Race cars in the dunes by the sea

by Sidney van den Boogaard

Two single-seaters charge side by side through a bend in the dunes, the red number 4 just a nose ahead of the silver-green 7. Behind the wooden fence stand spectators in long coats, collars up against the sea wind. You can almost smell the salt and the petrol. The work is inspired by the early races in the dunes along the North Sea coast, when the circuit still ran between marram grass and beach and people came from all the nearby villages to watch. Notice the long, sweeping brushstrokes in the tarmac: they carry the speed without a single detail too many.

This work is part of the Golden Racing Years series: ten painterly scenes from the days of leather helmets, roaring engines and crowds lining the track. All the works share the same warm, muted colours and loose brushwork, so they combine easily as a pair, a triptych or a full gallery wall.

The work was created digitally, based on my own concept, composition and colour choices. I then finished it myself: removed badges and logos, refined the crop and added a fine grain and a print-ready colour profile. The cars, drivers and places are fictional and do not refer to real people or brands.

A lovely gift for anyone who smiles at the sound of an old engine: for the study, the garage or above the desk.