FOR THE THRILL OF SPEED

Dear Friends,

Come with us on a journey back in time to the glory days of automotive racing: ‘For the Thrill of Speed’ is a selection of historic photographs on exhibition at the MB&F M.A.D.Gallery in Geneva. This curated collection of masterful, black-and-white images captures the intense highs and lows of legendary drivers.

The pair behind this selection of images is Daniel Berque and Serge Brison, fervent car enthusiasts working to uncover and restore lost moments in motorsport photography. Berque & Brison travel around the world unearthing rare and exceptional photographic negatives to acquire, then select the most outstanding of those to diligently revitalize. 

As automotive aficionados, we at the M.A.D.Gallery are unquestionably crazy about their work. It checks all the boxes: the impressive artwork not only preserves the history of automotive racing but also celebrates the heroic beginnings of this thrilling, challenging sport.  

These images provoke emotion through the heartbreaking events and triumphs that occurred during racing competitions from 1925 to 1963 such as the renowned 24 Hours of Le Mans. Each photograph stops time to share a momentous story of the pioneers of racing, portraying heroic pursuits of the finish line as well as epic crashes.

SUCH IS LIFE IN RACING, REIMS 1951 – René Pari

Such is Life in Racing – Le Mans 1954 portrays an unfortunate incident in which Italy’s Count Innocente Biaggio and Dominican playboy Porfirio Rubirosa raced a Ferrari 375 MM. Speeding around the famed Mulsanne corner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the car uncontrollably spun out into the sand banks. 

Biaggio was determined to get back on the track by digging out the Ferrari even while sporting a light grey Alpaca suit, silk shirt, and black bowtie – true class! His efforts prevailed for about an hour, after which he threw in the towel. He dusted off his trousers and shoes, replaced his hat, and lit a cigarette. A photograph was captured in just the right place at the right time. 

SUCH IS LIFE IN RACING, LE MANS 1954 – René Pari

In the image On the Road to Victory – Alfonso de Portago – Tour de France 1956, Pari freezes time in a way that conveys the exhilaration of speed. This powerful composition reveals the horsepower of the Ferrari 250 GT by perfectly contrasting the blur of the road with the sharp focus of this sensual car. In capturing this shot, French photographer René Pari achieved the impossible by leaning out of a press car with a twin-lens Rolleiflex, an extreme technical challenge given the situation.

ON THE ROAD TO VICTORY, TOUR DE FRANCE 1956 – René Pari

The storytelling continues, both on and off the track: Mont Ventoux 1925 takes us to the south of France where the uphill climb of a Delage DF was captured perfectly with a Linhof Technica Master view camera; Such is Life in Racing – Reims 1951 shows the grit and perseverance of works driver Consalvo Sanesi pushing an Alfa Romeo after a mechanical failure; and Behind the Scenes – Le Mans 1963 provides insight into the secret preparation of the Porsche team for the 1963 24 Hours of Le Mans.

‘For the Thrill of Speed’ is a limited collection: 21 fine art photography prints bearing a certificate of authenticity, including a serialized hologram, are produced from each original negative. The artworks are printed on museum-quality paper and mounted under Diasec, a premium anti-reflective acrylic glass, and framed in aluminium.

Swing by the M.A.D.Gallery in Geneva to feel the raw power of the historical cars and adrenalin of the heroic drivers in these photographs – you can practically smell petrol in the air! 

And if Geneva isn’t in your travel plans, you can stay in touch with the latest happenings at the M.A.D.Gallery online and via our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts (@mbfmadgallery).