Formula 1 best books

And your considered opinion of the former is....  ?  ?  ?  ?   

 

DCN

For me it is a very useful book. Whatever book I buy now, I am sure it is not going to be the worst book in my collection

For me it is a very useful book. Whatever book I buy now, I am sure it is not going to be the worst book in my collection

Well you, Jim, are just the kind of buyer publishers and authors adore...   

DCN

I've had a copy of the Piranha Club for 10 years. Was told it was really good. Haven't actually got round to it. Read the first 2 chapters and they were pretty good.

Also have the Newest book and the Brawn book. Not read either

Books aren't for me lol

I think that was a short story (sounds Borgesesque) about a book that was so valuable to collectors that nobody dared to open it, as every time they lifted the cover, its value would drop.

And of course the book was blank.

That's interesting! I've been thinking about writing a book or two, but really can't find the time to do so. If there really is a market for unread books, maybe I don't need to actually write them...

The same logic must apply to empty town-centre shops - hereabouts we have plenty of them but a developer is building another three

I think that was a short story (sounds Borgesesque) about a book that was so valuable to collectors that nobody dared to open it, as every time they lifted the cover, its value would drop.

 

And of course the book was blank.

Whole blank novels have been published, in the Dada-esque tradition. They were praised by one critic I recall for: "opening up an infinite range of ineffable possibilities." But not much use to our opening poster.

Edited by Sterzo, 28 August 2019 - 13:13.

I think that was a short story (sounds Borgesesque) about a book that was so valuable to collectors that nobody dared to open it, as every time they lifted the cover, its value would drop.

And of course the book was blank.

Edited by Bikr7549, 28 August 2019 - 14:05.

All But My Life, by S Moss....

The Chequered Year - Ted Simon.

Fascinating, but not the full story of the most compelling year ever (in my humble opinion).  The fullest story is of course the combination of various accounts, which makes me ask:  how good is the Mark Hughes book, Formula One Retro - 1970 ?

(Edited because I can't spell today for some reason).

Edited by MCS, 15 March 2020 - 13:21.

All But My Life, by S Moss....

I read this one again recently and it is a good human interest book, revealing about social attitudes of the time.

The Chequered Year - Ted Simon.

 

Fascinating, but not the full story of the most compelling year ever (in my humble opinion).  The fullest story is of course the combination of various accounts, which makes me ask:  how good is the Mark Hughes book, Formula One Retro - 1970 ?

 

(Edited because I can't spell today for some reason).

The 1970 Hughes book has his trademark detail , and some wonderful pictures.

I also had the 1980 book and I don't know why but it became a chore to finish it and I sold my copy as I had no intention of dipping in again . Personal affinities for particular eras , and cars had a lot to do with it. My first GP was 1971 and by 1980 I was much more informed  and- dare I say - a tad bored with Formula DFV and ground effect ? I far preferred the 84-87 seasons.

I thought that this thread deserved to be revived whilst we all have so much free time to read books.

Like most people, I have some very expensive books on my shelves and some which really deserve an affordable reprint (e.g. Pomeroy, The Grand Prix Car) but to get more people interested we need to talk about ones that are easily available for £20 to £30. As discussed on another thread, the recent biog/tech reviews by John Barnard and Adrian Newey fall into the cheap and essential category.

The Haynes repair manual style books for the Maserati 250F, Lotus 72 etc are a pleasant read. They aren't the most authoritative works (the books contain lists of definitive studies) but the photos and illustrations are great and the text is well written. Ditto for a previous generation of books, The Donington Collection series. Alan Henry's book about 4WD F1 cars is a great taster for the subject -- there's a gap in the market for a detailed history of those 1960s and early 1970s dead-ends with 4WD and turbines.

Other gaps in the market? £20 books about the Alfa Romeo 158, Connaught, HWM, Gordini, Talbot-Lago and many more. Reprints of the Profile series of pamphlets? Knock 'em out for £5 and commission a few new ones, great lunch time reading at the races.

Back in the sixties, Temple Press published a wonderful series of little books for twenty-one shillings each, the like of which have not been seen since. They were: The French Grand Prix, The Monaco Grand Prix, and Le Mans 24 Hours all by David Hodges, and The German Grand Prix by Cyril Posthumus. A well written report of every race, some good (if tiny) pictures, grids and results, plus circuit maps in the appendix. Brilliantly informative and readable, and still cheap to buy.

Come on, somebody, do us an equivalent on The Belgian or Japanese Grands Prix.

ebay has recently delivered me Champion Year ( Hawthorn ) and Second Time Around ( Lauda )  for £4 and £2 respectively. Looking forward to picking up Cimarosti's Swiss Grand Prix tome for a fiver but may have to wait a while 

ebay has recently delivered me Champion Year ( Hawthorn ) and Second Time Around ( Lauda )  for £4 and £2 respectively. Looking forward to picking up Cimarosti's Swiss Grand Prix tome for a fiver but may have to wait a while 

No wonder penniless authors have to live in garrets when cheapskates like you and I are around. I recommend the Swiss GP book - borrowed it from a friend, of course.

Back in the sixties, Temple Press published a wonderful series of little books for twenty-one shillings each, the like of which have not been seen since. They were: The French Grand Prix, The Monaco Grand Prix, and Le Mans 24 Hours all by David Hodges, and The German Grand Prix by Cyril Posthumus. A well written report of every race, some good (if tiny) pictures, grids and results, plus circuit maps in the appendix. Brilliantly informative and readable, and still cheap to buy.

 

Come on, somebody, do us an equivalent on The Belgian or Japanese Grands Prix.

Indeed an excellent series of books, published in the order of. Le Mans (up to the 1963 race), Monaco GP (up to 1964), German GP (up to 1965) and French GP (up to 1966). The series were called "Classic Motor Races" and it is a pity that they didn't continue with the Belgian and Italian GPs (I don't think the Japanese GP belongs in this company).

It does now though...the 1988-90 races are the most iconic of their era, and 1994 had the greatest performance of the nineties.

A fine home circuit too - most of the time...

DCN

Indeed an excellent series of books, published in the order of. Le Mans (up to the 1963 race), Monaco GP (up to 1964), German GP (up to 1965) and French GP (up to 1966). The series were called "Classic Motor Races" and it is a pity that they didn't continue with the Belgian and Italian GPs (I don't think the Japanese GP belongs in this company).

I bought them in period and still have them, the pages were suitably thick the only problem being that the covers were very thin and prone to tearing.

I bought them in period and still have them, the pages were suitably thick the only problem being that the covers were very thin and prone to tearing.

A lot of my dust covers are now reinforced with loads of Invisitape (upmarket Sellotape/ Scotch Tape) on the inside of practically every fold and the edges where they have torn.  Including my three "Classic Motor Races" titles (I haven't managed to lay my hands on the French GP yet)

Edited by D-Type, 06 June 2020 - 18:22.

I haven't managed to lay my hands on the French GP yet

There a few copies currently on eBay Duncan from £8.95 upwards

A bit OT, but your problems are a mere bagatelle alongside having 5 chinchillas let loose in the house "for exercise" whenever I went out any evening. Many many dust covers ruined - they especially liked the hard covers of those little yellow Blunsden/Brinton Motor Racing Year annuals. Must have been something tasty in the glue.

Edited by nicanary, 06 June 2020 - 20:31.