VOL 04: MASTERCRAFT

Summer 2014

In the fourth volume of BlackBird Automotive Journal, we continue the journey of a humble Ferrari 500 Mondial as the cover story; from its revival by master restoration specialist Andy Greene to its reunion with the famed Mille Miglia, almost 60 years since it first accepted the first of its five subsequent challenges; once more feeling the freedom of racing over a thousand miles of its homeland. With a special focus on artists and craftsmen, we visit the studio of French artist Yan Denes, whose stunning pencil and pastel drawings of key automobiles and auto-racing scenes have earned him an impressive following amongst enthusiasts and aficionados alike, and speak to renowned designer Jochen Paesen - Project Leader at BMW’s interior design department, who shares with us how his twin passion of art and photography influences his work at one of the world’s most recognised marques. Perhaps the true master of his craft, BlackBird Automotive Journal is proud to publish an article by the late legendary racing photographer Louis Klemantaski, derived from his handwritten memoirs and in-car photographs as he co-drove alongside Ferrari racing legend Peter Collins as they blitzed through the 1957 Mille Miglia; a rare chance to experience the historic race in a different era from the driver’s seat. This story serves as an introduction to a new editorial component of BlackBird Automotive Journal: racing. Additionally, from this issue forward, the Klemantaski Collection will offer a regular column in BlackBird Automotive Journal, enabling our readers to discover lesser-known racing stories through their historical archives. Rounding off the issue, we travel back to the modern age and share our experiences with two of the latest competitors in the field; Ferrari’s 458 Speciale, and McLaren’s 650S.