Professional racing photographer Ron Lathrop captured photos of the prominent racetracks and their drivers in America during the late 1960s, the apex of various forms of motor racing in this country, when everything from drag racing to the Trans Am circuit took the throne. BangShift member “Mikes343Sharpstick” shares his extensive collection of Lathrop photos which, according to Bangshift, can be sifted-through for hours.
This is because Lathrop not only captured the major motorsport events of the late 1960s, but captured more intimate photos of these events. For example, Lathrop’s photo collection includes many pit-area shots of such famous drivers as Parnelli Jones. Lathrop also captured several candid shots of Mark Donahue and other important drivers from the era in the pits and in their “natural habitat.”
But Lathrop’s photos also cover a broad selection of events that stretch far beyond the Trans Am circuit. In fact, Lathrop’s collection stretches as far as stock and large road race events, outside of Trans Am, where these same kind of cars competed. In this collection from BangShift, many shots can be seen from Lathrop’s visit to the Mid-Ohio Trans Am series at Lexington, Ohio, on June 8, 1969. Lathrop’s career as a photographer, however, can be traced back to 1963, when Lathrop worked for such major auto-magazine titles as Sports Car Graphic, Road & Track, Competition Press, and Rod & Custom.
Lathrop was also an active member of the U. S. Air Force from 1965-69, and again from 1972-92. During the 1967 race season, Mid-Ohio was one of the Trans Am circuit’s most challenging tracks. Most drivers had already raced at Ohio, but the track was a first for driver Parnelli Jones, when his first visit to the facility was documented by Lathrop.
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