An Iconic Autographed Image for the Ages

August 2019

Writer // Janelle Morrison              Photography // Anthony Ross Tyler and Courtesy of Artomobilia

Last year, the Artomobilia team had an incredible and historic opportunity to capture an iconic image of three generations of the Ford GT in both road and road trim. With the assistance of the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Team, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, members of the Artomobilia Alumni and renowned photographer Anthony Ross Tyler, these images were captured, representing 60 plus years of Ford Performance.

This year, one of these images that has been signed by Edsel Ford II and drivers from the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing program will be on public display at the Indiana Design Center on Saturday during Artomobilia. A small and incredibly rare collection of last year’s Artomobilia Ford GT posters has made its way to Ford’s headquarters to be signed by Ford himself.

This collection has traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to the Le Mans 24 Hours in France and will be traveling to Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta this October, where the posters will be signed by more of the racing program’s drivers before being auctioned off. The proceeds raised will benefit charities supported by Artomobilia.

One of the facilitators of this mission, Artomobilia volunteer Drew Yagodnik, shared more details about the signed posters. Yagodnik’s company, Classic Auto Insurance, is a sponsor of Artomobilia and also heads up a video team that has participated in both last year’s Ford GT photo shoot and this year’s Lamborghini photo shoot by Anthony Ross Tyler.

Yagodnik’s video team is the talent behind the videos featured on Artomobilia’s website. Yagodnik has also been herding the posters through the tedious process of obtaining the desired signatures.

“My dad used to have an ’06 Ford GT, which he sold in 2014,” Yagodnik shared. “When he bought it, we got involved with the Ford GT Forum. Classic Auto Insurance has been a 10-year-plus sponsor of the Ford GT Forum, and John [Leonard] knew that we had a passion for Ford GT, so through mutual affiliations, we were acquainted.”

Yagodnik reiterated what makes the Ford GT image of all three generations unique, with or without the rare signatures of Edsel Ford II and Ford GT race car drivers.

“What makes [Tyler’s] shoot so unique is that while other people have somewhat replicated the image—to a certain degree—no one else has ever had the race car in the image,” Yagodnik expressed. “That’s what makes it super unique.”

Yagodnik is optimistic that after the posters have gained additional signatures of the drivers at Road Atlanta, they will successfully be sold at auction, which will be held in front of a very specific and strategic audience of Ford GT enthusiasts.

“At Road Atlanta, this October, there will be a gathering of 100 or so members of the Ford GT Forum,” he explained. “We will be auctioning off the posters that weekend in front of people that love the Ford GT.”

For those interested in purchasing unsigned ultra-high-quality posters of last year’s Ford GTs and/or this year’s Lamborghini prints, visit artomobiliaweekend.com/la-corsa-dei-tori. Quantities are limited.