It was 1966, a Nikon camera in hand and only a few rolls of Tri-X and Plus-X black and white film stuffed into my pockets. I arrived at Riverside Raceway with 3 young racing enthusiasts packed into my 1965 Mustang.
I owed them a favor for posing for me as a rock group on a photo shoot. Riverside Raceway was having the first races of the Can Am and Formula 5000 series. The boys had one paddock pass to share among us and they gave it to me for the first walk in.
Only 5 minutes into the paddock a shirtless man came up to me and introduced himself as Stirling Moss, who I had known to be a legend in the racing world.
While chatting me up, he was interested in knowing if I really was a photographer and what did I need for the weekend. Of course I wanted a Pit Pass that would allow me access to be close enough to the rock star type drivers and their cars. My friends had very big eyes as they stared through the fence at this encounter.
I received a Pass, introductions and an invitation to the drivers party that evening at the Riverside Hotel. This first event at a racetrack turned into a passion for 9 years, shooting mostly Can Am at many tracks in the U.S. and Canada. I was lucky enough to have some work published and made so many friends during those days, many years ago.
During this period as a photographer, I worked in the entertainment industry for Film, TV doing commercials and sports. I later expanded my career in the TV and film business with a range of roles including casting director, stylist, script supervisor, production manager and on one occasion a stunt double on a feature film.
My husband and I are enjoying our vintage car collection and are active in Rally's provided. We participate in car shows and look forward to the Pebble Beach Concours every year in California. I gathered my aging negatives a few years ago and created this book of driver portraits. Not having been a professional photographer I hope what has been produced in my book is well received by those who remember that era in racing. "ROAD RACING-DRIVERS OF THE 60'S & 70'S"
A book by Linda Weldon available from www.lindaweldon.com $35 plus shipping. Also available through Motorbooks of London.
Memory added on May 30, 2012
1 Comment (Add your voice)
Those were the days when you could get up close to the cars and drivers, even if you weren't a gorgeous girl like Linda. It helps to be in the right place and the right time but it helps if you have talent. Which Linda did even though she may not have known it at the time. Well done.
– Michael Riewer, June 30 2013 at 04:18
