We have many inspirations at The Drivers Society. They include talented artists and stylists, iconic designs and unique individuals. Here are a few that we would like to share with you.
Capturing the power and speed of the pinnacle of motorsports and translating that dynamic energy onto canvas is a unique gift. Very few artists have the creativity and vision to produce works that so successfully portray that energy as does Mina Papatheodorou Valyraki.
Working in Athens, Greece and Florence, Italy, Ms. Valyraki is renowned for her paintings of sports related subjects. Her series of paintings of GP racing cars reside in private collections across the world.
She has presented her work in more than 60 one-woman gallery shows in Greece, Italy, the USA, Belgium, Spain, China, the United Arab Emirates and France as well as in numerous group exhibitions.
In addition, her paintings have been exhibited internationally in museums as diverse as the Olympic Museum of Lausanne, the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC, the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Lamborghini Automobili Headquarters and Museum in Sant’ Agata Bolognese, the National Art Museum of Sports in Indianapolis, JinTai Art Museum in Beijing and the United States Sports Academy in Alabama.
We are very pleased to offer our line of TDS+MINA PV Scarves and Pocket Squares that feature the paintings of Mina Papatheodorou Valyraki.
Amy Shore is a photographer that takes pictures of cars, motorcycles, planes and people. While that may not seem special, her masterful eye and ability to capture a human moment or just the right angle of a classic car makes her photography very special indeed.
Her photos are natural, wonderfully composed and true to the atmosphere of the moment. But most of all they reflect the work of a person that is having a great time and has a real passion for both the machines and the spirited individuals that are her subjects.
Based in the United Kingdom, Ms. Shore’s work has appeared in publications such as Classic Driver, Octane, Evo, Drive, Ramp, Iron & Air, Petrolicious.
For fun she drives an Austin Mini Mayfair (nicknamed Mayo as it’s the color of mayonnaise). As an added plus, Mayo’s been fitted with a steering wheel from a 1962 AC Cobra. Pretty wonderful indeed.
We are very pleased to have the images of Amy Shore as a key element of our site.
Christi Schimpke, the founder of CRASH Jewelry, is a uniquely skilled artist. Trained in art history, she achieved a Master’s Degree in Renaissance Art and worked for the renown Getty Museum in Los Angeles. A metalsmithing class inspired her to start her own jewelry business called Minabea, named after her grandmother.
Christi made her initial designs from precious metals. But it was when she moved her studio into a Los Angeles, California auto body shop that she came up with the idea to create fashion jewelry from cars. The shop, Beverly Coachcraft, specializes in collision repairs for brands such as Audi, Bentley, BMW, Maserati, Mercedes Benz, Mini and Porsche. Seeing the damaged parts gave Christi an inspiration and CRASH Jewelry was born. What were once beautifully crafted auto body parts and then mangled, were reimagined as jewelry.
CRASH is unlike other hand-crafted jewelry. At first glance, most people don’t comprehend that a cuff or necklace can be made from the hood, door, or quarter panel taken from a Mercedes or a Ferrari. After learning the pedigree, customers smile or laugh in recognition.
CRASH Jewelry is 100% hand-made by a team of artisans. Each piece of CRASH jewelry is created from the original automobile manufacturer’s body part with original factory paint.
We are very pleased to collaborate with CRASH jewelry for exclusive pieces for The Drivers Society.
Steve Hoare is a lifelong lover of spirited automobiles and has been involved professionally in the automobile industry for over forty years.
Trained as an Engineer in the UK, his career has spanned numerous aspects of the industry. This includes work with TRW on automotive steering and suspensions, at Aston Martin in Product Development and later with automotive quality assurance and environmental testing.
His engineering education instilled the ability to envision how cast off engine parts could be repurposed and the mechanical skills to turn them into unique chess sets.
Steve is active today as Editor-in-Chief for the only independent Land Rover magazine in North America, Alloy+Grit and as a broker for some of the most beautiful classic Aston Martin automobiles available.
True to his Welsh roots he enthusiastically drives a rugged pair of Land Rovers - 1980 Defender 110 and 1949 Series One 80".
Shop our bespoke Chess Sets created by Steve Hoare.
Ruote Borrani S.p.A. was established in Milan, Italy in 1922 as a wire wheel manufacturer. Carlo Borrani, the company’s founder, licensed the design for the splined hub single-nut locking mechanism from Rudge-Whitworth in England and began supplying wheels for racing and sports cars. Most notable was Ferrari. Between 1946 and 1966 all Ferrari cars ran on Borrani wheels. Borranis were also original equipment for Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Facel Vega, Lamborghini and Maserati.
Between 1950 and 1961 Borranis were standard on Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Maserati racers. They contributed to winning eight World Driving Championships for drivers such as Ascari, Farina, Fangio, Hawthorne and Hill. Borrani rims contributed to Ferrari and Maserati victories in Sports and Prototype racing at LeMans, the Nürburgring, Sebring and Monza. Ford Motor Company purchased Borranis for the first version of the mighty GT40 LeMans race cars.
Today the traditional production practices continue and the manufacturing process has evolved to meet the requirements of the modern world. Borrani wire wheels remain a tribute to time tested design and the quality of Italian craftsmanship.
Minilite wheels are one of the most successful and recognized designs for racing and rally wheels of all time. The eight spoke design was heralded for being exceptionally strong and highly efficient under extreme conditions.
Minilites are most often associated with the original Austin Mini Cooper rally cars from the 1960’s. In fact, the eight spoke design was originally developed as a magnesium competition wheel for the revolutionary Austin Mini. But Minilites were also used with great success in the USA on big engine race cars that ran in the Trans Am series.
Today the Minilite design is recognized around the world and still proudly crafted in England. The design has been copied through the years, but there is still only one original and superior Minilite wheel.
Our TDS+Minilite designs are inspired by the original eight spoke pattern. They are cast, plated, assembled and finished by hand.
Les Leston was one of the true originals in motor racing. A successful driver, an accomplished jazz musician, business man, broadcaster and first rate character. British by birth he raced open wheel cars for Cooper and sports cars for Aston Martin. His own bright red Lotus Elite sported the number plate DAD 10 a reference to his jazz nickname “Daddio”.
Despite initial success a crash sidelined him and he turned his attention to his line of motorsport related products which he sold in his shop on High Holborn in London. Les was the first to offer overalls that provided protection to drivers who were vulnerable to fire. He experimented by treating the overalls with a fire-retardant substance used to make theatre curtains and then promoted the materials Protex and Nomex.
Our TDS+Les Leston pieces are inspired by designs that Les produced for his own line of accessories and clothing. Each TDS+Les Leston piece is cast, assembled and polished by hand. TDS+Les Leston products are produced in collaboration with the family of Les Leston.
The long low stance, the deafening roar, the full length exhaust and the expanses of chrome! There was no other racer quite like the Indy Roadster. The “Roadster” name and the iconic design are attributed to the California race car builder Frank Kurtis. Kurtis and fellow builder AJ Watson were the most prolific between the early 1950’s to the mid-1960's.
During the golden era of the Indianapolis 500, Indy Roadsters were entered by charismatic owners and driven by rough-and-tumble drivers. It was a time of powerful Offenhauser engines, skinny tires and on track bravery. Giants truly ruled!
Our TDS Indy Roadster Cufflinks are inspired by the front and rear wheel designs that were used on the last front engine cars that ran in the Indianapolis 500. Each TDS Indy Roadster piece is cast, assembled and polished by hand.