300sl. Competing in numerous national events across the Continent in a 300sl and subsequently a 4.2 litre Jaguar E –type, he achieved 1st Place at the Rallye Trifels in 1960. In 1962 he finished 15th overall and 2nd in the over 2 litre class at the Nurburgring 1000kms to the Mike Parkes/Willi Mairesse 4 litre Ferrari 250GTO.
An original painting by Roy Nockold (1911-1979) depicting Juan Manuel Fangio at the wheel of a Mercedes W196 with Stirling Moss behind, signed by both racing drivers. Estimate £1,200-£1,500.
Attending and competing in races at this time, Max gathered many mementoes including programmes and trophies from the numerous events in which he competed. Highlights of his collection include a postcard signed by Fangio and Stirling Moss (Estimate: £200-£400), as well as signed photographs of the first British World Champion Mike Hawthorn. Capturing all aspects of the races from the cars and drivers in the pits to the action on track, Max and his wife were present at the fateful 1955 Le Mans only a few hundred yards away from the crowd caught in the debris of Pierre Levegh's crash.
One of two albums of Motor racing photographs dating between 1958-1963 including Spa Silverstone Reims and the fateful 1955 Le Mans. Estimate: £300-500.
Along with many other pieces of motoring memorabilia is an original painting by Roy Nockolds of Fangio and Moss in the Mercedes 196 Silver Arrow during the 1955 season. (Estimate £1,200-£1,500).
A Heuer Rallymaster chronograph and chronometer. Estimate: £600-£800.
Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood are honoured to have the opportunity to present a unique personal archive of perhaps the most important period of motor racing, and share in the passion that it so obviously brought to Max Werner throughout his life.
For further details of the collection please contact Brian Goodison-Blanks:-
Telpehone: (01404) 510000
EMail: Brian Goodison-Blanks
- Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood
- Sporting and Collectors Sale
- Motor Sport
