Jim Bamber

Jim Bamber (born 1948) is a British artist and editorial cartoonist specialising in motorsport, who is best known for his motor racing related caricatures which incorporate his distinctive driver designs, that now adorn every issue of "Autosport" magazines as well as his annual compilation of cartoons from the magazine called The Pits.

Background

Bamber was born in Preston, Lancashire in 1948. After completing his studies at the Harris College of Art in Preston, [http://www.jimbamber.co.uk/cgi-bin/page.pl?title=&page=biog Jim Bamber bio page] ] he moved to London to pursue a career as an artist, where he worked in numerous renowned publications and would soon gradually become freelance. There he worked for "Car" magazine which led to a stint at the publisher of "Autocourse".

Yumping Yarns/The Pits

During his time as an illustrator, looking at a picture of Stig Blomqvist in his driver's overall and helmet, Bamber began to practice cartoon drawing of drivers in overalls and a full-face helmet, of whom Blomqvist was the first caricature drawn by Bamber [ [http://www.onpole.com/the_jim_bamber_collection/jim_bambers_the_stig_figure-c165303p165305.html OnPole.com:Jim Bamber's 'The Stig' Figure] ] . Rather than drawing faces of drivers, a common feature at the time, he shortcutted it by drawing a ball as a helmet and adding names above their visors to identify drivers. Bamber would continue to practice drawing drivers' caricatures, while working as an illustrator and as an Art Editor for Rallycourse yearbooks. [ [http://www.sjmautotechnik.com/books/rallybk_rallycourse.htm SJM Autotechnik] ]

In 1983, Bamber took his first commissioned job as a cartoonist for the monthly car magazine Car & Car Conversions, titled "Yumping Yarns", to which he contributed monthly specialising in World Championship Rallying. This was followed by a stint for Autosport for a cartoon now known as "Bamber's view", specialising mostly in topics related to Formula One. Although appearing regularly in the magazine, his cartoon became a weekly feature in 1994 which continues to this day. In addition, Bamber also created a short lived comic strip called "Bumpa the Bear" that appeared weekly in Auto Express from 1991 to 1992.

By 1988, his drivers' caricatures had evolved from a lanky goggle-eyed character to a dumpier version. Bamber still uses this caricature design to this day. [Yumping Yarns, Tudor Journals, 1989, ISBN 0907520189]

In 1998, Stirling Moss became the only driver to have been given his own distinctive helmeted design, differing from Bamber's standard full face helmet style, incorporating his overalls, helmet and goggle that he had worn during his professional career, with which he has become associated. His cartoon incorporates a Damon Hill fan being asked a question by an ITV F1 correspondent, "Who's the greatest driver"; he is threatened at gunpoint from behind by a Michael Schumacher caricature, who in turn is threatened at gunpoint from behind by Moss, who says, "Moss - pass it on!".Jim Bamber, The Pits 6: 1998 Edition, Page 81, ISBN 0860249336] [ [http://www.jimbamber.co.uk/CARTOONS/1998/9829.jpgBamber's cartoon of Schumacher and Moss] ] Bamber claimed the cartoon was not as funny with only Schumacher; as such, he drew in Moss, and found that it increased the humor of the cartoon.

There have been many people who have been given their own caricatures, namely top-line personnel including Bernie Ecclestone, incorporating his suit and sunglasses, and Max Mosley, [ [http://www.jimbamber.co.uk/cgi-bin/jbpage.pl?action=page&page=2005/0519&title=Max%20&%20Bernie Bamber's cartoon of Max & Bernie] with Uncle Sam and Michelin Man in regards to the 2005 United States Grand Prix] and team managers including Jean Todt, [ [http://www.jimbamber.co.uk/cgi-bin/jbpage.pl?action=page&page=2002/0239&title=Fokker Bamber's cartoon of Todt and Schumacher] in a Fokker Triplane] Frank Williams [ [http://www.jimbamber.co.uk/cgi-bin/jbpage.pl?action=page&page=1994/9422&title=Now%20Without%20Grinding%20Your%20Teeth Bamber's cartoon] of Frank Williams and Damon Hill] and Ron Dennis [ [http://www.jimbamber.co.uk/cgi-bin/jbpage.pl?action=page&page=1994/9402&title=One%20Day%20my%20Prost%20Will%20Come Bamber's cartoon interpretation] of The Frog Prince] , and drivers, sans helmet, such as Mika Häkkinen and Michael Schumacher as well as celebrities, for instance Posh and Becks in 2007 [ [http://www.jimbamber.co.uk/cgi-bin/jbpage.pl?action=page&title=Posh%20&%20Becks&page=2007/0718 Bamber's cartoon] of Lewis Hamilton with Posh & Becks] .A mural illustrated by Bamber appears in the circuit cafe of Mallory Park.

References

External links

* [http://www.jimbamber.co.uk/cgi-bin/index2.pl Official site]
* [http://www.jimbamber.co.uk/downloads/JBBrochure2007.pdf ...the other side: the auto art of Jim Bamber]