I would set up a page in PS 52" wide by the length of the fade. Set up the white to black fade, and add a little noise to it (gradient overlay layer effect has a noise setting). The noise will break up the fade, making it smoother and less "steppy." Then after the print, laminate (leaving time to out gas of course) and then use your vector program of choice to cut these out.
And the guy driving, isn't that Skinner from Ratatouille?
jay*doc