Helmet signed by every living F1 champion since Phil Hill heads to auction for charity

Photos by Darin Schnabel, courtesy RM Sotheby's.

At first glance, the white Simpson Voyager helmet with the tinted visor appears unremarkable, except perhaps for the autographs scrawled across its glossy surface. Upon closer inspection, however, it becomes clear that the relic is a piece of never-to-be-duplicated motorsport history, signed by every then-living Formula 1 champion since Phil Hill took the crown in 1960. On May 14, the one-of-a-kind helmet will cross the block in Monaco, with all proceeds from its sale going to support four motorsport-related charities.

The helmet is the work of Al Pearce, a frequent contributor to Autoweek magazine who began his quest to compile as many former F1 champions' signatures as possible in late 2007. First to sign was Phil Hill, the 1961 F1 champion, who sadly would die less than a year later from complications of Parkinson's disease. The helmet was then signed by Jacques Villeneuve (1997 champ), Emerson Fittipaldi (1972 and '74), Mario Andretti (1978), Damon Hill (1996), John Surtees (1964) and Jackie Stewart (1969, '71, '73) before the end of 2007.

In 2008, Pearce obtained the signatures of Alain Prost (1985, '86, '89, '93), Fernando Alonso (2005, '06), Jody Scheckter (1979), Nigel Mansell (1992), Michael Schumacher (1994-'95, 2000-'2004), Niki Lauda (1975,'77,'84), Kimi Raikkonen (2007), Keke Rosberg (1982), Mika Hakkinen (1998-'99), Jack Brabham (1959-'60, '66), Alan Jones (1980), Lewis Hamilton (2008, 2014-'15), and Nelson Piquet (1981, '83, '87). Following a tragic skiing accident in late 2013, Michael Schumacher has remained out of the public light and likely unable to give his signature, while Jack Brabham died at home in May of 2014.

It took until 2010 for the final two champions, Jenson Button (2009) and Sebastian Vettel (2010-'13) to sign the helmet, ending Pearce's three-year quest. In most cases, the signatures were obtained by Pearce in person, at his own expense, but some autographs (such as Jack Brabham, then living in Australia) required shipping the helmet.

Champion signatures missing include Ayrton Senna (1988, '90-'91), killed in a racing accident at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix; James Hunt (1976), who died of a heart attack in 1993; Jochen Rindt (1970), killed in a practice crash at the 1970 Italian Grand Prix; Graham Hill (1962, '68), killed in a 1975 private plane crash; Denny Hulme (1967), killed by a heart attack while competing in the 1992 Bathurst 1000; and Jim Clark (1963, '65), killed in a Formula Two racing accident at Hockenheim in 1968.

The helmet is expected to sell for €10,000 – €15,000 (approximately $11,300 – $17,000), with all proceeds going to support the Victory Junction Gang Camp, the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America, the Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation, and the Jimmie Johnson Foundation.

For additional information on the RM Sotheby's Monaco sale, visit RMSothebys.com.

from Hemmings Daily – News for the collector car enthusiast http://ift.tt/26Krwnq