Here’s looking at you, lid
Whether hunting for gifts or buying something for yourself, visit the Motor Sport shop at motorsportmagazine.com/shop where you’ll find a miscellany of track-friendly ideas
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Full-scale replica helmets
Remember the days when drivers were actually identifiable by the scheme of their lid? A helmet design was a part of their brand and legacy. That makes classic racing helmet replicas a big market for both collectors and those seeking a focal point.
We have three full-scale options in the Motor Sport shop. Ayrton Senna’s colours are unforgettable, as was his first F1 victory at Interlagos in 1991. A replica, captures that moment and is complete with all period sponsor logos. A second option is Emerson Fittipaldi’s Café do Brasil design, with the correct ‘glow’ paint. Finally, celebrate F1’s Flying Finn with Mika Häkkinen’s trio of stripes, above – a real head-turner.
Ayrton Senna helmet, £1695; Emerson Fittipaldi and Mika Häkkinen helmets, £2995
Kevin McNicholas Tote bags
Is your run to the shop becoming monotonous and a plastic ‘bag for life’ seeming just too big a commitment? The answer lies with this range of arty tote bags, each bearing a print by F1 painter Kevin McNicholas.
They’re 100% cotton and you can take your choice from Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, Michael Schumacher or Ayrton Senna. Your groceries never looked so good. £14
Studio Bilbey Porsche 934 Poster
It’s a busy market when it comes to racing posters but for those seeking something a little different, give Studio Bilbey a look. Its works fuse classic racing designs with a cool, graphic design twist. Our pick is this epic Porsche design harking back to a Super Cup event at Hockenheim in 1976. Complete with period logos, slogan and a 934 in all its Jägermeister glory, it’s just wonderful. Available in three sizes. From £125
Signed Jacky Ickx book
Whether he was shining aboard grand prix cars from Ferrari or Brabham, or streaking to six Le Mans 24 Hours wins, Jacky Ickx’s career holds so many epic tales, yet he rarely speaks about himself. That’s what makes this book by John Saltinstall so special. It took years to convince Ickx to collaborate for it, but it was worth the wait. And we have a limited number of copies signed by the man himself. £110
Formula Helmet
Don’t have spare cash or the space for an actual retro racing helmet? Fear not, you can still be part of the collector movement thanks to this wonderful Formula Helmet book by Bruno Bayol. It’s a beautifully produced work that showcases all of the best Formula 1 helmet designs between 1969-1999, set out over 288 pages. You also get the choice between Alain Prost or Ayrton Senna-themed covers. £115
About the Motor Sport shop
With hundreds of special and unique racing-themed products, and many new items regularly added, the Motor Sport shop is aimed at both serious and casual collectors with a wide range of prices to suit your budget. Visit motorsportmagazine.com/shop
The expert view
A signing of a lifetime
The world of motor sport collectibles wasn’t always about flashy presentation sets and digital tokens. In its heyday things were more analogue, and one item that occasionally crosses our desk at The Signature Store is an autograph book. Back before the rise of the selfie, it was actually possible to pay a little extra on top of your ticket for a grand prix to gain access to the pit walk, then go and find your favourite team or driver and get them to scribble on a bit of paper for you. I know, revolutionary right! That sort of world feels alien now, so autograph books give a snapshot of a simpler time.
As a trend, autograph books tended to disappear from the 1990s, with many dating from the 1960s to the ’80s when getting a driver or a team manager to sign for you was the best way of completing the memory of an event. Autograph books are personal items, and you can tell quite a lot about the owner from what they collected. We had one come in where the former owner had gathered Nelson Piquet’s signature about five times but had no Ayrton Senna, so they clearly had their favourites…
Complete autograph books can be tricky to sell, as many are random – we have one that has star drivers, but also musicians, team managers, all sorts – and due to their personal nature there’s a lot of sentimental value attached to them that doesn’t usually translate across to a buyer.
Often the best bet is to isolate the star signatures, remove the pages and create a new, framed item with certification. That way it retains a link to its heritage and the full value of a star scribble can be realised without it being diluted in a busy book. Breaking up a single collection is a sad thing, but it’s often the best option.
Check in the loft. If you come across an autograph book, never throw it away… it could become somebody’s treasure.
Andrew Francis is director at The Signature Store, thesignaturestore.co.uk