As Christopher Nurse writes in the book’s foreword; “At its heart Macchina is about human endeavour: people striving to excel and achieve something of significance through the application of knowledge, skill, ingenuity and willpower.”
Opening with images of road trips on two-lane blacktops crossing the
deserts of the USA. It encompasses stock-car racing in Tonopah, Nevada
(passing through Goldfield, home to the blind DJ ‘Super Soul’ from the 1971
film Vanishing Point), speed trials on the dry lakes in Utah, drag racing in
Southern California, NASCAR racing in South Carolina, the Carrera
Panamericana in Mexico. Featuring a hill climb in the UK, races involving
historic machinery around the ramparts of Angoulême and the streets of
Monaco, the iconic race around the clock at Le Mans, and of course the
incomparable Formula One. Nicholson was embedded with some of the
sport’s legendary teams including Ferrari, McLaren, Stewart and Williams and
his archive includes photographs from the tragic weekend at Imola in 1994.
Macchina chronicles the freedom, excitement, teamwork and poetic essence
at the heart of this unique sport. These are the atmospheric images that take
you behind the scenes into every aspect of the world of motor sports, from
the raw, grass roots energy of banger racing to the spectacular verve and
passion of Grand Prix. As such, Macchina is a fascinating social commentary
as well as a unique photographic journey.
Nicholson has been granted unprecedented access to leading personalities
and events, however his focus as a photographer is never merely on the
personalities themselves, but how people prepare for their gladiatorial
moments.
Nicholson comments, “In the process I’ve met people whose raw passion for
the automobile and motor racing is second to none: people who travel the
world in search of the perfect drive, be it in a straight line, around a dirt oval
or on a modern Grand Prix circuit. I’ve met some who give everything they
have just to race at the weekend, working hard and then even harder on their
car just to go that little bit quicker. The stories behind their love of racing
resonate with me. I admire people who never waver from their goals and I
share their passion and commitment.”
With insightful accompanying text by writer and former Guardian chief
sports journalist Richard Williams, and an introduction by Jon Nicholson, the
book is beautifully crafted in Florence and released as a numbered, limited-
edition of just 1000, signed by Nicholson.
This truly extraordinary volume, published by Fyshe, is destined to become
a highly collectible photography edition and a treasure for true fans of motor
sport all over the world.
Jon Nicholson is Available for Interview
Press Enquiries
Lisa Baker Associates Ltd
Lisa Baker or Carrie Sanders
Tel: + 44 (0) 7768 310038
About Jon Nicholson
Jon Nicholson is a British photographer whose relentless passion for
capturing the real story is the driving force behind his images. One side of
his forty year career has been covering sporting personalities or teams within
F1, embedding with some of the sports legendary figures including Michael
Schumacher, Ayrton Senna, Damon Hill and Lewis Hamilton or the broader
world of sport including Chelsea FC and the England rugby team. Jon has
also worked in an official capacity at two Olympics Games Barcelona in 1992
and London in 2012. His non sport worked has included long term
engagements with the UN, National Geographic, a book on the North
American cowboy and commercial projects for many of the world’s most
recognisable brands. Jon has produced almost 20 books and been exhibited
globally. His work now is very much project-based, submerging himself in
subjects that interest him personally, of which Macchina is one.
About Fyshe
Established in November 2000, Fyshe stands for British ingenuity with Italian
craft. The company designs and creates the finest quality homologated
motorsport apparel and footwear. Its bespoke contemporary solutions
deliver high performance and put its clients’ needs, and their brands and
sponsors, front and centre. Its bespoke classic racewear combines period
design cues with the latest material technology. Fyshe has an atelier in Italy
and operations in the UK and Hong Kong. Macchina is the first limited edition
book published by Fyshe.
