Lomography

Feast your eyes on some classic photos from the fast lane, courtesy of LIFE photographer Thomas McAvoy!

Thomas McAvoy was one of the four original staff photographers of LIFE magazine, the first all-photographic news magazine in America. He may may not be as popular as his fellow LIFE pioneers Alfred Eisenstaedt and Margaret Bourke-White, but McAvoy had his own share of notable works in the realm of photojournalism. Among these is his photo essay on the Scuderia Ferrari racing team in May 1956. McAvoy’s photos covered the team’s return from the BRDC International Trophy of Silverstone, the preparations of Ferrari technicians for the Monaco Grand Prix, then finally in Monaco, where he photographed legendary Ferrari racers Eugenio Castellotti, Peter Collins, and Juan Manuel Fangio.

Formula One and Ferrari fans have since been in awe of McAvoy’s beautifully candid coverage. Not only did it show the beauty of classic Lancia D50’s, but also the stories in and out of the race track.

The set below shows the Scuderia Ferrari Racing team during their return from the BRDC International Trophy of Silverstone. The D50 race cars were unloaded from a cargo plane and transferred to a Fiat 642 truck for transport to Ferrari facilities.

Upon arrival at Ferrari facilities, technicians set to work to prepare the Lancia D50’s for the Monaco Grand Prix.

On the big day, McAvoy captured various scenes in and out of the race during the 1956 Monaco Grand Prix: fans swarming over a Lancia D50, legendary F1 drivers, cars crashing to barriers, autograph signing, and more.

Photos via The Selvedge Yard

What do you think of Thomas McAvoy’s classic F1 photo essay? Let us know with a comment below!