10481 replies to this topic

[motorbookworm]

I would agree. Steve's 3rd edition weighed 2 kilos, while his current effort weighs in at more than double that. It's not just that it has 200 more pages, they are so much larger so the additional content is substantial. I was lucky to find a copy on Amazon from Specialist Book Supplies for £44.75 inclusive.

Not sure how many of you are aware, but Specialist Book Supplies is Chaters by another name.

[Collombin]

Not sure how many of you are aware, but Specialist Book Supplies is Chaters by another name.

Thanks for the warning

[D-Type]

I was in a charity shop today and they had a copy of Robert Edwards Stirling Moss biography - autographed by the man himself.

So, what can you offer me as a swap for an un-autographed copy? (seriously) Please send a PM.

[Formula Once]

Here's a preview of the book and film we are making about the history of the Dutch Grand Prix, hope you like it...

[257gary]

I’m always on the look out for a bargain buy and good read!

 

Found it with the book "Morgan at Le Mans" written by David Dowse.

 

Have a look on the following link to Amazon. Purchased my copy for 19 pence plus postage.

 

http://www.amazon.co...rgan at le mans

 

 

 

 

 

[nexfast]

I have been browsing The Encyclopaedia of Racing Drivers by Peter Higham. At first glance it is quite an impressive work of research, nice edition with an elegant case, good quality paper, lots of driver's images. Being written by a single author has the advantage of consistence and style but on the other hand has the disadvantage of a certain blandness, particularly when getting out of the comfort of the anglo-saxon world. A multi-country team would  have added perhaps a liitle bit more colour to some profiles, putting them in the context of racing in each country. It doesn't seem to be targeted for specialists, rather for a larger audience with some degree of affinity with motor racing and enough curiosity to try to know more about the drivers (that´s where I stand). Not much then about any insights, controversies or quotes, rather a career description underlining the most important moments of each driver's sporting life, thus, reasonably fulfilling its objective of being a reference book. Don't expect any particular stunning discovery about anyone in particular, though I collected some new information about pre-WWII drivers (where my knowledge admittedly is rather poor). No particular mistakes I have detected - I wasn't looking for them either. But he should decide once and for all if Uccle is in Brussels (as in birth place of Michel Neugarten) or Wallonia (as in death place of Roger Laurent)! Actually, Uccle is in Brussels, not Wallonia. A final point: I can understand the author's coherence in respecting the criteria he has established himself but the drawback is that he faces sometimes insurmountable obstacles in providing information about some obscure drivers that won by chance a IMSA or Group 6 race. The bio on Enrico Grimaldi (who?), for instance, is more about Lela Lombardi than him as Higham could not find any relevant information about the subject.

 

Is it worthwhile to buy it? The answer of course depends on your degree of interest and the largesse of your purse (and all the others interesting books on the market you will have to renounce to pay for this one). I would say for those with more than 1000 posts here probably not. Others, with less expertise, perhaps yes. Kudos fot the author for trying anyhow and for all the undeniable effort he put on it, it will stay as reference even for those who might have a project of doing something far more thorough and insightful (if they can find a publisher, of course).

[Tom V]

A while ago I read Steve Rider’s autobiography.   It turned out to be a big disappointment.  Most of the chapters are about F1, no surprise there..  The book is full of errors and has obviously never been proof read…  Didn’t know that there was a Group C race at Donington in  “1995”…  or Adelaide  being the first F1 race of the season etc….  The biggest disappointment however was the chapter on the BTCC.    It would have been nice to finally get some background stories on the drivers etc from somebody who was associated with this series for  a very long time.   This could have been a good read, instead what we got was another cliché book.

[Tuboscocca]

I have been browsing The Encyclopaedia of Racing Drivers by Peter Higham. At first glance it is quite an impressive work of research, nice edition with an elegant case, good quality paper, lots of driver's images. Being written by a single author has the advantage of consistence and style but on the other hand has the disadvantage of a certain blandness, particularly when getting out of the comfort of the anglo-saxon world. A multi-country team would  have added perhaps a liitle bit more colour to some profiles, putting them in the context of racing in each country. It doesn't seem to be targeted for specialists, rather for a larger audience with some degree of affinity with motor racing and enough curiosity to try to know more about the drivers (that´s where I stand). Not much then about any insights, controversies or quotes, rather a career description underlining the most important moments of each driver's sporting life, thus, reasonably fulfilling its objective of being a reference book. Don't expect any particular stunning discovery about anyone in particular, though I collected some new information about pre-WWII drivers (where my knowledge admittedly is rather poor). No particular mistakes I have detected - I wasn't looking for them either. But he should decide once and for all if Uccle is in Brussels (as in birth place of Michel Neugarten) or Wallonia (as in death place of Roger Laurent)! Actually, Uccle is in Brussels, not Wallonia. A final point: I can understand the author's coherence in respecting the criteria he has established himself but the drawback is that he faces sometimes insurmountable obstacles in providing information about some obscure drivers that won by chance a IMSA or Group 6 race. The bio on Enrico Grimaldi (who?), for instance, is more about Lela Lombardi than him as Higham could not find any relevant information about the subject.

 

Is it worthwhile to buy it? The answer of course depends on your degree of interest and the largesse of your purse (and all the others interesting books on the market you will have to renounce to pay for this one). I would say for those with more than 1000 posts here probably not. Others, with less expertise, perhaps yes. Kudos fot the author for trying anyhow and for all the undeniable effort he put on it, it will stay as reference even for those who might have a project of doing something far more thorough and insightful (if they can find a publisher, of course).

 

Nextfast--thank you for the 'warm-hearted' warning...If you look around you can get it for almost the half-price, not stretching your budget too much...

 

Best regards Michael

[Tuboscocca]

Klemantaski (Paul Parker)  planned for September by Haynes???

 

http://www.amazon.co...mantaski+parker

 

Amazon has no date, Haynes doesn't have it on their homepage....Bookdepository has it still for 05 september 2013

 

Delayed, deleted ??

 

Best regards Michael

Edited by Tuboscocca, 23 August 2013 - 15:57.

[Geza Sury]

Has anyone already seen the Chas Parker Silverstone book, and the Amedee Gordini??? Both now available.

Many thanks Michael

I have the Gordini book by Roy Smith. I've just 'learned' from it that Mike Hawthorn drove a Bugatti at the 1956 French GP as a team mate to Maurice Trintiganant. 

Otherwise the book is well researched, but a bit too 'dry'. It features some interesting stories, though, but I would not say it's very well written. 

[seb333]

Klemantaski (Paul Parker)  planned for September by Haynes???
 
http://www.amazon.co...mantaski+parker
 
Amazon has no date, Haynes doesn't have it on their homepage....Bookdepository has it still for 05 september 2013
 
Delayed, deleted ??
 
Best regards Michael

Michael,

I've posted that question on the Klemcoll blog and this has been answered through a new post:

http://klemcoll.word...is-klemantaski/

It seems that there will be some updates for this book.
Seb

[Tuboscocca]

Michael,

I've posted that question on the Klemcoll blog and this has been answered through a new post:

http://klemcoll.word...is-klemantaski/

It seems that there will be some updates for this book.
Seb

Dear Seb--thank you very much--other publisher, other date-BUT worth waiting...I had the honour to meet Klemantaski (he sat in a very hot Ferrari,with a blanket on his legs) at the Mille Miglia, co-driving with Peter Sachs. His only comment was : 'I's no race any more...'

 

He kindly signed my Entry-list.

 

Best regards Michael

[Alan Cox]

'Racing Demons - Porsche and the Targa Florio' by Michael Keyser, TNF's Mark Koense and Enzo Manzo was reviewed in this week's Autosport although release date appears to be imminent. A few sample pages here - looks good

http://www.google.co...&bih=752#imgdii=_

[Tuboscocca]

Another Hunt/Lauda book

 

 

http://www.amazon.co...=Hunt vs. Lauda

 

Has anyone seen this one???

 

I see no 'Rush' to buy this one...

 

regards Michael

[terry mcgrath]

quick report.

I went to Lime Rock on the weekend and picked up a copy of the Cunningham book heavy heavy and a heavy price $350.00 USD leather bound $1,200

I brought it back to Oz as hand luggage managed to sneak pass the check in people.

A very quick look there is a huge amount in it but from a jaguar perspective it appears it there could have been a little more research but going through it in detail.

Certainly a superb undertaking

terry

[Tuboscocca]

quick report.

I went to Lime Rock on the weekend and picked up a copy of the Cunningham book heavy heavy and a heavy price $350.00 USD leather bound $1,200

I brought it back to Oz as hand luggage managed to sneak pass the check in people.

A very quick look there is a huge amount in it but from a jaguar perspective it appears it there could have been a little more research but going through it in detail.

Certainly a superb undertaking

terry

Before you fork out 350$  here are some sample pages:

 

http://www.daltonwat...mple_lo_res.pdf

 

Looks very good, but what are the differences to the 'old' MBI Cunningham book, apart from more photographs and deeper research....

 

Regards Michael

[karlcars]

I envision a number of updates to this site as Haynes is having a radical reappraisal of its book projects that is resulting in the cancellation of a fair number of efforts that are in their pipeline -- two dozen or so.

 

This author's history of supercharging is affected -- Haynes will now no longer publish it. Any publishers listening?

[Vitesse2]

I envision a number of updates to this site as Haynes is having a radical reappraisal of its book projects that is resulting in the cancellation of a fair number of efforts that are in their pipeline -- two dozen or so.

 

This author's history of supercharging is affected -- Haynes will now no longer publish it. Any publishers listening?

Sorry to hear that, Karl. But given the amount of crap they've been publishing of late I'm not entirely surprised they're retrenching - it looks to me like Old Man Haynes has put his foot down and insisted they go back to what they know and understand.

 

There's been some coverage of this in the local press, but it mainly concentrates on the closure of the distribution centre, which is just about the only employer of any note in Sparkford. Given that they're saying that they're going to realign the manuals business towards online and digital, I suspect that puts the print works in doubt as well. Ultimately that could leave the whole Sparkford site at risk so in due course I would fully expect to see what remains of editorial relocated to the museum site just up the road ...

 

EMPLOYEES at Haynes Publishing Group in Sparkford are facing an uncertain future after the group announced the closure of its distribution centre in the village.

 

The group has also announced a "small number" of redundancies are to be made within its books division following a six month strategic review of the business.

 

The group has said it intends to focus on the areas with the largest growth potential and expand its digital offering and platforms.

 

As a result of these changes, it is restructuring parts of the UK business.

 

The group has now started a consultancy period for staff across its Haynes books division and distribution teams, with a small number of redundancies – voluntary and, if necessary, compulsory – proposed from the books division.

 

It is also closing its distribution site in Sparkford and outsourcing this entire function to an external provider – with all staff transferring to the new partner under Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations.

 

Chairman, John Haynes said: "The review has enabled us to focus on the core strengths of the business and we are confident we now have the right strategy in place to return the business to growth.

 

"This involves returning to our grass roots, while adapting to modern needs by enhancing our digital capabilities and expanding our presence in the professional market through our HaynesPro software.

 

"Regrettably we will need to reduce UK staffing levels in this process but we need to focus our business on our strongest performing areas to drive growth.

 

"We will of course offer all the support we can to those who will need to find new positions."

 

http://www.thisissom...tail/story.html

[helioseism]

I am dismayed by this news about Haynes, and I don't really see how canceling books such as Karl's Supercharging book and the Klementaski book is consistent with the stated need to "focus on the core strengths of the business".

 

It seems to me that the whole business of publishing historical motor sport books is imploding and shrinking. There seems to be a significant decrease in the number of new book announcements. Also, in addition to Haynes, we have these situations:

 

Veloce – publishing more and more pet books and car buyers guides

Iconografix – putting more emphasis on trains, canceled at least two recent motor sport titles

Automobile Quarterly – gone

Don Capps can’t get his book published

Mike Martin got only 5% of his Kickstarter request for his USRRC book

 

To be fair, there are companies still publishing good stuff, like

David Bull

Coterie

Dalton Watson

McFarland

Crowood

Coastal 181

Racemaker Press

Stance & Speed

Arcadia

Bentley

Bookmarque

 

 

And there are significant publishers in languages other than English like Petrolpics, Motorbuch Verlag, ETAI, Nada, Palmier. And thankfully we have labors of love like the books on Zandvoort, Cunningham and Speed Demons. But all in all it does not look good to me.

[RA Historian]

I just heard of the apparent stalling of Mike Martin's book about the USRRC. I certainly hope that some publisher will pick it up, as from what I have seen it is a very good book and a worthy addition. This USRRC has been greatly underreported and Mike's book must be published. Unfortunately, self publishing is expensive and unpalatable, so unless one has deep pockets it is not a viable alternative.

 

On the other hand, I have two projects going at the present time that both have publisher support. Stay tuned...

 

Tom

[P0wderf1nger]

 

I am dismayed by this news about Haynes, and I don't really see how canceling books such as Karl's Supercharging book and the Klementaski book is consistent with the stated need to "focus on the core strengths of the business".

 

I imagine Mr Haynes was referring to manuals. They generate wider margins, on far higher revenues.

 

I wish everyone in Sparkford well, especially Mark Hughes and his team. 

[midgrid]

Another Hunt/Lauda book
 
 
http://www.amazon.co...=Hunt vs. Lauda
 
Has anyone seen this one???
 
I see no 'Rush' to buy this one...
 
regards Michael

Judging from this review, it's not worth buying.

Has anyone read this book on the same subject?. It looks like it should be a worthwhile read, looking at the identities of the author and publisher.

[jtremlett]

Popped into to Motorbooks in London today only to find out the disappointing news that they are closing down at the beginning of October.  That does, however, mean that much of their stock (not the recently published items) of car, rail, maritime and military books is now half price.  So if you were planning a visit I suggest you make it soon.

 

Jonathan

[D-Type]

Sad news - another victim of internet selling (Amazon) and the abolition of RPM on books.

[Tuboscocca]

Not announced by Giorgio Nada:

 

Lorenzo Bandini book:

http://en.giorgionad...odotto_446.aspx

 

And after hearing of the crisis at Haynes , now motorbooks...not too many left over??

 

 

Regards Michael

 

[Vitesse2]

Sad news - another victim of internet selling (Amazon) and the abolition of RPM on books.

To be honest, Duncan, I'm surprised Motorbooks has lasted this long. It's been pretty poorly run for some years, their second-hand prices have been on the ludicrously high side of astronomical (sometimes even making Hortons look cheap!) and with rents for premises in Cecil Court no doubt getting sillier by the year it must be very hard to make a living there in any business that operates on less than an 80% gross margin ...

 

Having said that, I think they were the last motoring specialist with retail premises in the whole of London.

[Paul Parker]

In fact Motor Books demise was not just down to Amazon and the end of RPM but their leaving St. Martin's Court due to the restaurant next door (Sheekeys if I recall correctly) taking over the premises.

 

The move to Cecil Court, although only the next alley down, a matter of yards, robbed them of what the retail trade calls footfall, there were simply not enough customers seeking out or bothering to visit the new shop even though it was significantly larger and better organised. The loss of St. Martins Model shop in nearby St. Martins Lane, who were driven out by the ludicrously high rent, also contributed to this situation as many of their customers were also potential book buyers and vice versa.

 

Certainly book retailers cannot compete with Amazon's prices but this is also very much to do with the aforementioned rents and rates, which cripple small businesses and exponentially increase overheads throughout Britain, thereby forcing them to charge more for their stock and/or denied the discount prices that large corporate operations enjoy. Combined with the inevitable result of overheads overwhelming income, I am amazed that any specialised shops manage to survive at all under these conditions, indeed I wonder why anybody independent would even bother to risk their time and money enriching local govenment and landlords.

 

I first visited the shop in June 1964 during a school trip to see Its a Mad, Mad, Mad World in Leicester Square, meeting the sometimes rather difficult John Lello, until you got to know him. I visited the shop in I think late 1996 or thereabouts and John told me he was retiring and I said goodbye, wished him luck and left. Then I decided to buy a card and returned to the shop to give it to him which embarrassed him. He had already been unwell, some kind of respiratory or blood problems I think during the 1990s and sadly did not survive his retirement for very long.

 

He was not the owner as many thought but the manager, the business was owned by an Irishman whose name I cannot now recall who wanted to sell it during the early 1990s which I considered buying at the time but fortunately did not.

 

It is all very sad.

[Vitesse2]

Thank you, Paul. John Lello's name had for some inexplicable reason escaped me last night: as you say, sometimes difficult, even abrupt - but something of a legend within the motoring book trade of the time. According to this article in Karting, the shop's owner was called Buster Clark - although they say he was South African.

 

http://archive.karti...12/72/off-track

Edited by Vitesse2, 08 September 2013 - 08:24.

[Paul Parker]

Thanks for the reply Vitesse, but it was definitely an Irishman, I just cannot remember his name or even how I found out, this being circa 1990.

 

I have a suspicion that it was John Lello who might have been South African but have been unable to confirm this, somebody on here will surely know.

 

Meanwhile another unfavourable aspect of the move was that the shop's original site was extremely close to one of entrances to Leicester Square tube station which resulted in many people finding Motor Books accidentally, which topped up the sales.

 

The ultimate tragedy is that once such unique enterprises have gone, which equally applies in other areas, they are never replaced.

 

[David McKinney]

I think you're right about John Lello being South African

However, I think the downward slide started when he got out - probably coincidental, as some of the subsequent staff were as enthusiastic and helpful as one could hope for

And there's no doubt the slide accelerated after the move, though whether there's a direct connection I couldn't say

[jtremlett]

Thank you, Paul. John Lello's name had for some inexplicable reason escaped me last night: as you say, sometimes difficult, even abrupt - but something of a legend within the motoring book trade of the time. According to this article in Karting, the shop's owner was called Buster Clark - although they say he was South African.

 

http://archive.karti...12/72/off-track

Actually your link says John Lello was South African rather than Buster Clark.

 

According to Companies House, Thomas Gethings appears to be the current director.

 

Motor Books is now only in the left-hand (13 Cecil Court) part of the premises and the model shop (St Martin's Models) is in what was the right-hand half (15 Cecil Court).  I'm losing the plot somewhat so I'm not too sure when that happened. 

 

I do find this very sad (and also that Mario Aquati's wonderful bookshop in the Monza paddock is another soon to be closing).  There is nothing like strolling into a shop and coming across a title you hadn't seen before.  I accept my part in the demise of these shops because I do buy titles via the Internet (although that has included from both Motor Books and Libreria dell'Autodromo) and not just new titles but it is that much easier to track down the ones you've missed but by buying from numerous different vendors rather than one or two specialists.  It must be increasingly hard to keep up with game: Stock the things that people want to buy at prices they will pay whilst also, as mentioned above, trying to cover ever-increasing rents and rates and the other UK High Street problem of no or expensive parking.

 

Jonathan

[Paul Parker]

I think you're right about John Lello being South African

However, I think the downward slide started when he got out - probably coincidental, as some of the subsequent staff were as enthusiastic and helpful as one could hope for

And there's no doubt the slide accelerated after the move, though whether there's a direct connection I couldn't say

 

There certainly was a direct connection as Tom and Ian commented on the decrease in shop visitors not long after the move which was obvious when I visited Motor Books at the time.

 

Meanwhile they finally abandoned the other side of the shop which housed railway literature because of decreasing revenues and over time the staff levels dropped off too.

 

It was and is a familiar story in Britain for independent traders, and even allowing for any mismanagement at any given retail outlet, the ultimate blame can be laid directly at counter-productive government taxes, bureaucracy and corporate domination because they are wealthy/powerful enough to survive the demands of HM Treasury and still make a profit.

[D-Type]

Popped into to Motorbooks in London today only to find out the disappointing news that they are closing down at the beginning of October.  That does, however, mean that much of their stock (not the recently published items) of car, rail, maritime and military books is now half price.  So if you were planning a visit I suggest you make it soon.

 

Jonathan

Is that half the price shown on their website?  Or does the website 'top twenty price reductions' incorporate the discount?

[proviz]

I think you're right about John Lello being South African

However, I think the downward slide started when he got out - probably coincidental, as some of the subsequent staff were as enthusiastic and helpful as one could hope for

And there's no doubt the slide accelerated after the move, though whether there's a direct connection I couldn't say

 

 

I'm sure John Lello was South African, vividly remember the lecture he gave to a customer about the educational systems in UK and South Africa, strongly siding with the latter. Unforgettable character.

[jtremlett]

Is that half the price shown on their website?  Or does the website 'top twenty price reductions' incorporate the discount?

I suspect the former as it was half marked price but I think you would need to enquire about specific items as it is a question of clearing their stock.

 

Jonathan

[Allan Lupton]

To reinforce the point about footfall, I didn't know Motor Books was in Cecil Court until I saw its signage in the background of a photo taken at the opening do when a friend moved to Cecil Court this year.

 

The photo was too big so I've edited to just give this link:

http://www.bexfield....ld Small-91.jpg

 

Edited by Allan Lupton, 09 September 2013 - 17:20.

[Tuboscocca]

For the lovers of exotic titles:

 

http://www.fl-livres...-1951-1955.html

 

Grand Prix de Bordeaux

 

200 pages, photos , just 25 euros..

 

Regards Michael

[David McKinney]

From a UK viewpoint, what a pity the book doesn't cover the earlier Bordeaux events, whose geographical situation brought together the best cars from both Britain and France

[Tuboscocca]

From a UK viewpoint, what a pity the book doesn't cover the earlier Bordeaux events, whose geographical situation brought together the best cars from both Britain and France

 

 

David, 'the geographical situation'??? When you have said CHIMAY, but Bordeaux isn't in the neighbourhood (even seeing it from gibraltar!!) from UK.

 

Michael

[David McKinney]

Whoops! Wrong B-word. I was thinking Boulogne

[Tuboscocca]

Whoops! Wrong B-word. I was thinking Boulogne

You are right, but we have no book on Boulogne-either, up to now??!!

 

Regards Michael

[fuzzi]

I was up in London yesterday and feeling like a bit of a vulture went up to Motor Books to see what was going on.

 

The stock is obviously being run down and, at present new books are still at list price with 10% off older books and up to 50% off some of the secondhand copies. I had a good look round and was amazed to find a single new copy of David Gordon's "Chevron: the Derek Bennett Story". somewhat apprehensively I went up to the counter. "Have to be the full price I'm afraid". I paid up £29.99 happily and got 10% off an Osprey book on Catalina flying boats. 

 

I happily signed his only copy of my book (a rare event), but still feel a bit guilty - if you want to know why, look up the price of the Chevron book online.      

[helioseism]

OK, so this is rather off-topic, but I just discovered that back in 2011 BMW published a book that contained an electric motor and could be driven around the floor or raced using a remote control....      

 

Link

Edited by helioseism, 11 September 2013 - 15:03.

[Alan Cox]

I envision a number of updates to this site as Haynes is having a radical reappraisal of its book projects that is resulting in the cancellation of a fair number of efforts that are in their pipeline -- two dozen or so.

 

I gather that  Paul Parker's "The Motor Racing Photography of Louis Klemantaski" is a case in point - is this true, Paul? I have had a note from the bookseller I have pre-ordered it from that it will no longer be available, and I see Waterstone's are listing it as "Publication abandoned"

Sad news

[Tuboscocca]

I gather that  Paul Parker's "The Motor Racing Photography of Louis Klemantaski" is a case in point - is this true, Paul? I have had a note from the bookseller I have pre-ordered it from that it will no longer be available, and I see Waterstone's are listing it as "Publication abandoned"

Sad news

Alan

 

see post

7291

 

Should be now with MBI...

 

Regards michael

[Alan Cox]

Many thanks, Michael. I had scrolled back through the last few pages but missed seb333's post. Good news, however.

[Tuboscocca]

Many thanks, Michael. I had scrolled back through the last few pages but missed seb333's post. Good news, however.

Alan NO problem--hopefully it will be published--Paul Pparker should 'assure' us!! After his comments on 'Motorbooks', he should be on-line'..

 

Michael

[Tuboscocca]

And now some HAYMARKET advertising:

 

http://www.themagazi...hunt-niki-lauda

 

Not to befound in the AutosportShop..??

 

Very nicely done 'Bookazine'.You can start reading, depending of your preference, from both sides..It's two times 82 pages on Hunt and Lauda..Interesting stories, great photography..and inevitable: Rush....

 

But for the price very good. As the Senna, McRae and Ferrari bookazine

 

regards Michael

[Colbul1]

Judging from this review, it's not worth buying.

Has anyone read this book on the same subject?. It looks like it should be a worthwhile read, looking at the identities of the author and publisher.

 

I have this morning received my copy of Hunt vs Lauda: The Epic 1976 Formula 1 Season.  I have only had the chance to read the first chapter and scan through the rest of the book so far, but in my opinion Paul Fearnley has put together a great introductory book on the drivers and their rivalry during 1976.  The book of course is not as indepth as either of Lauda's autobiographies or the Gerald Donaldson James Hunt biography, but it does cover the important details and is written in a very digestible fashion.  There are also some superb pictures included, many I've not seen before. For some I think the style of the writing will not sit well, it has been written possibly with Rush in mind as as such reads as a screenplay with bombastic sections and full of induced emotion.  Personally I quite like the style, it has the feel of a novel, but with the strength of a factual tome. If you're new to the 1976 season I would definitely recommend it.

 

Colin

[midgrid]

I have this morning received my copy of Hunt vs Lauda: The Epic 1976 Formula 1 Season.  I have only had the chance to read the first chapter and scan through the rest of the book so far, but in my opinion Paul Fearnley has put together a great introductory book on the drivers and their rivalry during 1976.  The book of course is not as indepth as either of Lauda's autobiographies or the Gerald Donaldson James Hunt biography, but it does cover the important details and is written in a very digestible fashion.  There are also some superb pictures included, many I've not seen before. For some I think the style of the writing will not sit well, it has been written possibly with Rush in mind as as such reads as a screenplay with bombastic sections and full of induced emotion.  Personally I quite like the style, it has the feel of a novel, but with the strength of a factual tome. If you're new to the 1976 season I would definitely recommend it.
 
Colin

Thank you!