10462 replies to this topic

[Hieronymus]

Originally posted by ensign14
1895 Paris-Bordeaux-Paris

Looks very interesting. Entry list and "lap chart" are amongst the freebies on the site.

Interesting, but the price is a bit steep for a 90 page odd book...especially if one's country deals in "funny money". Would like to have a copy, though.

[red stick]

Originally posted by RA Historian
... and more recently in the Penske book...

Are you referring to Alan Hummel's Penske book? And this factual error aside (if that is possible), how was it otherwise? Useful history, put together from press releases, or somewhere in between?

[Allan Lupton]

Originally posted by RA Historian
more recently in the Penske book, being told that turbochargers run on exhaust fumes, while all superchargers are powered be electric motors.

Caution: this may contain a rant.
That is the sort of thing that brings me to my standard bleat about the demise of the publisher's editor whose job it was to spot the howlers (in particular) and the poor syntax that reverses the intended meaning, etc.
For twenty-odd years this lack has been evident: when I retired in 1993 I offered my services as a freelance editor to various publishers whose books had been let down by some really awful howlers, only to be told that there was no problem. . . and in the next book from one of them there was a photo caption which said something different from the body text of the same page - which a trained chimpanzee would have spotted (and columns of figures that should add up, but dont, and much, much more).
Rant over

[Stephen W]

Originally posted by Allan Lupton

Caution: this may contain a rant.
That is the sort of thing that brings me to my standard bleat about the demise of the publisher's editor whose job it was to spot the howlers (in particular) and the poor syntax that reverses the intended meaning, etc.
For twenty-odd years this lack has been evident: when I retired in 1993 I offered my services as a freelance editor to various publishers whose books had been let down by some really awful howlers, only to be told that there was no problem. . . and in the next book from one of them there was a photo caption which said something different from the body text of the same page - which a trained chimpanzee would have spotted (and columns of figures that should add up, but dont, and much, much more).
Rant over

I am glad that when our book was published Phil Short & I insisted that the final version be returned for us to proof read. In the process there were hundreds of simple errors that had found there way in (e.g. Climax becoming climax). We ended up re-reading the whole book several times and I guess there would still be some faults slipping through.

The other thing we did was proof read each others work before finalising it. This was a great help as between us we spotted dozens of mistakes that things like Spellchecker will miss.

[Allan Lupton]

Originally posted by Stephen W

The other thing we did was proof read each others work before finalising it. This was a great help as between us we spotted dozens of mistakes that things like Spellchecker will miss.

Yes, what I also learned more decades ago than I like to think was that you can't proof your own stuff reliably because (a) sometimes you read what you thought you wrote, rather than what's there and (b) you know where the emphasis goes, whether the syntax/punctuation leads that way or not.

[Stephen W]

Originally posted by Allan Lupton


Yes, what I also learned more decades ago than I like to think was that you can't proof your own stuff reliably because (a) sometimes you read what you thought you wrote, rather than what's there and (b) you know where the emphasis goes, whether the syntax/punctuation leads that way or not.

Exactly what we found!

[bradbury west]

[i]Originally posted by Stephen W
....of simple errors that had found there way in (e.g. Climax becoming climax). We ended up re-reading the whole book several times and I guess there would still be some faults slipping through.

Precisely.
RL

[petefenelon]

Originally posted by bradbury west


Precisely.
RL

In a previous incarnation I used to work on safety-critical systems. It was generally accepted that in the documentation for said systems there was about one major error per page.

I've seen the safety evidence for the Airbus A330/A340. It's a row of filing cabinets many yards long. That's quite a few errors.... the odd minor typo in a book doesn't really bother me.

Factual errors, though, bug me heavily.

[John Blunsden]

I couldn't agree more, Doug. Loyalty is a two-way street, and it is in the interests of all of us that specialist retailers should be able to operate on a level playing field. This is why the specialists (and we all know who they are) will receive the same express delivery service with BRM Vol 3 has they enjoyed for Vols 1 and 2, and as the book is currently between the print and bind stage, a March delivery date begins to look realistic, at least for the jacketed ('silver') edition.


JB

Originally posted by Doug Nye


I would apologise for the inconvenience but for the fact I don't really know what's going on.

What I suspect is that the cost cutters at Amazon have been refused supply from the distributor for the perfectly legitimate purpose of giving the committed longterm specialist booksellers an even playing field.

If the publisher was aiming for unlimited sales, the cost cutters would be welcome. For a limited edition - however - there is no point in helping them cut the throats of the long-term specialist sellers who have been loyal to us for decades...

I was brought up to believe that loyalty is a two-way street and I am pretty sure that the publisher, Motor Racing Publications (MRP) subscribe to the same (now too often forgotten) business ethic.

DCN

[bradbury west]

I am sure Steve understands irony. He also understands the need for accuracy, qv his point in the new C&SC about clarifying who was driving the ex Burt McLaren in a previous article.
RL

[John Blunsden]

Originally posted by jumperjarier
hi everybody,
last week i received a copy of Phil Kerr's new book "To finnish first" which is all about his days as a mechanic
for cooper and mclaren, although a bit on the pricey side £59.99 it is a very good read and i can highly recommend it,
there are only 300 copies published, and all copies are signed by Phil Kerr and the artist Michael Turner.
I really enjoy the comments on this forum and i hope i can contribute something worthwhile in the future

regards jumperjarier

May I correct a couple of jumperjarier's comments concerning 'To Finish First'? Although Phil Kerr began his motorsport life as a driver who was prepared to get his hands dirty, I'm not sure he would appreciate the label of mechanic. In fact, when he came to the UK (firstly to join Jack Brabham during his highly successful Cooper years and then follow him as a co-director when Jack formed the Brabham Racing Organisation), he was very much his business manager.

Later, of course, he left to join his lifetime pal Bruce McLaren when Bruce in turn left Cooper to build and run his own show, of which Phil would become joint managing director.
So his autobiography 'To Finish First' is very much the story of a man who was at the top in F1, CanAm and Indy 500 racing and privy to everything that was happening in all three disciplines at that time.

Rest assured that 300 is not the entire print run! Those are books which, as jumperjarier explains, are a limited run carrying the signatures of Phil Kerr and Michael Turner, one of whose paintings adorns the front cover (there are many more inside). MRP's co-edition is currently on the high seas and will become available in March at a UK price of £29.95 in all markets outside of Australasia.

JB

[jumperjarier]

Originally posted by John Blunsden


May I correct a couple of jumperjarier's comments concerning 'To Finish First'? Although Phil Kerr began his motorsport life as a driver who was prepared to get his hands dirty, I'm not sure he would appreciate the label of mechanic. In fact, when he came to the UK (firstly to join Jack Brabham during his highly successful Cooper years and then follow him as a co-director when Jack formed the Brabham Racing Organisation), he was very much his business manager.

Later, of course, he left to join his lifetime pal Bruce McLaren when Bruce in turn left Cooper to build and run his own show, of which Phil would become joint managing director.
So his autobiography 'To Finish First' is very much the story of a man who was at the top in F1, CanAm and Indy 500 racing and privy to everything that was happening in all three disciplines at that time.

Rest assured that 300 is not the entire print run! Those are books which, as jumperjarier explains, are a limited run carrying the signatures of Phil Kerr and Michael Turner, one of whose paintings adorns the front cover (there are many more inside). MRP's co-edition is currently on the high seas and will become available in March at a UK price of £29.95 in all markets outside of Australasia.

JB

thanks for putting the facts right john, i stand corrected

regards jumperjarier

[Doug Nye]

One of my first jobs when I went to work with JB (of MRP) at Brands Hatch in 1963 was to go to Woking to do a story on Jack Brabham Developments. I was 18 going on 11 and hugely in awe of the people I was meant to 'interview' (ha, ha). In this case the man I met who showed me around and told me what was going on was Phil Kerr. Whether John had briefed him or not I do not know, but he was utterly tolerant, engaging, informative and helpful. He remained so for the rest of the period I knew him. And he certainly has a tremendous story to tell...

DCN

[Alan Cox]

More news about Paul Lawrence's book on the motor sporting life of Barrie Williams



For 50 years, Barrie 'Whizzo' Williams has been thrilling motor racing crowds with his outstanding talent on the circuit and great sense of humour off the track. He has raced and rallied with great success, starting in 1957. He has had a life full of adventure, excitement, success and a few bumps. This is his story. When discussing the title for this book, he said: 'Should we call it 'Whizzo' the first 50 years?' Still racing with as much speed and determination as ever, he is currently president of the British Motorsport Marshals' Club.

"I've raced every year, I've never stopped racing," said Barrie. "I don't know what I'd do without racing. I don't know what else to do. It's my way of life. I'll drive anything with four wheels. I race to win, but if I don't it's not the end of the world. With a bit of luck, there's always another race."

This book, which includes 200 photos - many never published before - attempts to capture the successes, the failures, the adventures, the people, the places and the laughs that have made for a remarkable five decades.

Publisher TFM Publishing Ltd ISBN 9 033786 25
Published March 1 2008 Pages 192
Format Hard-back, 210 mm x 260 mm
Price UK £20.00 US $40.00 €30.00

[sterling49]

Another "must have" book ;)

[Vitesse2]

One to look out for on the remainder tables: Classic Motorsport Routes by Richard Meaden, published 2007 by the AA (!) 30 short pictorial essays on classic circuits, rally routes, road races, hillclimbs and record runs as they are today, including some historic pictures. Probably originally (over-)priced at £25 but not unreasonable for a tenner. I also picked up a cheap copy of Martin Pfundner's book on the Alpine Trials.

[rudi]

No Retromobile visit without a long stop at Hortons book stand.
And I found "Beyound the lens" vol 2 , the book full of colour photos taken by George McKaige in Europe and
Australia between 1952 and 1956.
Paddock and race photos, from Aston Butterworth to Ottorino Volonterio and Hill special to Sphinx. Pure gem !

[terry mcgrath]

yes good book I sent 10 of them from australia to Hortons.
these books are printed in numbers of only 200-300
Volume 1 mainly australian pics was a sell out. There is likely to be a volume 3 and if any one wants to keep in touch with me I can advise them of impending arrival
regards terry mcgrath

[sterling49]

I have just received my copy of "The Drivers" authored by TNF member huwjadvantich, AKA Tim Nevinson, just a quick glance so far, but the subjects are all of great interest to me (Kiwi Drivers) and some really superb photographs, sent, all the way from Newmarket, New Zealand

[Jan Holmskov]

Another nice photo book published just before Retromobile is Lartigue et les auto de course by the author Pierre Darmendrail.

The motor sport photography from 1905 to 1978 of Jacques Lartigue (including the famous car No. 6 photo) is reproduced in modern quality. The book also has quotes from Lartigue's diaries and reproductions from his personal photo albums.

Jan

[FLB]

Originally posted by HDonaldCapps
Not exactly sure why I bought this, The Ford Cosworth DFV: The Inside Story of F1's Greatest Engine, but it seems that it will probably spend far more time sitting on the shelf than in the Research Pile for one of my projects. Generally, pretty underwhelming apart from a tidbit or two. Either that or it could be that we may not need another book on the topic at the moment....

I've just received my copy from Amazon. Underwhelming might not completely be the right word. I get the feeling that this is a book that was written for somebody who has no idea what the DFV is, i.e. for a complete novice about the sport's history. It's not a serious book for research purposes, either from the historical or engineering perspective.

The part I found most interesting concerns the current versions of the DFV that are raced in historic series. Just skimming, I've one minor pedantic error (Michel Leclère did not drive the 908/80 during the actual 1980 Le Mans 24H). The book does not delve into the early problems as much as I would have liked.

DCN's Autocourse History of the Grand Prix Cars: 1966-91 and Michael Oliver's Lotus 49 tell the story more succintly IMHO, especially of the early DFVs.

[BerndRos]

BRM VOL 3......................................................................



Is out , just got confirmation from Chaters that my copy will be posted on Monday !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!








VOL 4 ???????????????

[ensign14]

Anyone know where no. 1088 has been shipped? Would have been Mill House Books...

[helioseism]

Ensign14 -- Mill House Books is alive! I received e-mail a few days ago, offering me my number (1023) from prior orders. I mentioned your number to Elizabeth, e-mail is millhouseexhibit@tiscali.co.uk . She says they are trading.

[ensign14]

I've got an email as well! Wooo!!! Here I go!!

[Doug Nye]

Errrr - steady on fellers....this makes me terribly, terribly, terribly nervous....I haven't seen one yet...

DCN

[philippe charuest]

and a new episode of the saga of the BRM book

[Magee]

Hi Doug,

The Owen and Knight Streamliner on pg 341 of your book COOPER CARS has been found. It has sat for over 30 years in a backyard in the central area of British Columbia.
After I raced it in the mid-60s it was put in a garage until sold in the early 70s never to be raced. However, a new owner is now in the process of putting this car back in shape. Its land speed activities are finished; however, the track activiities could happen later this year, perhaps a duo with the Pete Lovely Cooper Streamliner.

If you know of Michael Knight's email address would you please tell him. He had sent me an email a few years ago
trying to locate the car, but I've lost his address. Thanks.

Mike

MMAGEES@SHAW.CA

[PeterElleray]

Originally posted by Doug Nye
Errrr - steady on fellers....this makes me terribly, terribly, terribly nervous....I haven't seen one yet...

DCN

well mine arrived this morning Doug...

[petefenelon]

Motor Books are advertising stock today.... we'll see if mine turns up ;)

(And there goes March, as I feel it's incumbent upon me to re-read 1 and 2 just to keep all the data and stories fresh...;))

[green-blood]

bought and paid for

doug V4?????

stuck Cahier, F-stops and Pit stops in there while I was at it, I hope the postman won't mind

[petefenelon]

Originally posted by green-blood
bought and paid for

doug V4?????

stuck Cahier, F-stops and Pit stops in there while I was at it, I hope the postman won't mind

Cahier is superb photographically (particularly the 'off duty' shots) but the text is a bit subjective and occasionally in need of correction -- it's nice to see racing history tackled from a non-Anglocentric perspective though. A great read, but check the facts!

[green-blood]

the text is a bonus really. this will go beside the Wimpfan set and Tennant's Golden Age of Motor Racing

[petefenelon]

BRM Vol. 3 is here. I may be gone some time ;)

[kayemod]

Originally posted by petefenelon
....I may be gone some time ;)

Don't forget to leave us your socks.

[sterling49]

Originally posted by sterling49
I am completely ensconced in Peter Darley's book "Jim Clark Life At Team Lotus" a superb stroll through the sixties in a time when I was a young teenager. I am currently on the Brands Hatch Chapter, it does feature Oulton, Snetterton, Silverstone,Crystal Palace and Goodwood also.The memories come flooding back, the old dressing room in the paddock, the great August Bank Holiday meetings when Jim would be racing in four cars (I fell asleep during the F2 race, because I flown back from France the previous day, and arrived home in the early hours :yawn: I remember sitting on the bonnet of dad's Cortina on South Bank). A truly spectacular set of photos, not yet seen before and some taken from unusual track positions. I also love the fact that they are in black and white, period you might say. Alongside each race photographed is a cover picture of the corresponding Race Programme (of which I have nearly all, but cannot find.......)

Such a superb book, I think this is likely to be my all time favourite, as I wander through I can hear the fab four singing "Help"...it really triggers the memories. Fantastic!! Thank You Peter

.....and I answered Peter Darley's question....."why has nobody reviewed my book?" with, "I don't know!".........must be my dementia Peter, I had already, some time ago! Lots of folk snapping them up over the week-end at the Jim Clark Film Festival, KingsleyRob had one under his arm, rather like you would have done in the 6th form with a Led Zepp or Moody Blues album ;) Frivolities aside, this is a fantastic book, as all those who saw Peter's slide show on Saturday will know, sadly there will only be another 80 satisfied customers as the limited print run is diminishing fast......

I am so glad that I have my copy, I probably attended most of the races that Jim competed in at Brands, so a fantastic photo recollection

Sterling

[bradbury west]

Chater's rang this afternoon to tell me that "Gentleman Jack" is in stock now, so it is on its way to me with BRM 3. No news further yet of Graham Gauld's tome on Cliff Allison to which I look foward.
BTW, they stock Weekend Heroes
Roger Lund.

[josefk]

Hope this is the right place to post this but would anyone know the history of Autocourse annuals coverage of Indy/Champ car. I think the first year of Autocourse Indy ran from 1993/4 for 3 or so years then at some point became Autocourse Champcar. But there seems to be some Indy volumes published during the champ car years.

Also does anyone know if the Autocourse champcar volumes cover Indyracing League post the split or just the Champ car series.

Pre Autocourse Indy I assume Indy coverage was confined to the US pages in main Autocourse annual

[helioseism]

Here is the history of the Autocourse American Open Wheel annuals:

CART Annuals
-----------------------------------------------
Autocourse Indy Car Official Yearbook 1993-1994
Autocourse Indy Car Official Yearbook 1994-1995 Cosworth promotional edition also exists
Autocourse Indy Car Official Yearbook 1995-1996
Autocourse Indy Car Official Yearbook 1996-1997
Autocourse CART Official Yearbook 1997-1998
Autocourse CART Official Yearbook 1998-1999
Autocourse CART Official Yearbook 1999-2000
Autocourse CART Official Yearbook 2000-2001
Autocourse CART Official Yearbook 2001-2002
Autocourse CART Official Yearbook 2002-2003
Autocourse Champ Car Official Yearbook 2003-2004
Autocourse Champ Car Official Yearbook 2004-2005
Autocourse Champ Car Official Yearbook 2005-2006

IRL annuals
----------------------------------------------------
Autocourse Indianapolis 500 Official Yearbook 2003 & Indy Racing League IndyCar Series
Autocourse Indianapolis 500 Official Yearbook 2004 & Indy Racing League IndyCar Series


Earlier annuals are in the "Men And Machines" series:
-----------------------------------------------------
Men And Machines Of Indy Car Racing - CART 1987-1988 STP promotional edition also exists
Men And Machines Of Indy Car Racing - CART 1988-1989 Amway promotional edition also exists
Men And Machines Of Indy Car Racing - CART 1989-1990 Amway promotional edition also exists
Men And Machines Of Indy Car Racing - CART 1990-1991
Men And Machines Of Indy Car Racing - CART 1991-1992
Men And Machines Of Indy Car Racing - Indy Car 1992/1993
Men And Machines Of Indy Car Racing - Indy Car 1993/1994

[Bjorn Kjer]

Another good one :

Autocourse , CART ,the first 20 years , 1979-1998

[rearwheelskid00]

Although I have zero knowledge of Le Mans or 24 hour racing (motorcycle or car), it's something that has always intrigued me.
So can anyone suggest me a book, preferablly something that describes the moment - A teams/ drivers processes towards winning or losing at Le Mans. I hope that makes sense!
Cheers!

[jph]

Originally posted by rearwheelskid00
Although I have zero knowledge of Le Mans or 24 hour racing (motorcycle or car), it's something that has always intrigued me.
So can anyone suggest me a book, preferablly something that describes the moment - A teams/ drivers processes towards winning or losing at Le Mans. I hope that makes sense!
Cheers!

There is a vast number of books available on the history of Le Mans, ranging from histories of individual marques' efforts (Porsche, Ford, Aston Martin etc) through to compendia of reproduced race reports. For a single volume overview, Brian Laban's 'Le Mans 24 Hours' is good. For an account of a single team's campaign at a single race, you might try Stirling Moss's 'Le Mans '59' or the Ken Wells's books on the Jaguar campaigns in 1988 and 1990. The ACO published a two-volume centenary set in 2006 which gives a brief account of each race and an overview of the background history, while there is also a two-volume set picturing virtually every car that competed in the race from 1923 to 1992. Except for the ACO set, these might all be available only through the second-hand book specialists. Of the general histories still in print, Ian Wagstaff's 'British at Le Mans' is good.

There's a lot to choose from - collecting Le Mans books can become a compulsive and expensive obsession, as I have learned to my cost!

[Bjorn Kjer]

To me , post 3237 is too vague to suggest any specific book , and allthough post 3238 is very wide spreading I also do not necessarily agree with the proposed books value ! Sorry , had to be said , but it is of course based on my own wishes and likings to the books mentioned and to those I have my self ! I would suggest the best would be to go and have a look , if possible , are cry out for more comments !!!!

[philippe charuest]

Originally posted by rearwheelskid00
Although I have zero knowledge of Le Mans or 24 hour racing (motorcycle or car), it's something that has always intrigued me.
So can anyone suggest me a book, preferablly something that describes the moment - A teams/ drivers processes towards winning or losing at Le Mans. I hope that makes sense!
Cheers!

in the recently published book with an insider view of endurance racing including lemans theres "racing in the rain by J.Horsman" , in the oldies theres "full throttle by sir henry Birkin" one of the bentley guys of the twenties . one very good old one is "quatre fois vainqueurs au mans of Olivier Gendebien" but i dont thinq it was ever translate in english a real shame. and im sure theres many others

[petefenelon]

In terms of understanding what goes on behind the scenes at the top level in endurance racing and how it changed between the 60s and 90s, although it's very Porsche-centric, Norbert Singer's 24:16 is excellent.

If you only want to concentrate on a particular period of history, you could get one of the Brooklands Books compilations of magazine articles - or if you're quite committed you could get the two hardbound volumes. They go from 1923-1999 (so they don't cover the Audi Era) and show not only the history of the race but also the changing style of reporting racing!

[sterling49]

I was looking through the Barry Sheene book today in WHS, I was always interested in his achievements and believe his story to be very interesting, if rather sad with his passing due to cancer. Has anybody read this book? If so, before I make my purchase online, what were your thoughts on it please?

[rearwheelskid00]

sorry to sound a bit vague earlier. I was looking for a book that best describes what happens inside those 24 hours within a team, from a driver/ team perspective.

[Vitesse2]

I haven't read it, but David Dowse's "Morgan at Le Mans" might fit the bill.

[ensign14]

Didn't Panoz do one a few years ago? Coffee-table type thing?

[josefk]

Brilliant, many thanks H. Very useful. It may be obvious from titles but Do you know if the CART/CHAMP carried IRL as well or just the one series?

Originally posted by helioseism
Here is the history of the Autocourse American Open Wheel annuals:

CART Annuals
-----------------------------------------------
Autocourse Indy Car Official Yearbook 1993-1994
Autocourse Indy Car Official Yearbook 1994-1995 Cosworth promotional edition also exists
Autocourse Indy Car Official Yearbook 1995-1996
Autocourse Indy Car Official Yearbook 1996-1997
Autocourse CART Official Yearbook 1997-1998
Autocourse CART Official Yearbook 1998-1999
Autocourse CART Official Yearbook 1999-2000
Autocourse CART Official Yearbook 2000-2001
Autocourse CART Official Yearbook 2001-2002
Autocourse CART Official Yearbook 2002-2003
Autocourse Champ Car Official Yearbook 2003-2004
Autocourse Champ Car Official Yearbook 2004-2005
Autocourse Champ Car Official Yearbook 2005-2006

IRL annuals
----------------------------------------------------
Autocourse Indianapolis 500 Official Yearbook 2003 & Indy Racing League IndyCar Series
Autocourse Indianapolis 500 Official Yearbook 2004 & Indy Racing League IndyCar Series


Earlier annuals are in the "Men And Machines" series:
-----------------------------------------------------
Men And Machines Of Indy Car Racing - CART 1987-1988 STP promotional edition also exists
Men And Machines Of Indy Car Racing - CART 1988-1989 Amway promotional edition also exists
Men And Machines Of Indy Car Racing - CART 1989-1990 Amway promotional edition also exists
Men And Machines Of Indy Car Racing - CART 1990-1991
Men And Machines Of Indy Car Racing - CART 1991-1992
Men And Machines Of Indy Car Racing - Indy Car 1992/1993
Men And Machines Of Indy Car Racing - Indy Car 1993/1994