10471 replies to this topic

[Tuboscocca]

And does it say anything about this?



http://forums.autosp...showtopic=45949

Vitesse2,

NO!! I contacted Tabucchi in July 2011, to this one--as I haven't found anything in his book.

This is what Tabucchi answered:

''i know nothing of this car mentioned by
Giovannino Lurani, but i am sure that it is not never existed. ''

Best regards Michael

[Tuboscocca]

Autocourse and eBook

Maybe not new:

In Autosport I found an ad of Autocourse: if buying the coming 61st Autocourse from their homepage , they throw in an eBook of the 1971 edition..

More digital versions and how to gain acces on

http://www.autocourse.com/

Best regards

Michael

[P0wderf1nger]

At post 6096 above, Jack mentioned speedereaders.info, the transport (including motor racing) book review site. The new web site went live earlier this month, as the following press release explains, and it’s a joy to use.

Today a completely redesigned and much-enhanced website was unveiled. Since its founding in November 2009 the site has steadily grown and established itself as the one go-to Internet resource for competent book reviews in the transportation sector.

Posting three new reviews a week, like clockwork, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday means that the site grows by a minimum of 150 reviews a year—an effort utterly unmatched by anyone else. The database that is the backbone of the overhauled site now has a robust architecture that allows the ever-growing list of titles to be searched and organized in multiple ways.

Our page view rate has reached a high of 54,000 per month this year, with the vast majority of our users being repeat visitors. The addition of a reviewer in France this year allowed us to post bilingual (English/French) reviews in an attempt to further distinguish our service.

We have expanded our presence on Facebook and Twitter. A new feature now allows a reader to share a post with one single click with any of the major social networking sites, resulting in ever larger exposure of the website.

The quality of our reviews and the awareness of authors and publishers that SpeedReaders’ parent company offers boutique publishing/consulting services has led to several collaborations and we are prepared to expand this service.

We continue to strive to remain largely free of commercial advertising and to offer our high-quality contents free of charge, resisting the trend towards a fee-based subscription
service or the implementation a tiered membership.

[Tuboscocca]

Dallara

There is 'finally' the first book on Dallara!! In Italian and English. Obviously it deals with ALL Dallara activities.


http://www.libreriad...sp?idbook=11823

Can't say anything on the book--just found.

Regards Michael

[David Birchall]

I posted this on the Formula Racing Association thread but it occured to me that it should be here too:
http://www.500race.o...th America.html

[Graham Gauld]

My copy of ELva by Janos Wimpffen arrived. It is a monumental piece of work that has taken a good few years to come to fruition.

[fbarrett]

My copy of ELva by Janos Wimpffen arrived. It is a monumental piece of work that has taken a good few years to come to fruition.

Graham:

From a pro such as you, that's high praise. It was good of everyone involved in this long-needed book to invest their time, skills, and money on what will likely be a low-volume (yet long-term) seller. It's available from David Bull Publishing.

Frank

[Tuboscocca]

Ferrari DINO

for the 'deeper pocket brigade'

new Dino Compendium:

http://www.dino-book.com/

The page is at the moment a teaser. The author is a real authority on (street) Dinos

Regards Michael

[Jack-the-Lad]

Ferrari DINO

for the 'deeper pocket brigade'

new Dino Compendium:

http://www.dino-book.com/

The page is at the moment a teaser. The author is a real authority on (street) Dinos

Regards Michael

Long anticipated.

Edited by Jack-the-Lad, 23 November 2011 - 14:15.

[Tuboscocca]

Long anticipated.

Jack, did you (already) know of this project????

Michael

[Jack-the-Lad]

Jack, did you (already) know of this project????

Michael

Yes, it has been discussed in the Dino forum at www.ferrarichat.com

[Tuboscocca]

Yes, it has been discussed in the Dino forum at www.ferrarichat.com

Thanks Jack!
I'm not regularly in ferrarichat...
Regards Michael

[B Squared]

As also seen in the Watkins Glen thread:

My sincere congratulations to Michael Argetsinger and publisher David Bull on their nomination for the 2011 Dean Batchelor Award book category with Formula One at Watkins Glen: 20 Years of the United States Grand Prix, 1961-1980. Another outstanding effort.

Well done and good luck to all of the nominees.

Dean Batchelor Award Finalists 2011 ...

Motor Press Guild Selects 2011 Dean Batchelor Award Finalists

Established in 1995, the Dean Batchelor Award recognizes excellence in automotive journalism as exemplified by the man it is named after–Dean Batchelor.

The Award singles out individuals demonstrating outstanding achievement in the profession of automotive journalism. Each year MPG presents the Dean Batchelor Award to the journalist judged to have produced the single piece of work which best represents the professional standards and excellence demanded by Dean Batchelor during his life as an editor, writer, and chronicler of the automotive industry.

The winner of each category receives the MPG Best of the Year award in that category. The Dean Batchelor Award is then chosen from among the four category winners.

The 2011 finalists are:

Article Category

Jay G. Fitzhugh, "Protesters Sign Here," Rodders Journal, Winter 2010;
Preston Lerner, "Last Call for the Town Car," Automobile Magazine, July 2011
Tom Stahler, "Questor Grand Prix," Vintage Motorsport, July/August 2011

Audio/Visual Category

Todd Deeken & Paul Schmucker, "Chevrolet Volt," Everydaydriver.com, May 24, 2011
Michael Mandt, Neil Mandt & David Houston, "Rolls Royce Ghost," The Car Show, July 13, 2011
Asif Kapadia & Manish Pandey, "Senna," August 12, 2011

Book Category

Michael Argetsinger, Formula One at Watkins Glen: 20 Years of the United States Grand Prix, 1961-1980, David Bull Publishing
Stuart Codling, Real Racers, Motorbooks
Janos Wimpffen, Elva, the Cars, the People, the History, David Bull Publishing

Photography Category

Paul Barshon, "Viva Italia," Automobile Magazine, March 2011
Brian Blades, "Absolute Power," Road & Track Magazine, February 2011
Reinhard Klein, "Everybody's a Photographer," Road & Track Magazine, September 2011

The Best of the Year and Batchelor awards are given at the annual awards banquet, this year scheduled for December 13th at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

In addition, the Dean Batchelor Lifetime Achievement Award, selected separately by the Motor Press Guild Board of Directors, is presented on a case-by-case basis to individuals for outstanding contributions to the automotive communications industry.

The Dean Batchelor Award was first presented posthumously to Dean Batchelor in 1995 for his seminal book on hot rodding, The American Hot Rod, which was published after his death in 1994.

http://www.motorpres...tePageId=130373

[continental]

Picked up today, 'Porsche And Me', by Hans Mezger with Peter Morgan. For tech buffs a must, for all others wonderful, despite poor picture reproduction.

Edited by continental, 25 November 2011 - 20:10.

[fbarrett]

Picked up today, 'Porsche And Me', by Hans Mezger with Peter Morgan. For tech buffs a must, for all others wonderful, despite poor picture reproduction.

Continental:

I've been waiting for that book for a long time. Are you in Europe or the US? Where did you buy it?

Thanks,

Frank

[continental]

Continental:

I've been waiting for that book for a long time. Are you in Europe or the US? Where did you buy it?

Thanks,

Frank

Hi Frank,

I'm living in the Netherlands and my local bookstore imported it from Chaters' wholesale operation. In places the book reminds me of the 'Gordon Wingrove 917 book' (for which Mezger wrote the foreword). At GBP 45.-- it's quite expensive, but still very worthwhile.

Regards,

Mick

[Tuboscocca]

100 years of British Automobile Racing Club

I just found this book:

http://www.thehistor...acing-Club.aspx

Does anyone know this or even has bought already?? Worthwhile??

Many thanks in advance

Michael

[MCS]

100 years of British Automobile Racing Club

I just found this book:

http://www.thehistor...acing-Club.aspx

Does anyone know this or even has bought already?? Worthwhile??

Many thanks in advance

Michael

The synopsis doesn't bode even remotely well: "The BARC were also the first to stage a UK round of the FIA Touring Car series."

Probably yet another book that leaves you thinking how the hell it got published. I am still annoyed with "The Unfulfilled Dream: The Story of Motor Racing at Aintree" - which is just so annoying I've shredded it!!!

[Vitesse2]

The synopsis doesn't bode even remotely well: "The BARC were also the first to stage a UK round of the FIA Touring Car series."

No doubt the early years will be dismissed in a few pages - the first fifty were pretty well covered by Rodney Walkerley in "Brooklands to Goodwood" though.

[Tuboscocca]

No doubt the early years will be dismissed in a few pages - the first fifty were pretty well covered by Rodney Walkerley in "Brooklands to Goodwood" though.

Thanks MCS and Vitesse2 for saving my money!!
IMHO (MCS) the Aintreebook is not SO bad

Regards Michael

[MCS]

Thanks MCS and Vitesse2 for saving my money!!
IMHO (MCS) the Aintreebook is not SO bad

Regards Michael

The Aintree book spends more time in most of the main chapters outlining the Grand Prix season (elsewhere, obviously) than events at Aintree, which are, in any case, just regurgitated race reports from the weeklies of the day. Absolutely atrocious (in my view).

[PRD]

I keep getting adverts for JYS' Collage book on my FB page.

http://www.genesis-p...d-edition-book/

I'm also getting the "what would you like for Christmas?" from the better half , so what's the consensus-worth getting?

[Mark Godfrey]

Reading between the lines, this appears to be a biography of the semi-fictionalized, dramatized variety, containing accounts of conversations and encounters which "could" have occurred. Descriptions such as "a vivid and atmospheric recreation" make me think the author will play a bit fast and loose with the facts and not let them get in the way of a good story.

Still, I could stand an entertaining read and the subject matter is square in the middle of my area of interest. I ordered my copy a few days ago and it should arrive later this week!

My copy of "The Limit: Life and Death in Formula One's Most Dangerous Era" by Michael Cannell happened to arrive the day of the Phil Hill tribute diner at the Petersen Museum. (There I asked Derek Hill if he was familiar with the book, he indicated he was contacted early on, but wound up not being involved in the book.) The author did interview a number of people including journalists Denis McCluggage & Robert Daley, racer Bruce Kessler, and Peter Collins' widow Louise King. The author also made great use of material previously published in English and German language periodicals & books, as well as an audio interview done by Bill Pollack with Phil Hill in 2001. The notation of direct quotes are well handled, unobtrusive yet extensive. The back matter also includes a very complete index. The few photos are reproduced in a limited tonal range and provide atmosphere, but are not what we would typically see in a book dealing with auto racing. The writing leans decidedly toward the vivid and atmospheric and at times it is apparent the author cast himself against type in writing a book about racing. As the publisher of the 2nd edition of "Phil Hill: Yankee Champion" by William F. Nolan, I was glad to see some information not readily known about Phil Hill. As an English language reader, I was glad to see any information of Wolfgang von Trips.

Mark Godfrey
- - -

[continental]

I keep getting adverts for JYS' Collage book on my FB page.

http://www.genesis-p...d-edition-book/

I'm also getting the "what would you like for Christmas?" from the better half , so what's the consensus-worth getting?

I have it. It's very nicely produced, but also quite expensive for the offered contents.

Top of my list would be ELVA, by Wimpffen.

Regards,

Mick

[West3]

Hi Mark,

Suppose I might as well jump in here with a few trivial opinions.

Having finished the book last week, I must say I have mixed impressions about it. I found it extremely readable and engrossing as it follows the early lives and careers of a couple of legends. Though I was pretty familiar with the circumstances and events, there were many factoids and personal vignettes that I'd never known or had forgotten. The collections of quotes from the many and sundry characters of the time really brought the story to life, particularly Phil Hill's articulate, dark, dry humor, which is something to savor. I had feared the book would take too many liberties with the facts, but with 21 pages encompassing over 450 reference notes, well I suppose one could say it's as accurate as the source material. And I have no reason to doubt any of that.

The information on von Tripps background and upbringing was fascinating too and most of it I was previously unaware.

My gripes are that at times it depicts events in a sensationalized and needlessly grisly manner, jumps around a bit chronologically, gets some technical facts and events humorously wrong and, unfortunately, sometimes reads a bit like a Hollywood blockbuster script.

Even so, it brought to mind Robert Daley's other book "The Cruel Sport" which I think has a great number of similarities in its general tone.

Overall I'd say it's probably a book for the anorak to avoid, but recommended for someone who would like to immerse themselves in an evocative tale over a few cold winter's nights.

-Will

My copy of "The Limit: Life and Death in Formula One's Most Dangerous Era" by Michael Cannell happened to arrive the day of the Phil Hill tribute diner at the Petersen Museum. (There I asked Derek Hill if he was familiar with the book, he indicated he was contacted early on, but wound up not being involved in the book.) The author did interview a number of people including journalists Denis McCluggage & Robert Daley, racer Bruce Kessler, and Peter Collins' widow Louise King. The author also made great use of material previously published in English and German language periodicals & books, as well as an audio interview done by Bill Pollack with Phil Hill in 2001. The notation of direct quotes are well handled, unobtrusive yet extensive. The back matter also includes a very complete index. The few photos are reproduced in a limited tonal range and provide atmosphere, but are not what we would typically see in a book dealing with auto racing. The writing leans decidedly toward the vivid and atmospheric and at times it is apparent the author cast himself against type in writing a book about racing. As the publisher of the 2nd edition of "Phil Hill: Yankee Champion" by William F. Nolan, I was glad to see some information not readily known about Phil Hill. As an English language reader, I was glad to see any information of Wolfgang von Trips.

Mark Godfrey
- - -

[Alan Cox]

Veloce's Christmas offer is "buy one, get one free" on all books. Unusually, it is a telephone-only offer - Call them on +44 (0)1305 260068 to place your order during office hours Mon-Fri 09.00-17.30 GMT
If you only want one book, they are offering 40% off for internet orders.
http://www.veloce.co.uk/shop/index.php

[Roger Clark]

No doubt the early years will be dismissed in a few pages - the first fifty were pretty well covered by Rodney Walkerley in "Brooklands to Goodwood" though.

Perhaps the Club picked the wrong author, for it has been said that Rodney Walkerley is a good journalist but no historian. Certainly chaps like Macbeth and Boddy had to vet the text with their fine-tooth combs to rid it of many errors and we believe the publication date was a little delayed in consequence. In the opinion of this reviewer it would not have mattered very much had it been postponed indefinitely.--B. J.

From the Motor Sport review of "Brooklands to Goodwood" Feb 1962. I don't know who BJ was.

[rolf123]

Martin Hines' autobio (hardback) is available in my local Poundland, maybe elsewhere too.

[Mark Godfrey]

Will, though I wrote of some positive points of "The Limit" I agree with your current assessment.

My gripes are that at times it depicts events in a sensationalized and needlessly grisly manner, jumps around a bit chronologically, gets some technical facts and events humorously wrong and, unfortunately, sometimes reads a bit like a Hollywood blockbuster script.

Indeed the movie rights were optioned in 2009, before the book was completed.

To read more on the book, the author, and Michael T. Lynch's review and Errata Sheet of corrections see http://www.velocetoday.com/

Mark
- - -

[Allan Lupton]

Martin Hines' autobio (hardback) is available in my local Poundland, maybe elsewhere too.

Who he?

[Roger Clark]

From the Motor Sport review of "Brooklands to Goodwood" Feb 1962. I don't know who BJ was.

D. W. Benkinson-Joddy?

[Alan Cox]

Who he?

http://forums.autosp...hl=martin hines

[PRD]

From the Bonhams Auction, a few interesting prices paid

http://www.bonhams.c.../results/19293/

[Allan Lupton]

http://forums.autosp...hl=martin hines

Thank you Alan. I wondered if I was supposed to have heard of him, and you have confirmed that I was not, as I have never had any interest in gocarts or their people.

[GrumpyOldMan]

There's a full-page advertisement in today's Autosport for Tom Rubython's latest book, In the Name of Glory: 1976 the Greatest Ever Sporting Duel, apparently on sale from this weekend (but already available from Amazon). As he recently authored a biography of Hunt, I'm wondering if it's just a rehash of the relevant parts of that book, or if it's a genuinely original effort.

I was silly enough to buy this - avoid like the plague!!

Rubython seems almost obsessed by Hunt & the triangle between Hunt (whom he has written a biography on), his soon-to-be ex-wife & Richard Burton (whom he has also written a biography on). Maybe he saw this as an opportunity to display his knowledge on this "important" issue in the battle for the 1976 F1 World Championship . Meanwhile, the sum total of his "insight" into Lauda appears to be lifted verbatim from "To Hell & Back". So this is hardly an even-handed treatment of the main protagonists.

It's also telling that there is no bibliography, which I think is unique in any biography I have ever read. That really should have warned me...

The level of pro-British Hunt/anti-foreigner Lauda bias is staggering (The British GP crowd are almost commended for throwing missiles on to the track, whilst the Italian GP crowd are lambasted for daring to spit on Hunt. Lauda is strongly criticised for the way he breaks up with one girlfriend, yet Hunt's serial infidelity if presented as cold fact without any comment. Lauda is described as being "high on painkillers" at the Spanish GP, yet Hunt was simply "given" pain-killing injections for the US GP), never mind the fact that it is frequently contradictory (he claims in the Foreward that Lauda DIDN'T lose the championship because of his accident, yet later in the narrative he confirms this is indeed almost certainly the case) and the proof-reading is non-existent - the results for the Japanese GP tell us that Hunt was driving a Tyrrell-Ford P34, as was Jochen Mass! Not only that, but Alan Jones was driving a McLaren-Surtees & Ertl was driving a "Hesketh-Ford-Ford" - amazing that Ertl didn't manage to win the race having the benefit of 2 engines!

He also claims that Lauda's helmet was wrenched off in the accident due to him having added extra foam padding. This may or may not be true, but it is presented as fact in the narrative without any backup from any learned authority. He then also accuses Daily Express journalist David Benson of being "probably part of a cover up to hide what really happened"! By this stage, I began to wonder if this was written whilst wearing a tinfoil hat. Unforgivably, he then twists this into an excuse to blame Lauda for the injuries he received in the crash.

Equally surprising is his presentation of the exact cause of Lauda's crash (almost down to the corner where the original component failure was allegedly caused), which is revelatory since Ferrari have never published any full results of their own investigation. How can he be so sure of the cause, when no-one else is? Where is his research, his evidence, corroboration of these "facts"?

I could go on, but you get the picture. Easily the most poorly-researched, biased book on F1 I have ever had the misfortune to read.

[jj2728]

Thanks for the head's up and I shall avoid like the plague....

[Vitesse2]

Given Mr Rubython's previous form, I doubt anyone will be surprised by that review. It sounds like the sort of book that one should be dropping hints that it's not something one hopes to find under the Christmas tree.

Perhaps you'd care to also post your review in the Worst ever book on F1 thread? Seems appropriate.

[kayemod]

Given Mr Rubython's previous form, I doubt anyone will be surprised by that review.

I've never read anything by TR, but has he ever written a book that's worth reading?

[fbarrett]

May I be so bold as to state that instead of focusing on books not worth reading we should aim for truly good books. This year's main choices for me are Elva by Janos Wimpffen and 50 Years of Watkins Glen (or something to that effect) by Michael Argetsinger. Porsche by Mailander is another, not to mention Porsche, Genesis of Genius, which appeared in 2010. And, of course, so many older books remain as fine examples.

Frank

[GrumpyOldMan]

Given Mr Rubython's previous form, I doubt anyone will be surprised by that review. It sounds like the sort of book that one should be dropping hints that it's not something one hopes to find under the Christmas tree.;)

Perhaps you'd care to also post your review in the Worst ever book on F1 thread? Seems appropriate.

Will do.

I've never read anything by TR, but has he ever written a book that's worth reading?

You know what's worse? I bought "Shunt" at the same time! I can't bear to open it now...

That'll teach me to impulse-buy in a bookshop when I'm bored! Wish I'd searched his name on this forum before buying...

[ensign14]

What gets me is how his stuff finds its way into prominent bookshops. Given the amount he has had to pay out in libel damages over the years, is he a trustafarian who can buy his way into publishing?

[Jack-the-Lad]

May I be so bold as to state that instead of focusing on books not worth reading we should aim for truly good books. This year's main choices for me are Elva by Janos Wimpffen and 50 Years of Watkins Glen (or something to that effect) by Michael Argetsinger. Porsche by Mailander is another, not to mention Porsche, Genesis of Genius, which appeared in 2010. And, of course, so many older books remain as fine examples.

Frank

Frank,

I certainly understand your sentiment, but I think we can do both. It's certainly helpful to be warned off of books that may not be worthwhile, especially at the prices some of them bring, plus today's shipping costs.

Jack.

[fbarrett]

Jack:

Good point.

Frank

[Herbert]

In Germany a biography of Jochen Neerpasch was recently published. For those who interested here are some more infos:

Jochen Neepasch

After reading it, here is a short review:

In the first part it gives a short, perhaps a little superficial summary of his racing career with Volvo, Shelby Cobra, Porsche etc. After that the book gives nice insights in to the foundation of the racing department at Ford Köln and BMW Motorsport. In the following chapters Neerpasch's unsuccessful attempt to bring Talbot into F1 with BMW engines and the German's years with the FIA (where he neraly took over running of the Sportscar World Championship), with the IMG agency and his role in the motorsports comeback of Mercedes in 1988 and the Mercedes Junior Team (with Schumacher, Wendlinger and Frentzen) are also covered. The book gives some interesting background information with quotes from Neerpasch himself. A lot of pictures and documents from Neerpaschs collection illustrate each chapter. Many former colleagues and drivers like Stuck, Mass, Herd, Dennis, Mosley, Haug or Schumacher give personal accounts of their work with the German.

Sadly Neerpaschs later projects (which wren't successfull like theEUROC series aren't mentioned at all). And in the Mercedes chapter there is one thing concerning the Sauber-Mercedes C291 group C car that is quite questionable. It is mentioned that Mercedes had plans to use the 180 degree V12 of that car in F1 sometime later which cannot be true. Such an engine was far to wide to allow reasonable aerodynamics at the rear of a monoposto.

But apart from that if you interested in the motorsports history of Ford Köln, BMW or Mercedes I recommend the book.

Edited by Herbert, 05 December 2011 - 19:55.

[Tuboscocca]

BOAC 500 and 1000 ,1967-72 book (soon)


Editions Palmier announces two new titles..

On the BOAC 500/1000 races

http://www.editions-...s,fr,4,p156.cfm

And an (updated version) of Bollée's 12 Heures du Reims:

http://www.editions-...s,fr,4,p144.cfm

Both seem to be available within a month.

Best regards

Michael

[helioseism]

"BMW Ultimate Drives Vol. 1 1937-1982" is now out.

The "Books in the Works" page has been updated to reflect this. As a reminder, this page and its companions can be found here:

books that never were
books with title changes
books in the works

Please post any additions, corrections, etc., and I will make the appropriate changes.

You may now return to the upright position.

[Vitesse2]

A rather amusing title change, which may also exist in the publisher's original announcement (assuming anyone ever kept old seasonal catalogues or AI sheets): I have an uncorrected proof copy of "Jackie Stewart: World Champion" by Eric Dymock which bears the title "Jackie Stewart '69" on both the cover and title page.

[fbarrett]

So, in the spirit of the season, what books (new or old) are you hoping to receive as Christmas presents--even from yourself?

My choice for the top two new books would be Elva and Porsche by Mailander. Used books are tougher and depend more on your interests, but for me a fine copy of the Porsche book, Lieb Zu Ihm, would be a great gift. Or maybe some ancient Autocourse issues.

There's almost nothing I enjoy more than opening a new book on Christmas morning then spending much of the day enjoying it. This year, though, I'm getting married on Christmas Eve, so that is probably not a wise way to spend Christmas Day!

Frank

[Jack-the-Lad]

Congratulations, Frank!

[ensign14]

If any of you happen to be in Porto, get yourself to the Campanha metro station - there's a remainder bookshop there knocking out a rather decent A4 hardback history of the street races for ten euro. All in Portuguese, of course, but (a) you can muddle through OK pretending it's French or Latin or something and (b) there are loads of great pictures, including a plethora of local specials.