The Motor Racing Archives of Peter Helck to Become Available on VanderbiltCupRaces.com
Jerry and Timothy Helck have issued this press release concerning the motor racing archives of artist and historian Peter Helck.
Thank you Jerry and Tim!
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
The Motor Racing Archives of Peter Helck to Become Available on VanderbiltCupRaces.com
Jerry Helck and his son Timothy Helck are pleased to announce that the motor racing archives of artist and historian Peter Helck (1893-1988) have been donated to the Howard Kroplick Collection. The archives consist of letters to and from racing car drivers and other people involved in auto racing, photographs of historic cars and people, racing programs, news clippings, posters, artifacts and other materials related to the history of motor sport.
Howard Kroplick, town historian of North Hempstead, is a noted authority on the Vanderbilt Cup Races and the Long Island Motor Parkway. He will maintain the Helck Family Collection and allow access to the original documents to automotive historians and scholars in Roslyn, New York. It is planned that many of the important documents and photos will be digitized and placed on the award-winning website VanderbiltCupRaces.com and peterhelck.com. Howard can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at 516-625-0123.
Jerry Helck (left) and Howard Kroplick
Examples of the Helck Family Collection
To be featured in future VanderbiltCupRaces.com posts
Correspondence
Photos
Friday, June 30, 1950 at Montlhery, France. Smith Hempstone Oliver and Louis Wagner, the winner of the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race. Briggs Cunningham can be standing at the left.
Peter Helck caption: Barney's thanks to me for my partly successful effort to retrieve his scrapbooks from an unscrupulous witer who "intended to write B.O.'s biography."
George Robertson and Peter Helck in Old 16
Henry Austin Clark, Jr. and Joe Tracy at Bridgehampton
Pamphlets, Brochures and Programs
Comments
Howard,
This is grand news indeed. I’m sure the archive will have found a safe and accessible home, even better that you plan to digitize much of the contents so that people all over the world may share its delights. I’m sure all your website readers will look forward to the results of your labours.
With greetings from the UK, Stuart
What a thrill to have the Helck collection available. Thank You Helck Family and Howard Kroplick.
Congratulations that is so amazing and wonderful.
This is wonderful news, Howard. Congratulations on having the honor to be the caretaker of so much history.
I have one of the reproduction posters of the October 2, 1948 Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, signed to me by that events driving force, Cameron Argetsinger, hanging on the wall next to me as I write this. Helck’s talent is simply amazing. I love that you will be digitizing his works!
Congratulations on being chosen for this distinct honor!
Great !!!
I am always impressed when the paintings of Peter Helck would be displayed on your website, Howard. The detail of his works concerning the LIMP is better in my mind than an old photograph. I’m sure his family is delighted that the illustrations will be on display here. Art was my strength when I was younger, but didn’t keep at it. Peter Helck lived to be 95. He was doing something right. We look forward to his collections!
Bravo! What a great gesture on the part of the Helck family, and what a coup for you, Howard.
There was no better automotive artist than Peter Helck!
Bravo Howard and thank you Mr. Helck for sharing these gems. I think not a better place for these captions to be displayed for the world to educate and learn from. Where would we be without the auto today? Your dad had something positive in mind that I believe he knew its outcome, eventually displayed for all to see. Thank you all for the efforts, and keeping this important history alive. Priceless stuff guys!
Howard, Great news.