Ron Burton 1946 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Post War Reopening Artwork
This fabulous piece of original artwork is from the renowned Indianapolis motorsport artist Ron Burton.
In 1942 a ban on all auto racing led to the cancelling of the Indianapolis 500-mile race for the rest of the war, for a total of three years (1942–1945). The Speedway was more or less abandoned during the war and fell into a state of disrepair.
With the end of the war in sight, in 1944, three-time 500 winner Wilbur Shaw came back to do a 500-mile government approved tire test. Shaw was shocked at the dilapidated state of the speedway and contacted owner Eddie Rickenbacker, to discover the track was for sale. Shaw then sent out many letters to try to find a buyer who would reopen it as a racetrack and public venue. He found Terre Haute businessman Tony Hulman. The speedway was purchased in 1945 for the price of $750,000. Major renovations and repairs were made at a quick pace to the frail speedway, in time to hold a race in 1946.
Ron Burton put brush to canvas and painted this abstract style composition in celebration of the track being resurrected and reopened after the Second World War.
This huge artwork depicts the two men that resurrected the Indianapolis Motor Speedway after the end of the war. Wilbur Shaw and Tony Hulman are seen sitting in a Miller AAA tire test car in 1946 ready to turn some laps on the newly revamped track. Behind their image are four P-51 Mustang aircraft from the famous 363d Fighter Squadron which flew out of Europe and had a large hand in helping the allies to victory.
The original oil on canvas and has an image size of 4ft (120 cm) x 3ft (91cm) and comes framed in black gloss metal frame.
In 1942 a ban on all auto racing led to the cancelling of the Indianapolis 500-mile race for the rest of the war, for a total of three years (1942–1945). The Speedway was more or less abandoned during the war and fell into a state of disrepair.
With the end of the war in sight, in 1944, three-time 500 winner Wilbur Shaw came back to do a 500-mile government approved tire test. Shaw was shocked at the dilapidated state of the speedway and contacted owner Eddie Rickenbacker, to discover the track was for sale. Shaw then sent out many letters to try to find a buyer who would reopen it as a racetrack and public venue. He found Terre Haute businessman Tony Hulman. The speedway was purchased in 1945 for the price of $750,000. Major renovations and repairs were made at a quick pace to the frail speedway, in time to hold a race in 1946.
Ron Burton put brush to canvas and painted this abstract style composition in celebration of the track being resurrected and reopened after the Second World War.
This huge artwork depicts the two men that resurrected the Indianapolis Motor Speedway after the end of the war. Wilbur Shaw and Tony Hulman are seen sitting in a Miller AAA tire test car in 1946 ready to turn some laps on the newly revamped track. Behind their image are four P-51 Mustang aircraft from the famous 363d Fighter Squadron which flew out of Europe and had a large hand in helping the allies to victory.
The original oil on canvas and has an image size of 4ft (120 cm) x 3ft (91cm) and comes framed in black gloss metal frame.