When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
An original 5x7" vintage photo (NOT a modern reprint) from the Marty Himes estate.
Provenance: This photograph comes directly from the Marty Himes Racing Museum Collection, assembled over decades by Marty Himes - racer, restorer, and lifelong archivist of American racing. Every piece he preserved tells part of the story of motorsport’s rise from dirt tracks to the spectacle of the Indy 500. We acquired the majority of his photo collection after his passing. Many of his photos are extremely rare or even one of a kind.
Photo Overview
Easy-going Indy 500 rookie Jerry Sneva relaxes in his garage at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, eating breakfast on race morning in May 1977. Seated in a folding chair in casual striped polo, bell-bottom pants, and Adidas sneakers, Sneva looks up from his plate toward the photographer, capturing a candid behind-the-scenes moment from the 1977 Indianapolis 500, taken just before he went out to compete and secure Rookie of the Year honors.
Jerry Sneva was the younger brother of 1983 Indianapolis 500 winner Tom Sneva, and he made his own mark at Indianapolis by finishing 10th in his debut in 1977 and earning the prestigious Indy 500 Rookie of the Year award. Candid garage shots from the 1970s Indianapolis 500 are popular with IndyCar historians and collectors because they show the human side of drivers on one of the sport's most pressure-packed days. Add this original Marty Himes Museum photo of Jerry Sneva to your collection today before another dedicated Indy 500 fan grabs it.
Text Present
Front - no printed text, only image.
Back - stamped at top:
INDIANAPOLIS
Back - date stamp:
MAY 29 1977
Back - printed credit text:
Any reproduction of this photo must bear credit line
Arnie deBrier
Back - handwritten caption:
'ROOKIE OF THE YEAR'
EASY GOING JERRY SNEVA
ENJOYS A LEISURELY
BREAKFAST IN HIS
GARAGE BEFORE
'GOING RACING'
Print analysis: Original single-weight fiber-based black and white photo paper with period Indianapolis date stamp (May 29 1977) and photographer credit line for Arnie deBrier indicates a contemporary print made for track or press use during the 1977 Indianapolis 500, consistent with a Type 1 original photo.
Condition: Please see scans of the image we have provided for the most accurate and complete state of the photo. Many of the photos in this collection are very old and have age related wear, chips, creases, curling, etc. Others are remarkably well maintained.
