Illustrator

When not catching waves off an exotic beach somewhere or strumming tunes on his guitar, Carlos “Carlão” Carneiro can be found strapped into a cockpit risking his neck as a race car driver in either Brazil, England, or the United States.

A bona fide Carioca da Gema, born and raised in Rio, his artistic talent was first recognized by his high school principal who, obviously not amused by Carlos’ creativity, suspended him for drawing on the school’s books, walls, and furniture. To this day Carlão still can’t figure out how he got finagled into leaving his helmet on the shelf long enough to illustrate “How to Be a Carioca.” But as he concedes, “I’d even draw pictures on Sugar Loaf Mountain if it would help finance the next racing season.”

Currently, Carlão is manager of the Indoor Kart World Championship series in Phoenix, AZ. He lives in Arizona with his wife and son.