9 replies to this topic

[David McKinney]

Excuse the blatant plug, but TNFers may like to know that the last few copies of John Snow, Classic Motor Racer are now available again

Snow raced in the 1936 Spa 24hrs (at the age of 20) and at Antwerp in 1938 in a Delahaye, before taking it home to Australia. In betweentimes he track-tested or practised a lot of other cars, including Maserati 8CM and Alfa Romeos 8C-35 and P3.

He is best remembered in his own country for devoting his not inconsiderable wealth to improving Australia’s racing stock – in addition to the Delahaye, he imported a Le Mans 4-seater Alfa, MG K3 and NE Magnettes, a single-seater Frazer Nash, a Dixon Riley and a Cooper-Vincent 1000, though he did not race all of them. His own racing had started in 1935 and continued into the 1950s.

Although focussed mostly on Australian racing, the book also throws new light on a young amateur’s exploits in the Northern Hemisphere at an interesting time in history, and carries detailed analysis of the sport in both Australia and Europe.

The book is the work of leading Australian racing historian John Medley, author of Bathurst, Cradle of Australian Motor Racing and a significant contributor to The 50 Year History of the Australian Grand Prix. His work on the John Snow book reflects his meticulous approach to research, and includes interviews with many of those most closely associated with the subject.

Copies are available at £18 including p&p in the UK, or £15 plus p&p elsewhere. Buyers of more than one copy pay £10 plus p&p per book. Inquiries to snowbook(at)virginmedia.com, to whom payment can be made via PayPal

[john medley]

Thanks, David, for the mention of my John Snow book. John Snow may not have been well known on the world scene, nor indeed these days in Australia when we live in a throwaway society caring little about the past-- but the fact is that John Snow wanted he said to change the face of Australian motor racing -- and he did. To those interested only in Modern EffWun, dont buy ; for the rest of us enthusiasts who admire the way things were in enthusiastic amateur motor racing, this book is a good read, including fascinating detail, and tells it the way it was, in and around those difficult years near World War Two, about a probably arrogant young man with plenty of money, racing both in Europe and in Australia. There were lots of arrogant young men, then and now, and I believe the John Snow story is worthy of the telling.

[Simon Thomas]

Thanks, David, for the mention of my John Snow book. John Snow may not have been well known on the world scene, nor indeed these days in Australia when we live in a throwaway society caring little about the past-- but the fact is that John Snow wanted he said to change the face of Australian motor racing -- and he did. To those interested only in Modern EffWun, dont buy ; for the rest of us enthusiasts who admire the way things were in enthusiastic amateur motor racing, this book is a good read, including fascinating detail, and tells it the way it was, in and around those difficult years near World War Two, about a probably arrogant young man with plenty of money, racing both in Europe and in Australia. There were lots of arrogant young men, then and now, and I believe the John Snow story is worthy of the telling.

I bought a copy of the book through David McKinney and Adam F. Thorougly enjoyed it in many ways with rare photos of Charles Brackenbury and John Hodge both of whom competed in Ireland. Good value and recommended.
Simon Thomas

[tsrwright]

I bought a copy of the book through David McKinney and Adam F. Thorougly enjoyed it in many ways with rare photos of Charles Brackenbury and John Hodge both of whom competed in Ireland. Good value and recommended.
Simon Thomas

I agree; a most enjoyable read and different to the usual motor sport history. This one has some social and political context, even a bit of geography.

[Shane Bowden]

A good read about a period of motor racing that I did not know much about.

[Ray Bell]

Worth mentioning...

A picture of Snow in the Delahaye has been posted this week by Chasm, one of the Connie Jordan pics, I believe it's in the 'Personal Photos of Australian racing...' thread.

[Doug Nye]

I am bumping this old thread because something has just come to revisit me, which is irritating the wotsit out of me... Some years ago I believe I found an astonishing photograph which indicated to me that the Hans Ruesch Alfa Romeo 8C-35 had actually been shipped out to Australia at one point, for John Snow. If this was the case, and I haven't been imagining it all along, the car remained unraced there - and was shipped back to the northern hemisphere. Does anyone have any recollection of seeing such firm evidence that the big Alfa - which ended up with Dennis Poore in the UK postwar - ever really made that Australian trip?

Needless to confess - I have never again found that print amongst the stacks of tantalising old motor racing umbala that jam-packs home sweet home.

DCN

Edited by Doug Nye, 27 June 2013 - 22:01.

[The Chasm]

Is this the Alfa under discussion ?.

[David McKinney]

No, that's a much older sports model

[Tim Murray]

Here's a photo of the car in question:

http://petergiddings...tMonaco1997.jpg