A small clipping taken from an autograph book that has been signed in ink by pre-war American race driver Whitney Straight. A friend of Richard ‘Dick’ Seaman, Straight raced in more Grands Prix than any American before World War II. His first continental race was the Swedish Winter Grand Prix at Lake Ramen. In 1934 he decided to form his own Grand Prix team racing Maseratis painted in the blue and white colours of the USA. He finished 7th in the Monaco GP but went on to achieve victories in the Donington Park Trophy, the Brooklands Mountain race and the inaugural South African GP at East London. As result of these successes, Straight was invited to join the crack German Auto Union team in 1935 alongside Richard Seaman but turned the offer down as he was an outspoken anti-fascist and the Auto Union was funded by Hitler’s Nazi government. A very rare autograph which is perfect for framing with a photo or print. Reference: VIN-WHSTRAISIG-01
