Heads & Tales: Steven Umholtz
(Editor’s Note: This is another installment in an ongoing series looking at the stories behind helmet designs of SCCA members. Want to share your story? Jot down a few words about your helmet, share a bit about what went into creating the design, tell us about the artist, take a couple pictures of the helmet and send it along via email to media@scca.com.)
Steven Umholtz, of the Nebraska Region, is a fan of Star Wars. Actually, strike that. He’s a HUGE Star Wars fan. In the November 2016 issue of SportsCar Magazine, Umholtz is the fella on page 21 who dressed as Han Solo at the 2016 Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships present by Garmin VIRB. So perhaps it’s not too surprising that when it was time for a new design for his helmet, Umholtz looked to the stars for inspiration.
“When it came time to update my autocross helmet, I bought an open-faced helmet in hopes of converting it to look like an X-Wing pilot's helmet from Star Wars,” Umholtz said. “I removed the front visor and sent the helmet to Shawn Palek, an airbrush artist and gallery owner in the Des Moines, Iowa area to make the conversion. Shawn was recommended to me not only because of his skill, but that he also had a passion for Star Wars.
“I asked Shawn to make my helmet look like Luke Skywalker's X-Wing pilot helmet from ‘Episode IV: A New Hope’, but wherever it was red on Luke's helmet, I wanted him to change it to blue on mine to match the blue brake calipers of my newly purchased autocross car -- a Frozen White 2016 Ford Focus RS. I especially love how he lightly weathered the helmet, as well as how he made the arch over the ear appear three-dimensional. I couldn't be happier with how it turned out!”
Steven, we may not be your father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate, but still think the lid is nothing but awesome. May the Schwartz be with you!
(Editor’s Note: Yes, SciFi devotees, we know the story headline is a Star Trek reference pertaining to a Star Wars item, with a Spaceballs citation included. We just wanted to stir the pot a bit for the heck of it.)
