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Speedway Artist Showcases Racing Talent
(posted Nov 21)
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It is that time of year again for Speedway resident D.R. Shuck to start designing his motorsports Christmas card for the
Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. The museum sells his cards as
a fund raiser to help offset expenses.
Shuck's cards have been rated by Auto Week as one of the in the top five Christmas cards in the racing industry.
According to Shuck, his love for racing began inside the womb. "I
always said when I came out of the womb, I was dragging a steering wheel
and helmet." Shuck's natural talent landed him scholarship opportunities
even in his elementary years, when he received Herron Art School scholarships.
By the time he was in third grade, he had his career marked out that he
was going to be a cartoonist and design a car.
He later went onto Herron Art School and noted that he prompted changes in the curriculum based on his experience working in the advertising field. Although it cost him in grades, he was able to persuade the faculty that students needed to learn different types of media other than oil. Oil media could not provide the quick turnaround times that are necessary in the real world of meeting a client's advertising deadlines. Shuck explained that after some convincing conversations, the faculty agreed to introduce acrylics, water color, and pen and ink.
By 1962, Shuck accomplished his grade school goal of designing a mini-van.
Shuck decided that the standard hauling size needed to be large
enough to carry a 4' x 8' sheet of plywood. His flat engine design
got him an interview with GM, but it never went beyond that. He also had
an interview with Disney, but he turned down the job when he discovered
there was no opportunity to transfer into the 3-D department.
Discovering that his mind works in 3-D concepts, he began designing exhibits
for large corporations. His biggest account was a $3.5 million exhibit
design for Beatrice Foods that included convincing the corporation to change
their colors from blue and white to red, white and brass colors. The trade
show exhibit design allowed Beatrice to show case all of its products at
once. He said their smaller divisions like Vlasic Pickles, Samsonite Luggage
and Eckrich hot dogs began interacting with each other for the first time.
Shuck also instigated the company's business relationship with the IMS
in 1985 to market hot dogs along with other products at track's hospitality
suites . He suggested the company sponsor a race car in the Indy 500 since
it owned STP. He explained that he designed the car's graphics, but the
the company would not heed his advice about painting the car burgundy.
Beatrice preferred a bright red car. He said the color choice confused
people into thinking it was the Budweiser car.
Shuck's artistic talents capturing racing cars and legends on canvas can
be seen in museums. In 1976, six of his car renderings were placed in the
Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC. He also has 40 paintings hanging
at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in Novi Michigan, where he now serves on the board of directors.
The board of directors has no voting power to say who is inducted into
the museum that honors all forms of racing from boats, sports cars and
Indy cars. Shuck painted Tom Carnegie's 2006 induction with such fine
detail that even the replica of the Speedway Old Timers badge can be
seen on his cap. He called the induction ceremony as the one time of year
where the "cream of the crop" of all motorsports gathers under
one roof.
Shuck is doing more than designing cards for the museum. Since he has been
on the board for the last seven years, he has strongly urged other board
members to relocate the museum to Indy, and not to Detroit, Las Vegas,
Florida, North Carolina, or Kansas City. He said the board is looking for
a new location because its current location at the convention center has
limited space. Shuck contends the museum could really be successful if
it was tied to another museum or another tourist attraction.
Shuck thinks the Speedway redevelopment is a good opportunity for the museum
to locate here. He sees redevelopment as an opportunity for the town to
take advantage of its greatest asset, the IMS, to improve its economic
growth.
Shuck's other interest is black history. Shuck likes to tells historical
events through his artwork. In one painting, inspired by reading the book
The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. DuBois, he depicts the start of the independent
black economy and its struggles after the Civil War.
Shuck has spent several hundreds of hours capturing black history in portraits.
His tribute to the Brown vs Board Education ruling shows Thurgood Marshall,
the attorney who later became the first black Supreme Court Justice,
President Eisenhower, shown to mark the time
in history, and Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren, under whose watch
the case was heard.
His art piece tells the story of the talented WW II black pilots in Europe,
who were not initially recognized for their skills as pilots. He noted
the Tuskegee Airmen that fought in World War II did not lose one plane
during their escort services. His artistic details are accurate even down
to drawing the airmen in the proper dark green uniforms to signify they
were stationed in Europe, and not in the Pacific.
Shuck's artistic talents have also been utilized by Glen Ellyn, Illinois to promote its Holiday Walk on Main Street. He described the event as "a big to do" with the Main Street galleries and businesses decorating to the hilt and carolers walking down the street to celebrate the Christmas season. He said the town's roundabout with a fountain becomes the focal point for the tree lighting ceremony.
Shuck has used his talents in ways other than creating art himself.
In 1994, he served as one of three judges to critique the 500 Festival
floats. He explained the basic criteria for judging is the creativity used
while adhering to the theme.
Shuck's prints are available at 248-321-5500 or 317-924-3401.
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