From the beginning of Parnelli Jones' humble early racing career, to the pinnacle of motorsports - back to-back Indianapolis 500 race wins and three consecutive United States Auto Club National Championships - Vel Miletich and Parnelli Jones and their Vel's Parnelli Jones (VPJ) Racing team of drivers, engineers, designers, fabricators and mechanics dominated American automobile racing in the 1970s. Dean Kirkland and Auto Ef gies were commissioned to photograph and produce this superb photographic history of the VPJ team, featuring many of the cars recently acquired by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation.
Canadian born, Jimmy Dilamarter began his professional racing career at age 28, joining the racing team of master Indy Chief Mechanic George Bignotti. In 1969 they, and then rising star, Al Unser were hired by Vel Miletich and Parnelli Jones to form the nucleus of their Indy car team. Since that time until the present, his versatility has enabled him to perform almost every aspect of not only the mechanical requirements of fi elding world class racing teams, but the business side as well. A partial list of positions includes Chief Mechanic, General Manager and Formula One Team Manager. When the team disbanded in the early '80s and the organization's new focus was on all types of real estate, he was thrust into a new world. Jimmy helped develop and oversee construction of, among other projects, a housing development, an industrial park and a retail center. In addition, Jimmy has performed almost every task imaginable for the Miletich and Jones families. When the call came to write about some of the racecars that he worked on many years ago, he put his pen to paper and this book is the result.For the last twenty years, commercial photographer Dean Kirkland has established a reputation photographing A-List entertainment and sports personalities. His subjects have included none other than stars like the late Dennis Hopper, Clint Eastwood and Martin Sheen. Today he is regarded by many as a distinguished car photographer, shooting classic cars for high-profi le collectors and automobile companies. Dean is known for innovation and versatility when shooting some of the world's most famous collector cars, and excels in both still photography and filmmaking. Dean started his artistic career as a film actor in the mid-1980s. He made the switch to behind the camera in 1993, and his clients include those as diverse as Lamborghini, Affluent Golfer Magazine and Antonio Tetro luxury designer watches. Along with his passion for classic and sports car photography, Dean is also pursuing a career in automotive documentaries and TV shows. Being able to capture and preserve these rolling works of art in his own unique style and aesthetic vision is the most rewarding part of his profession.Ren Wicks, Jr. grew up in his father's commercial art studio in Los Angeles. By the age of nine, his drawings and paintings were nationally recognized. After attending the Art Center College of Design, he graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor's degree in Advertising Communication. Ren spent most of his professional life as an advertising art director and graphic designer, working primarily on automotive accounts. He has created many award-winning magazine and broadcast advertising campaigns for Honda, Mazda, Toyota, Kia, Chrysler. After completing the restoration of his 1959 Jaguar XK 150 Fixed Head Coupe in 2002, Ren found himself immersed in the world of vintage automobiles, traveling from Concours to Concours from coast to coast. Last year he founded Auto Effi gies Photographic Studio with partner Dean Kirkland, turning his considerable experience toward creating beautiful images of classic cars and their owners.
Ren Wicks, Jr. grew up in his father's commercial art studio in Los Angeles. By the age of nine, his drawings and paintings were nationally recognized. After attending the Art Center College of Design, he graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor's degree in Advertising Communication. Ren spent most of his professional life as an advertising art director and graphic designer, working primarily on automotive accounts. He has created many award-winning magazine and broadcast advertising campaigns for Honda, Mazda, Toyota, Kia, Chrysler. After completing the restoration of his 1959 Jaguar XK 150 Fixed Head Coupe in 2002, Ren found himself immersed in the world of vintage automobiles, traveling from Concours to Concours from coast to coast. Last year he founded Auto Effi gies Photographic Studio with partner Dean Kirkland, turning his considerable experience toward creating beautiful images of classic cars and their owners.
Canadian born, Jimmy Dilamarter began his professional racing career at age 28, joining the racing team of master Indy Chief Mechanic George Bignotti. In 1969 they, and then rising star, Al Unser were hired by Vel Miletich and Parnelli Jones to form the nucleus of their Indy car team. Since that time until the present, his versatility has enabled him to perform almost every aspect of not only the mechanical requirements of fi elding world class racing teams, but the business side as well. A partial list of positions includes Chief Mechanic, General Manager and Formula One Team Manager. When the team disbanded in the early '80s and the organization's new focus was on all types of real estate, he was thrust into a new world. Jimmy helped develop and oversee construction of, among other projects, a housing development, an industrial park and a retail center. In addition, Jimmy has performed almost every task imaginable for the Miletich and Jones families. When the call came to write about some of the racecars that he worked on many years ago, he put his pen to paper and this book is the result.
For the last twenty years, commercial photographer Dean Kirkland has established a reputation photographing A-List entertainment and sports personalities. His subjects have included none other than stars like the late Dennis Hopper, Clint Eastwood and Martin Sheen. Today he is regarded by many as a distinguished car photographer, shooting classic cars for high-profi le collectors and automobile companies. Dean is known for innovation and versatility when shooting some of the world's most famous collector cars, and excels in both still photography and filmmaking. Dean started his artistic career as a film actor in the mid-1980s. He made the switch to behind the camera in 1993, and his clients include those as diverse as Lamborghini, Affluent Golfer Magazine and Antonio Tetro luxury designer watches. Along with his passion for classic and sports car photography, Dean is also pursuing a career in automotive documentaries and TV shows. Being able to capture and preserve these rolling works of art in his own unique style and aesthetic vision is the most rewarding part of his profession.
