13 replies to this topic

[Allan Lupton]

I've just heard, via the SAHB, that Nick Georgano died yesterday. Probably like most of us here I did not know him personally but his work and publications are the foundations for a lot of what I do and know.

He wrote or edited an astonishing number of books, over 60 titles published in the UK and the USA , ranging from modest Shire volumes to The Complete Encyclopaedia of Motorcars first published in 1968 and its ultimate successor The Beaulieu Encyclopaedia of the Automobile.

 

[David Birchall]

Very sorry to hear this,  I have two of his encyclopedias and they are terrific resources.

My condolences to his family and friends.

[Paul Parker]

Many years ago I bought a copy of Georgano's 'The Encyclopaedia of Motor Sport' (Rainbird Reference Books Ltd 1971) from Motor Books which was then in St. Martin's Court, Covent Garden.

 

It was the window copy complete with faded spine but I cannot now remember the name of the at times rather spikey manager although once he knew you he was fine.

[Roger Clark]

I am very sorry to hear this. As well as the Encyclopaedias I enjoyed the long running Kerbside Encounters series in the VSCC Bulletin.

[Vitesse2]

Many years ago I bought a copy of Georgano's 'The Encyclopaedia of Motor Sport' (Rainbird Reference Books Ltd 1971) from Motor Books which was then in St. Martin's Court, Covent Garden.

 

It was the window copy complete with faded spine but I cannot now remember the name of the at times rather spikey manager although once he knew you he was fine.

John Lello.

 

I've spent many a happy - and informative - hour immersed in Nick's writings and possess several of his books. I will even confess to having read The Encyclopaedia of Motor Sport from cover to cover. Twice!

[Tim Murray]

As others have said, his encyclopaedias are tremendous works that have proved very useful to me over the years, especially the one on motor sport. He leaves a great legacy.

Condolences to his family and friends.

[Doug Nye]

I heard this sad news earlier today.  Nick contacted me back in the winter of 1969-1970 and asked me to work with him on the 'Encyclopaedia of Motor Sport', because while he was thoroughly up to speed on every make of motor car literally from A to Z he wanted more specialist assistance where the sport was concerned. Jenks and Cyril Posthumus and Tony Harding all joined in and we worked with Nick as as team leader.  He was very shy and retiring, a school-masterly academic figure...and a thoroughly nice person, a gentleman. Most sincere condolences to his family and friends...he has left a tremendous legacy of knowledge for fellow enthusiasts.

 

DCN

Edited by Doug Nye, 23 October 2017 - 18:47.

[Porsche718]

I, too, spent many hours pouring over his encyclopedia's (were there more than 2?) and in many ways they inspired me to write and collect information.

 

Sad day. Condolences to his family.

[proviz]

It says something of the man's achievement that to this day "Encyclopaedia of Motor Sport" remains unsurpassed on the subject.

[Michael Ferner]

In some ways this reminds me of reading about the death of Irving Berlin - I never realized that G. N. Georgano was still alive! A legendary figure from a time before I was born, and a sad loss to the world of motoring.

[EDWARD FITZGERALD]

More sad news, I still cherish The Encyclopedia of Motorsport , bought when published in Reasons in Dublin , a few months ago The Automobile ran an excellent article on Nick , well worth s read

[Paul Parker]

John Lello.

 

I've spent many a happy - and informative - hour immersed in Nick's writings and possess several of his books. I will even confess to having read The Encyclopaedia of Motor Sport from cover to cover. Twice!

 

Thanks for that, the old memory box is not so sharp any more!

 

Sadly I seem to recall that JL died not long after he retired, around about 1996 or so, correct me if I'm wrong.

[retriever]

John Lello.

 

I've spent many a happy - and informative - hour immersed in Nick's writings and possess several of his books. I will even confess to having read The Encyclopaedia of Motor Sport from cover to cover. Twice!

 

I bought my copy from the Dragon Bookshop in Taunton in the 1970s, by then it had been reduced/remaindered. It remains a wonderful book. By the 1980s I was importing his massive Encyclopaedia of Commercial Vehicles book in quantity in large canvas mailbags direct from Motorbooks in the USA - sadly after receiving about 60 copies the book went out of print. I still have my own copy of that title.

 

Little did I know at the time that I would eventually publish a Nick Georgano book; Scammell - The Load Movers from Watford under the Roundoak imprint. We both worked on the book, I supplementing his own photographic material and text with further images and information from colleagues, enthusiasts, photographers and others from the UK and around the world. 

 

Doug Nye sums him up very well, it was a pleasure to know and work with him and I am truly saddened at his passing.

Edited by retriever, 25 October 2017 - 19:53.

[moffspeed]

More sad news, I still cherish The Encyclopedia of Motorsport , bought when published in Reasons in Dublin , a few months ago The Automobile ran an excellent article on Nick , well worth s read

 

Agreed wholeheartedly. We're downsizing houses just now and my significantly large collection of motor sport books is in the process of an horrendous cull. Heartbreaking that most of these books are effectively valueless in this digital age - e.g. all of those Goodwood/Le Mans coffee table books which are now just Charity shop fodder.

 

So what survives and follows me to Portugal/deepest Sussex ? - everything to do with Jimmy Clark, Mon Ami Mate, Archie & The Listers, The Lost Generation (as a Welshman..), The Ford that beat Ferrari, Time & Two Seats, Klemantaski, the BRM books by some obscure bearded author , Maurice Rowe's Track Record  but, above all, the book that steered me through motor sport adolescence,  Georgano's Encyclopaedia of Motor Sport - photos from auto crossing Hillman Imps to Phil Hill in a Cobra on the Targa..

Edited by moffspeed, 26 October 2017 - 19:45.