Dan’s Story
“This was a once in a lifetime photo journey”
Nurburgring Grand Prix 1953
It all begins with a trip to a car race. The Nurburgring Grand Prix in 1953. The adventure started with 3 GI’s. It ended with 40 fantastic images that captured a race that was photographed by very few.
60 years later the images are here: alive, fresh, new and captivating images of a racing era gone by.
You can watch the video right below for a look at the whole story.
Dan is subject of this mini-documentary, which chronicles his life-long love of cars and brings the viewer along with the young photographer who stood on the racetrack that day in 1953, snapping these once-in-a-lifetime photos on film that would be re-discovered nearly 60 years later.
This documentary was shot, edited and produced by Lea Artz
www.leaartz.com
“I can’t ever remember a time when I didn’t love cars.
I’ve been a car guy as long as I can remember. My best friend's dad owned a large sand and gravel business which gave Bob and I access to a junkyard. One summer we co-built our first car.
Soon after high school I was drafted and sent to Germany instead of Korea. America was, once again, at war. The small nearby town of Giessen was minutes from my base and had a USO service club that had a photo lab. A professional photographer, Helmut, was the instructor and spoke perfect English. I learned more about photography the year and a half I spent in Germany than I would the rest of my life.
The 1953 German Grand Prix was scheduled at the historic Nurburgring. I had to be there. My mentor and good friend Helmut, had schooled me on my newly acquired Rollieflex camera. Although not the best choice for action photography, I nonetheless, wanted the larger 2x1/4 format negative it provided.
Armed with lots of film, three cartons of Lucky Strikes cigarettes, a bottle of Old Crow Whiskey, and twenty five Duetsmarks each, I and two GI buddies, set off on a journey of a lifetime.
Nearly sixty years later, the images and negatives from my Nurburgring adventure were recently rediscovered during a move. All in perfect condition. The collector edition book that followed sold out in a matter of days.
A second edition is currently being printed and will be available at book stores soon. Or, on this website. Please contact us to
pre-order your copy.
deh1930@gmail.com
