Peter Hemming, whose collection this is,  started rallying in 1967 and progressed into circuit racing in 1969. Driving a range of race cars from a Mini to a works Mazda to a Chevron 2 liter sports car.
Retiring in 1977 Hemming was invited to apply for the position of Assistant Team Manager at the Lotus Formula 1 team. He was recruited the early part of 1978 and became rapidly right hand man to Colin Chapman, the Lotus founder, and the heart of the team. He was responsible for the PR Marketing, Sponsor Liaison, team management, timing and scoring along with team and car movement to and from the circuits.

In the end of 1978 therefore came to a poor end with no sponsorship to start the season and the effects of losing a great driver. Hemming was asked to step down and returned into private industry.

Hemming was contacted by the Paul Newman Bill Freeman Can Am Team with a view to joining them for the 1979 season. The Newman-Freeman team had enjoyed little success during the years prior and at the request of their major sponsor Budweiser, had changed the personnel at the team, brought over Keke Rosberg to drive alongside Elliott Forbes Robinson and pay to drive Randolph Townsend. The new personnel included Tony Dowe who formed the engineering backbone to the team. The team with Hemming in charge became the team to beat at every event entered. It gained pole position at every race apart from the Trois Rivieres street race.

Overall drivers’ championship was lost due to mechanical reliability however the team did gain the 1979 Can Am Championship Owners title. The end of 1979 saw an internal legal battle between the team owners and Paul Newman retained the team moving it to Laguna Seca Raceway.

Hemming retired from the sport to live in Santa Barbara, moving back into private industry. In 1991 Hemming was contacted by Team Lotus to investigate the viability of them building Indy style cars to compete in the upcoming series. Hemming moved to join an initial venture with Dick Simon Racing as Team Lotus works team. After many months of negotiating Team Lotus were not moving sufficiently rapidly to establish a firm agreement and Simon moved to order Indy Cars from Lola. Hemming aided Simon by negotiating engineering help from Lotus for the upcoming season. 1992 was one of Simon’s best season in the Cart Series. Hemming is still in private industry currently principal of a nationally known media group in Santa Barbara. Hemming is known worldwide for his major motor sports collection.