Art Contest Winner is Drawn to Racings
By Joel Landau
The Daily Journal
thedailyjournal.com

Millville, N.J. (July 29, 2008) – Diane Roberts needs to buy a whole bunch of marking pens.

The city resident won the New Jersey Motorsports Park's inaugural poster art competition. Her design will be printed on 40,000 posters to be given away at the park in the next several weeks.

Roberts said she plans to be at the park as much as she can to autograph the posters.

"I better get a big box of Sharpies," she said. "I really wanted to do it. Motorsports has been a passion of mine, and I really wanted to get involved with the park."

Roberts drew the colored pencils design in about a week. The design includes World War II planes, vintage cars, a pilot and the exterior of the Millville Army Air Field Museum.

The artist said she researched photos and old planes at the museum.

Roberts received $300 for winning the contest. She was previously commissioned to draw another picture for the park's Clubhouse. Roberts said she's excited about the potential for her work to be seen by so many visitors to the park.

"I haven't really thought of it yet," she said. "It's a wonderful opportunity."

Don Fauerbach, an official with the park, did not reveal how many entries were received, but said Roberts' design best met the park's criteria to incorporate the facility with aspects of the city's history.

Fauerbach said the design could be used on postcards, T-shirts or other merchandise in the future. The original print will be auctioned off at a future event for the Green Flag Committee, a motorsports booster group , he said.