Beauty in Imperfection

If this photo were perfectly focused, if it were perfectly exposed, if the print was perfectly executed; it wouldn’t look half as good as it does.

Much of what I love about old race reports is that the imperfection of the printing technologies often helps communicate the speed and daring-do of the drivers. When a photo is a perfect still of the action it takes on a certain calm. When the details can’t be seen or the photo is blurred, it looks like barely controlled chaos. It looks like all Hell is about to break loose. It looks like the engine could blow at any second. It looks like the car is about to careen off the track.

It looks like racing.

More of the 1933 Muroc dry lake races on Belly Tanks.