Steve Wittman “Bonzo” Air Racer Vintage Photo 1958 Continental Trophy Champion For Sale

Steve Wittman\'s Racer \"Bonzo\" on the Ramp
Original 1958 Snapshot
EAA Air Racing Legend, Continental Trophy Champion Preserved TodayDESCRIPTIONThis vintage snapshot captures Steve Wittman\'s air racer \"Bonzo\" at rest on the ramp, wheels chocked and engine cooling, with its needle nose and bubble canopy on full display.Wittman built this racer in 1948 as a sister ship to his earlier \"Buster,\" debuting it at that year\'s National Air Races in Cleveland. Racing under Goodyear and Continental Trophy rules through the 1950s and into the 1970s, \"Bonzo\" went on to win the Continental Trophy in 1949 and 1952, the Rebat Trophy in 1950 and 1951, and Wittman\'s home race at Oshkosh in 1956 and 1957, all on a modest 100 horsepower Continental engine that carried the little racer to speeds approaching 235 mph.A handwritten notation on the back of this print reads \"Bonzo \'58,\" dating the photograph to the middle of that winning stretch.The tail number visible in this view is consistent with N1292, the registration under which this racer is preserved today, hanging in the EAA Aviation Museum\'s Racing Gallery in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, alongside Wittman\'s earlier and separate D-12 \"Bonzo,\" a bigger prewar Thompson Trophy racer that shares the name but not the airframe.EAA\'s own records now list N1292 as \"Little Bonzo\" to keep the two racers straight, though the airframe itself carries only \"Bonzo\" in period paint, exactly as it appears in this photograph.Both aircraft sit a short distance from Wittman Field, the Oshkosh airport Wittman managed for decades and which now carries his name.This print measures approximately 5 x 3 1/4 in with its full white border,and the image area within the border measures approximately 4 7/8 x 2 3/4 in.
It was archivally scanned at 600dpi to preserve full detail of the image and its handwritten verso notation.Every effort is made toward fact checking and provenance, including background research through news and historical archives. If any listing is incorrect in any way and you\'re unsatisfied with the item, please connect with me and I\'ll make it right.Orders placed before Noon CDT ship same day via Ground Advantage with tracking, so you know exactly when it will arrive. Returns accepted on all items exceeding $25 in cost. All shipments receive rigid, professional packaging, sealed and protected in acid free sleeves. Shipping is free and already built into the price, so the BIN price is exactly what you pay, no surprise shipping costs at checkout.CONDITIONThis is a vintage snapshot print with light overall toning consistent with age. The image is sharp and well exposed, with the racer\'s fuselage script, tail number, and nose profile all plainly visible. The reverse carries an archive number, \"R.1854,\" alongside the handwritten \"Bonzo \'58\" notation, both in period handwriting. Please review all photos closely, as they are the best representation of condition and are part of the description.