37 replies to this topic

[Madras]

Need to get my dad a birthday present, any good books you can recommend?

[sterling49]

How old is he?

[se7en_24]

[ensign14]

Need to get my dad a birthday present, any good books you can recommend?

"Power And Glory" by William Court.

[Madras]

How old is he?

63

[Madras]

He has a 1-series

[Rob G]

"Power And Glory" by William Court.

That's an outstanding book.

Madras, is there a specific era or team he likes best?

[jonpollak]

Give him Jackie's book...

It's wonderful and comes with a DVD.

Jp

[Lukin]

I've read a few autobiographies and I especially like Martin Brundle's as it's from a different point of view, talking about each track, it's characteristics and his memories of the place.

Murray Walkers is very interesting.

Edited by Lukin, 05 September 2009 - 05:08.

[sterling49]

You are like a dog with a bone


Madras, have you considerd "Jim Clark, My Life At Team Lotus"? An exceptionally good book by the official team photographer Peter Darley, a collectors item already.

[Ivan]

You should start here! Every F1 book on the planet is discussed by these guys.

[ensign14]

That might be a bit advanced, though...needles and haystacks.

However, this thread might be easier to read through. The main difficulty is filtering out which ones are only available for inflated second hand prices, or are "collector" type items (Simon Moore's Alfa books for example cost in the hundreds - and will probably only ever appreciate).

The beauty of "Power And Glory" is that it was reprinted 20 years ago (although the original seems to be better quality) so there are copies about; abebooks has them in various conditions from forty quid. And, as a generalist work, it covers much of motor racing history before 1950, so it's of widespread interest to fans of Ferrari, the Silver Arrows, the pre-WW1 heroic age and so on; but is written in a beautiful and allusive style so it's a pleasure to dip into, even if it treads familiar ground.

If you can go to double that, TASO Mathieson's "Grand Prix Racing 1906-14" is like a time machine, a pictorial work based on glass negatives so that even the finest details of M. le Spectateur's chapeau can be discerned. Plus the best place where you can see what obscurities like the Nagant and Vinot-Deguigand looked like.

[Ringo]

Stirling Moss has got together with Alan Henry and they've released a book called "All My Races" which is basically all of Moss' diaries from his career published as a book. Should be fascinating and has just come out to commemorate his 80th birthday.

Should be a great book.

David Tremayne's - Donald Campbell: The Man Behind The Mask, is one of the single finest books I have ever read. My Dad loved it too, proper "Boy's Own" hero type stuff. Legend.

Edited by Ringo, 05 September 2009 - 13:31.

[dank]

Jackie Stewart's autobiography (and DVD) has to be purchased. Absolutely fantastic read from start to finish.

The new book 'Williams' by Maurice Hamilton is supposed to be good as well, not read it yet mind you.

[roughage]

Try "The Lost Generation" by David Tremayne. It discusses the lives and deaths of Roger Williamson, Tony Brise and Tom Pryce, all contemporaries of James Hunt and "even more talented" who lost their lives in the 1970's.

[potmotr]

Crashed and Byrned about Tommy Byrne's attempts to make it in F1 is a really great read.

Martin Brundle's Working the Wheel is also really quite good.

[blackgerby]

Sid Watkins book.

[potmotr]

Of the Lewis Hamilton books, the one my Mark Hughes is pretty good.

[ForeverF1]

I am going to have hate and scorn poured over me for this, but 'Unless I'm Very Much Mistaken' by Murray Walker is quite a good read too.

[nordschleife]

Fangio by Gerald Donaldson
Low price, minimal pictures, he'll read it repeatedly because it cleanses the enthusiast's mind.

1982: The inside story of the sensational grand prix season by Christopher Hilton
Fairly low price, satisfactory picture quality and number, stranger than fiction year needs a one stop explanation - this is it.

Grand Prix de Monaco: Rainer Schlegelmilch and Hartmut Lehbrink
1929 to 1998 visually and textually complete. This is a GP fan's desert island book.
If you can get one for $100 you're stealing it. I bought 2. Too good for your Dad, get it for yourself. Can't find it? Try Ebay. Keep searching, you need this.

[ensign14]

Grand Prix de Monaco: Rainer Schlegelmilch and Hartmut Lehbrink
1929 to 1998 visually and textually complete. This is a GP fan's desert island book.
If you can get one for $100 you're stealing it.

How about a tenner? Plus shipping, mind. Which would cost more than the book...

[potmotr]

Others may argue, but I quite liked Eddie Jordan's autobiography and David Coulthard's.

[Chubby_Deuce]

http://automotophoto...unaseca_gp.html

[Victor]

Need to get my dad a birthday present, any good books you can recommend?

I strongly recommend:

"The Complete History of Grand Prix Motor Racing", by Adriano Cimarosti
"Grand Prix Data Book", by David Hayhoe and David Holland
"The Complete Book of Formula One", by Simon Arron and Mark Hughes

Each one of the above is five stars.

Cheers

[COUGAR508]

Try "The Lost Generation" by David Tremayne. It discusses the lives and deaths of Roger Williamson, Tony Brise and Tom Pryce, all contemporaries of James Hunt and "even more talented" who lost their lives in the 1970's.

I would recommend this one also. It is possibly the best motorsport book I have ever read. Thoroughly researched and superbly written, although of course the pages are tinged with sadness.

[Coral]

I also thoroughly recommend "The Lost Generation". It's a wonderful book and a lovely tribute to three great drivers. Jackie Stewart's autobriography "Winning Is Not Enough" is also fantastic. Other books I enjoy reading are the new Mike Hawthorn biography "Golden Boy" by Tony Bailey and Paul Skilleter and the old favourite "Mon Ami Mate" by Chris Nixon.

[MegaManson]

Perry McCarthy's book, my fave motorsport book ever

[Kristian]

The Death of Ayrton Senna by Richard Williams is a good read, though probably a bit morbid for a birthday present.

But I definitely agree with Working The Wheel and Crashed and Byrned.

[Madera]

This one. If you can find it.

[RV_Canada]

I got The Mechanic's Tale: Life in the Pit Lanes of Formula One by Steve Matchett (Benetton mechanic during the Schumi years) as a gift and I quite enjoyed it. It was an easy read and from a unique perspective to most of the other books I've read.

[Direct Drive]

I found the Phil Kerr book TO FINISH FIRST fascinating enough to read twice. Great history of Bruce and McLaren Cars


http://www.amazon.co...a...0670&sr=1-1

Edited by Direct Drive, 06 September 2009 - 15:25.

[Jedi_F1]

I saw this one last weekend at a fanshop around the Spa-Francorchamps track,
I couldn't really look into it very long,
anybody else who has it and can tell me ... it's a must have?

[milestone 11]

This one. If you can find it.

Great book this, was the first F1 related book I ever bought. Strangely though my copy is also priced at $3.95 but it certainly wasn't bought in America. Of course it is opinion, mine, with regard the Jackie Stewart book "Winning is not enough", is that it is abysmal. McCarthy's "Flat out flat broke is a great read, as is "Crashed and Byrned" Donaldson's "Villeneuve" and Lauda's "To hell and back" also great. Incidentally Ensign, Power and Glory is 61pence on the site that you linked to.

Edited by milestone 11, 06 September 2009 - 18:07.

[stevewf1]

My favorites (old books, though)...

"When the Flag Drops" (Jack Brabham)
"Life at the Limit" (Graham Hill)
"Faster!" (Jackie Stewart)
"Sunday Driver" (Brock Yates)

[lustigson]

I can recommend this one:

[Ghostrider]

I enjoyed Sid Watkins "Life at the limit - triumph and tragedy in Formula One"

[JacnGille]

I enjoyed Sid Watkins "Life at the limit - triumph and tragedy in Formula One"

+1

[Phil82]

[quote name='dank' date='Sep 5 2009, 18:21' post='3838979']
Jackie Stewart's autobiography (and DVD) has to be purchased. Absolutely fantastic read from start to finish.


Sure is and you get your moneys worth as it's a big old book.

A great insight into his life and they way he works, my god you wouldn't want to be working at Ford when he tested all the road cars.