June 12th, 2009 by NZ Classic Car
2008 FIA Formula One World Drivers Champion Lewis Hamilton recently received a portrait made in Mobil 1 engine oil. The twist is the oil used was taken from Hamilton’s Vodafone McLaren Mercedes car in which he won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone last year. The Lewis Hamilton Mobil 1 oil portrait has been commissioned to kick off National Oil Check Week in the UK.
Mobil a sponsor of Hamilton’s McLaren Mercedes racing team, charged US artist David Macaluso with the creation of the picture of Lewis in typically triumphant pose to celebrate his title success and highlight Mobil’s role in the UK-wide car maintenance initiative, which kicks off next Monday, June 15.
The painting will be displayed for the first time at a VIP customer event, on the eve of Hamilton’s home Grand Prix at Silverstone. Fifty prints of Hamilton’s Mobil 1 oil portrait have been made.
May 27th, 2009 by NZ Classic Car
To celebrate 50 years of the iconic Mini a special event has been held at one of England’s most historic racetracks, Silverstone. Dubbed Mini United the event was equal parts racing, music festival and fashion show, kicked off with a concert by Paul Weller, of The Jam and The Style Council fame.
This was the third edition of the event, and for Mini’s 50th birthday it attracted a massive crowd. Some 25,000 enthusiasts made it to the party, driving more than 10,000 Minis and representing over 40 countries. Mini junkies from as far away as Russia, the United States and South Africa came to Silverstone with their customised Coopers.
It was also the perfect launching pad to show off the company’s newest specials, the Mayfair and the Camden, as well as the George Harrison tribute mini (read news item). Mini fanatics mixed in with period celebrities like British designer Mary Quant, inventor of the miniskirt. Quant even stated that the name of the short skirt owed more to her love of her own little car than to the garment’s length.
Among the thousands of cars on display, a bunch of customised Minis featured, with artwork by designer Paul Smith, David Bowie, Kate Moss, Missoni and illustrator Alan Aldridge among others.
See the gallery below for images from the event.
