This impressive collector’s piece has been signed by 22 Formula 1 champions. Offered by Mr Al Pearce, a long-time writer for Autoweek magazine, he has done several such autograph projects in the past, all at his own expense and for the benefit of charity. The consignor himself describes the project:

“Against all odds, I’d started this autograph project in November of 2007. The first to sign was Phil Hill, whose daughter and son welcomed me into his home the Monday after the NASCAR weekend in Phoenix. In less than two weeks, I also had autographs from Jacques Villeneuve, Emerson Fittipaldi, and Mario Andretti. By mid-December, after a quick trip to London, I had autographs from Sir Jackie Stewart, Damon Hill, and John Surtees.

In January of 2008, I visited Alain Prost and Fernando Alonso in Paris and found Jody Scheckter in rural England. In February, I dashed overnight from Virginia to Sebring to get Nigel Mansell’s autograph. Within 12 days in April, I met with Michael Schumacher in Toronto and flew to visit Niki Lauda in Vienna. A colleague then helped with autographs from Keke Rosberg, Mika Hakkinen, and Kimi Raikkonen in Monte Carlo.

Later that summer, I rendezvoused with Alan Jones in California and shipped the helmet to Sir Jack Brabham in Australia. In December of 2008, I got Lewis Hamilton in London and Piquet in Brasilia. After taking 2009 to regroup, I got the final two: Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel in London in December of 2010. Since Vettel and Hamilton have shared the last five F1 titles, the helmet is current: 22 champions!”

1. Phil Hill – 12 November 2007

2. Jacques Villeneuve – 16 November 2007

3. Emerson Fittipaldi – 18 November 2007

4. Mario Andretti – 28 November 2007

5. Damon Hill – 2 December 2007

6. John Surtees – 2 December 2007

7. Jackie Stewart – 2 December 2007

8. Alain Prost – 30 January 2008

9. Fernando Alonso – 30 January 2008

10. Jody Scheckter – 31 January 2008

11. Nigel Mansell – 6 February 2008

12. Michael Schumacher – 9 April 2008

13. Niki Lauda – 21 April 2008

14. Kimi Raikkonen – 21 May 2008

15. Keke Rosberg – 22 May 2008

16. Mika Hakkinen – 22 May 2008

17. Jack Brabham – 29 June 2008

18. Alan Jones – 15 August 2008

19. Lewis Hamilton – 7 December 2008

20. Nelson Piquet – 18 December 2008

21. Jenson Button – 2 December 2010

22. Sebastian Vettel – 2 December 2010