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An original 7x5" vintage photo 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. Professionally packaged in a rigid mailer for safe delivery.
Photo Overview
Sam Hanks sits in the cockpit of the black number 3 sprint car, posed on a dirt track in this early American oval racing photograph from the Floral Park, New York area, shot by Long Island racing photographer A. J. McCardle and preserved in the Marty Himes Racing Museum Collection.
Sam Hanks was one of America’s great open wheel stars, winning the 1957 Indianapolis 500 and earning induction into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America and the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame. Before Indy glory he honed his craft on dirt ovals in cars just like this, helping define the rough and daring style of mid century sprint car racing that influenced generations of drivers. Serious collectors know that scarce original McCardle/Himes images of Hanks almost never surface, so add this one to your collection now before another enthusiast does.
Print analysis:
Single weight fiber photographic paper with period A. J. McCardle studio stamp and contemporary pencil identification of Sam Hanks indicate an original darkroom print from the photographer. The style of car, helmet, and tone of the print point to late 1930s to early 1940s production, within a few years of the negative date, making this a Type 1 original photo, likely printed c1940s.
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.
