251 replies to this topic

[dmj]

I would just like to confirm to all of you there who don't speak Croatian that you didn't lose anything - there isn't a single good book about motorsport in my language...
Or shuld I say ?

[byrkus]

Well, Slovenia is also rather poor with such books, however there are four books by M. Alisic, who is a F1 commentator (sort of slovenian Murray Walker, if I may add, but he's still learning!!

- Ayrton Senna - Poet hitrosti (Poet of speed);
- Prvaki (Champions);
- Srebrni sijaj (Silver shining, about Mercedes Benz);
-and there's also a book about Ferrari, but the title just slipped out of my mind...

[dmj]

I can recall just one book written in Croatian, and mostly about history of motorcycle racing here, Ivan Franciskovic's "Velike nagrade" ("Grand Prixes"). In it are some nice pics of sportscar racing in Preluk circuit in 50s, however...

[Darren Galpin]

I have to ask....... Preluk circuit? Could you possibly give me more details on this - lap distance, map, history etc etc??????

[pinchevs]

If I'll ever have time I'll definitly learn to read Italian. I went mad more than a few times at Italian motorsport bookstores. AMAZING books that I can not "unlock". I've bought a couple about race tracks - Monza and the Modena track, just for the photos and maps, but there are so many many more books waiting in Italy for me

[Vitesse2]

Quote

Originally posted by Darren Galpin
I have to ask....... Preluk circuit? Could you possibly give me more details on this - lap distance, map, history etc etc??????

I seem to recall that a certain other Croatian was going to tell us all about Preluk ... with pictures!!!

http://www.atlasf1.c...ighlight=Preluk

I wonder who that could have been?

[Frank de Jong]

Oops, this thread escaped my attention a bit.
Apart from a lot of books already mentioned (and the fact that Dutch books, apart from local anecdotes, add little), ten of a different kind; books that teached me about a specific subject.

• Dante Giacosa - 40 years of Fiat design (including Cisitalia); a bit OT but a very interesting for someone who as a boy dreamt to be a car designer and ended up in IT
• John Thompson - The Formula One record book; learnt me everything about the 1961-1965 period
• Trans-Am the pony car wars - Dave Friedman; now I know what TransAm was all about
• Osca - Franco Zagari; the secrets of OSCA revealed
• Matra La Saga - José Rosinski; complete overview of Matra racing cars
• Alpine - Christian Descombes; complete overview on Alpine
• Antoine Prunet - Ferrari Sports Racing and Prototype competition cars; should I elaborate?
• Chevron The Derek Bennett Story - David Gordon; I've always liked Chevron cars
• Life in the fast lane - Steve Matchett; I was pretty impressed by this book, which gives a different view on F1, in that particular season of Jos Verstappen's hot debut; but it's never mentioned on TNF. I wasn't very impressed however with his next book
• Helmut Zwickl - Die angst bleibt an den boxen; gives a coloured view on racing in the 60's

Some of these books were incredible bargains (Osca, Thompson, Zwickl)

[William Hunt]

I would add the art-painting F1 books of Michael Turner and Mike Langs GP books to the library.

[ensign14]

I cannot believe I forgot the Wallen books - if you can afford them, get them, they are essential if you like US racing. Ditto the Fielden books for NASCAR - his brother (I assume) did a fine biography of Tim Flock.

As for foreign books, please shoot me down, but I really enjoued 'Defense [can't do accents] de Mourir' by Jean-Pierre Beltoise from a stylistic viewpoint, it seemed to be very well written. But my French is rapidly being forgotten so it may have been bog-standard hack writing.

And one we all have missed - 'Time and 2 Seats' by Janos Wimpffen. Absolutely staggering.

Finally, for idiosyncracy, the Hungness Indy yearbooks, which always seemed to have one or 2 items - usually including the editorial!- completely out of leftfield whidded added to the charm. Does anyone know what Carl is doing now? Indy isn't the same without him, the 'official' yearbooks have coffee-table-itis.

[Wolf]

Darren- Vitesse has already answered Your question re. Preluk (Opatija Track as You refer to it, or Abazzia)... BTW, the data I presented in that thread, and on Your site, is form aforementioned book ('Velike nagrade' by Franciskovic).

Vitesse- Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.;) But, to my defense, I'd like to say that during my entire summer hollidays (almost two months) there wasn't a single rainy day so that I could take my trip... I'm sucker for driving in the rain and sunny days were reserved for driving people from the beach by unleshing my dogs on them... Fear not- my summer-house is not 30 miles from said track (and Grobnik too) so if I don't take photo-excursion this spring (as I'd like to), the summer is the deadline... Almost did it few days ago, but the weather was quite dreadful.

DMJ- do You have that book? Tony and I tried to identify the Jaguar driver on one of the photos- it looks quite familliar...

[Roger Clark]

Quote

Originally posted by Vitesse2


Thanks Dennis!!!

For anyone who doesn't fancy it on CD, they also do it in a print version, which is what I've just ordered!! Weighing it up, I figured it was cheaper than a new print cartridge, because I'd want to print the whole thing out anyway! I NEVER thought I'd EVER own a set of Pomeroy!!! So, with that, Setright, Nye Vol 2 and Karl's recent book ( ) I think I'm pretty well covered!!!;)

I bought the paper edition about 2 years ago. The binding is very cheap and it began to fall apart very quickly. however, a visit to my friendly local bookbinder soon put that right.

I ws a little concerned about the copyright situation with this enterprise. There have alwas been rumours that the original publishers, or there successors were going to reissue it, then suddenly it is available at what really is a bargain price. I suppose it's alright...

I would like to include a plug for the History of ERA by David Wegeulin, Scuderia Ferrari by Orsini and Zagari and Grand Prix Racing 1906-14 by TASO Mathieson. All expensive i'm afraid but well worth it in my opinion.

[twhite]

What, no Nigel Roebuck? His "Chasing the Title" is particularly good, as are his bios of Mario Andretti and Alain Prost. Innes Ireland's "All Arms and Elbows" certainly belongs on the list, as does "Jenks," a collection of Denis Jenkinson's writings for Motorsport. Frankly, I think his "Racing Driver" is fairly superficial and not particularly enlightening. Doug Nye's book on McLaren is also worth your time.
There it is.
--Tim

[Vitesse2]

Quote

Originally posted by Roger Clark


I would like to include a plug for the History of ERA by David Wegeulin,

and, for that matter, any other marque history published by New Cavendish

Quote

Originally posted by Roger Clark
....and Grand Prix Racing 1906-14 by TASO Mathieson. All expensive i'm afraid but well worth it in my opinion.

Last year both Felix and I obtained near-perfect copies of this from Collector's Carbooks for under £40 - they may still have some ....

[Criceto]

Yes, they do. I saw four copies in the shop this morning!

On the subject of recommendations, can I ask if anyone has experience of Pierre Abeillon's tome on Lago-Talbot? Before I lay down my £215 that someone's asking me for it, I'd like to know that it's as comprehensive and definitive as it ought to be for the price.

[Roger Clark]

Quote

Originally posted by Vitesse2






Last year both Felix and I obtained near-perfect copies of this from Collector's Carbooks for under £40 - they may still have some ....

I won't tell you what I paid in 1966. It's not in perfect condition though!

[Joe Fan]

QUOTE]Originally posted by Roger Clark


I was a little concerned about the copyright situation with this enterprise. There have alwas been rumours that the original publishers, or there successors were going to reissue it, then suddenly it is available at what really is a bargain price. I suppose it's alright...

[/QUOTE]

More than likely what happened here is that most contracts for books give the original publisher the right to reprint subsequent editions. However, the author usually has the right to publish it any which way they can if they notify the original publisher about doing a reprint, and they don't respond within thirty days. This protects the author from getting snuffed out of potential income if the publisher drags their feet on the reprint. And as one can expect, reprints are significantly cheaper than the original costs tied into the first edition.

[pinchevs]

Well, I've just bought the CD version. I've got a good color printer with good quality (photo quality) printing paper so that I can print the entire books and bind them myslef. As one of the guys here said, it's more expensive than buying it as a book, but I know that I just couldn't pass on the possibilty of having so much information already as a computer data base.


To everyone here, PLEASE take notice of two issues:

1) We're dealing here with more general motorsport books. They shouldn't be too specific. I think I already saw a separate thread about more specific stuff.

2) PLEASE mention what language the book you're recomending is written in. My wife will not translate whole books in French for me

Merci

[pinchevs]

Well, I've just checked the other thread and it's not about mototrsport books on specific / special subjects. Perhaps someone should start one.

Anyway, here are my more specialized questions and recommendations:

1) Could anyone recommend good books about TRACKS! I mean books with good information about the trakcs themselves with detailed maps (prefebly also topographical maps) and lots of photos. I admit that I'm a GPL addict, but I certainly can't build all these tracks. I just love to SEE the tracks, to fully understand the chalanges facing the drivers. The perfect exemples are the Spanish books on Montjuich and the GP's of the Penya Rhin. Perhaps in the distant future I'd be able to get my team to recreate the Pedralbes circuit for GPL. Montjuich is superbly being done by a Finnish team. The Chim... book on GP racing is just amazing with the amount of maps it contains. It's a favorite of mine. You both learn the history and see the chalanges.

1.1) I defintly need the BEST book written in English about Monza. Please help.

1.2) I could also not find the book written about the Australian GP's. I don't remember it's name, but Collectors Carbooks ran out of it. Does it contain info on those tracks?

1.3) Books about tracks in south America? Especially the old Interlagos...

1.4) The last question in regard to the "tracks" books, is in regard to the French tracks, especially Montlery (sorry if I mis-spelled, I'm at work). I don't even care if they are not in English (I'm aware of the problem the French have with English). I need to have as many photos of that track as possible and of course maps!

2) Could anyone recommend good books about Ferrari racing F1 / sportscars / anything else that is racing, not road cars. I can personally highlly recommend the "Ferrari in camera" book. The photos are AMAZING and Nye tells some wonderfull stories (especially from Phil hill). It is expensive!

3) Biographies. I agree that Mon ami mate is a perfect exemple of how it should be done, but I have to say that as a motorsport fan I prefered the Moss book on his cars. Amazing book that I keep on rereading. This is the true book that Mario should have published. The Gilles book by G.D. is also very good as it really does reveal many things and shows the complicated man that he was.

Thank you.

Moshe Pinchevsky

[Wolf]

Pinchevs- Dmj already mentioned one book in Croatian that deals with two Croatian tracks which I doubt will be of much interest to you (one hosted only one GP in thirties, and one only international motorbike races). Anyway, most of the data about them can be obtained either here or on Darrens site...

[fines]

Quote

Originally posted by Dennis David
If I was starting a library these are the ten books that I would start with. The greatest books with broad coverage. Now I have left out many great books that are more specialized since I said above that I would start with these ten first.

The Grand Prix Car Vol 1-2 by Laurence Pomeroy & adapted to CD by Les Rix
These are legendary books.

History of the Grand Prix Car 1945-65 by Doug Nye
History of the Grand Prix Car 1966-91 by Doug Nye
Follows in the footsteps of Pomeroy and Setright

The Complete History of Grand Prix Motor Racing by Adriano Cimarosti
Best one volume history.

The Encyclopedia of Motor Sport by GN Georgano
The only true encyclopedia in a land of pretenders.

Power & Glory, Vol 1-2 by William Court
Nobody does it better.

My Cars, My Career by Stirling Moss
A template for all driver biographies…

The Racing Driver by Denis Jenkinson
Still the best description of what it takes to be a racing driver.

Ok, I have JUST ordered the Pomeroy CD (thnx for the link, Dennis ), and have also received this very morning the Nye 45/65 history to sit alongside its "sequel", the Cimarosti book (both mid-eighties German versions, though) and both Court volumes (will there ever be a third?). Just Georgano, Moss and Jenkinson to go!

[dmj]

Wolf,
I have that book (Never saw it in a bookshop but I was enough shameless at presentation of the book to ask author if he could give me a copy He did). I will dig it somehow (it is buried somewhere deep in corner of my junky... I meant library...) and see about that man in Jaguar. Do you wish me to scan some pictures from book?

[karlcars]

I would like to second the motion for "Ten Years of Motors and Motor Racing" by Charles Jarrott. This is an absorbing and personal book about motor racing in the early years. I liked it so much that I reprinted a section from it in "Car and Driver," back to back with a piece I commissioned from Tony Brooks.

[alessandro silva]

I see that it has been a call for books in "other languages" Let me mention the following:
General - COHIN, Historique de la Course Automobile, a sort of French pre-Sheldon (2nd edition 1978)
Marque - HUET, Gordini, un Sorcier, une Equipe. (Just excellent)
Local - DARMENDRAIL, Le GP de Pau, (all other local French books disappear in comparison)
Classic - LURANI, Corse nel mondo, (translated "Racing around the world" covers the 27/35 period)
Autobiography - Taruffi, Bandiera a scacchi (translated, Works driver)
Biography: LOUCHE - Un siècle de Grands Pilotes français, 3 volumes (100 drivers)
But the best is the more recent one:
CURAMI-Vergnano, La "Sport" e i suoi artigiani, 1937/1965. On Italian sportscar specials. 100 Makes, 400 different cars. Giorgio Nada editore 2001. Just extraordinary.

If I might be a bit polemic, also POMEROY The GP car is written in another language in comparison with today's sloppiness

[dmj]

Quote

Tony and I tried to identify the Jaguar driver on one of the photos- it looks quite familliar...

Are you sure, Wolf? Last night I looked at the book and couldn't find any Jaguar picture in it!?

[Dennis David]

In the process of scanning all of my motorsport books I came across a small paperback titled Design for Competition by the 750 Motor Club. This is the club where Colin Chapman use to compete in during his early years.

Re-reading this book brought me back to my childhood when I wanted to be the next Colin Chapman.

[Wolf]

Dmj- thanks for taking the trouble, obviously my memory isn't what it used to be (and it wasn't all that great to start with)... Or was it Aston? All I can remember was distinctive white helmet (the type Phil Hill used, with visor) and british plates...The pic is start of the race, elevated head on view.

[dmj]

I believe it is an Aston Martin DB3S, driven by its Dutch owner - I can't remember his name but he said to Chris Nixon about racing in Opatija while Nixon researched for his book on DB3S. I have a letter from him with more details somewhere - I'll post it when I find it...
So I'm afraid we can't add Hill to so short list of famous drivers who raced at Opatija...

[fines]

Just a note to say that the Pomeroy CD has already arrived (just a week for delivery ), and it's simply brill****!!!! What a bargain, GBP 27,- including p&p! Best value, and an essential read for anyone with English language knowledge!!!

[Ivan]

I just love the books topics. I have come up with some interesting finds that I have posted here in the past.
But, I want to ask is there anyone here that is collecting the Schegelmilch series of books? His first two are The Clark Era and the Stewart Era. The third of the five to be done is just out, The Lauda Era. And because I didn't get them when I first saw them is it possible to get the first two without me having to give up the use of some body parts or selling family members?

[Dennis David]

The body parts you can keep but you might have to sell a family member or go into servitude since they costs $250 each. Though I have spent more for a book I have taken a pass on these. That should not be taken as a criticism as I have seen these books and they are quite beautiful. I am a big fan of Schegelmilch’s work especially his earlier B&W but I guess I am saving space on my bookshelf for other nuggets.

[Ivan]

Dennis,
I know, the price was the reason I let it pass in the first place. But to me I should have made it happen on the first two.
I can't even find the first two any more, ebay and amazon are not carrying them. I think I went to his site as well and couldn't order them.
Of the five that he will have
1. Clark
2. Stewart
3. Lauda
4. Senna
5. Schumacher

I know I'll get 4 and 5.

[Dennis David]

Drop his son an email. He should be able to find you a copy.

[Dennis David]

Well, I've finally finished scanning the covers of all of my racing books. I've always felt that that one of the best services that an author can provide his readers is a bibliography of all the work referenced in his work. The Grand Prix History website like most others depends heavily on printed works. In this thread the original intent was to list some books that I felt should form the basis of any motorsport library. But as with any library the inclusion of items of a more narrow nature brings the library alive. Four books that I often return to just to immerse myself in what motorsport means to me are:

Adriano Cimarosti's opus on the Swiss Grand Prix. 600 pages of shelf busting pulchritude! This book has to be seen to be believed. A bargain at any price.


Peter Helck remains one of motorsports greatest artist. This volume contains many two page spreads.


Enzo Ferrari's book was often given away as a gift, unfortunatly I had to pay for mine. More than history, one man's observations, one very important man.


George Monkhouse Grand Prix Racing comes in many editions. For the pictures get the White Mouse Edition, 1984.

[Hans Etzrodt]

Dennis,
Very nice of you to show these book covers. I have three of those tomes but not the one by Enzo Ferrari since I never cared for him as a person. But I like his cars.

[Dennis David]

I can understand that. I am reminded of Froilan Gonzalez's description of Ferrari as the "sacred monster". Seemed apt.

[Hans Etzrodt]

Every time I open George Monhouse's master piece (of which you show the cover) and look at his one page pictures, I can feel my heart beat faster. It is the best book of the Golden Thirties.

[Dennis David]

On the other hand there are many smaller books that prove their weight in gold. One of my favorites is Famous Motor Races by Rodney Walkerley



In it is my favorite description of the impact the Mercedes Benz and Alfa Romeo teams had on the rest of the motorsports world.

The practicing had just begun. Away beyond the woods we heard the approaching scream of a well-tuned E.R.A. and down the winding slope towards us came Raymond Mays. He changed down, braked, skirted round the Hairpin and was gone.

"There's the winner," remarked one of my friends. "Knows this course backwards."

Half a minute later came the deeper note of a 2.9-litre Maserati, and "B. Bira" (Prince Birabongse of Siam, Mays’ nearest rival and a new star in the racing firmament) shot past us, cornering with that precision which marked him as the master he was.

"Or him," said another.

We waited again. Then they came.

Far away in the distance we heard an angry, deep-throated roaring - as someone once remarked, like hungry lions impatient for the arena. A few moments later, Manfred von Brauchitsch, red helmeted, brought a great, silver projectile snaking down the hill, and close behind, his teammate Rudolf Caracciola, then at the height of his great career. The two cars took the hairpin, von Brauchitsch almost sideways, and rocketed away out of sight with long plumes of rubber smoke trailing from their huge rear tyres, in a deafening crash of sound.

The startled Pressmen gazed at each other, awe-struck.

"Strewth," gasped one of them, "so that's what they're like!"

That was what they were like.


... With 30 seconds to go the German engines started up, the drivers holding them at an even 1,500 r.p.m., not revving up and down in the manner usual with smaller cars, and as the flag went up, the revs mounted to a steady shattering, thunderous roar and then they surged away with tyre treads belching smoke, leaving long black lines to show where they had stood. That fantastic start in an inferno of suddenly unleashed sound was something that left the packed crowds awe-struck, open-mouthed, silent...

...One minute . . . one minute thirty seconds . . . and then, far away, came the droning as if of distant aeroplanes. The drone rose to a roar, and there, twinkling silver in the sun, they came, down Starkey's Straight in full view, one behind the other at 170 m.p.h., a speed never before seen in Britain.

The seven German cars, nose to tail, the rest nowhere at all, tore past the back of the pits and fled downhill into Melbourne's 15 m.p.h. hairpin. Round they swirled and then they were upon us. At 100 m.p.h. they shot over the crest of the ridge, all four wheels clear of the ground with the impetus of that phenomenal acceleration. The Mercedes came with front wheels a foot off, the Auto Unions with similar daylight under their rear wheels.

In a crash of sound they went past, cut, braked and cornered into Red Gate again - Lang in the lead, Caracciola, from the second rank, 4 sec. behind him, Brauchitsch third, Seaman fourth, Rosemeyer fifth, Muller and Hasse sixth and seventh. Then, after a long pause, Bira (Maserati), Martin and Mays and Howe on the E.R.A.s.

And as once again the thunder dwindled into silence, a great audible gasp went up from the enclosure. Men took off their caps and wiped their brows and turned to stare at each other in amazement. This was the sort of racing they had read about. Now they saw it, for the first time. And they were thunderstruck...

...Over the final ten laps with the positions obviously static, the leaders slowed down slightly, braking more gently, changing up earlier as they came out of corners, so that the average declined fractionally to just under 83 m.p.h. - and Rosemeyer had worn through the seat of his pants!

As they finished, there was a difference of a mere 0.38 m.p.h. between the first three-equivalent to I min. 16.6 sec.

As we streamed towards the car parks, I heard a man remark: "Well, I'll never forget that first lap.

[Hans Etzrodt]

Dennis,

[fines]

Wonderful story!!! I read it once before, somewhere else, since I don't have Grande Vitesse's book.

[Niky]

Talking about books... Any recommendations on Lotus or Colin Champman's books??? Every week I write a different motorsport story (Spanish) and I am reaserching for the entire year right now. This year will be twenty without Colin so I would like to write something about him... thanks!

[Maldwyn]

Quote

Originally posted by Niky
Any recommendations on Lotus or Colin Champman's books???

It's been a while since I read it but Jabby Crombac's "Colin Chapman" is a very good read.

[Niky]

Thank you Maldwyn!

[2F-001]

Nicky - how about:
"Colin Chapman - Lotus Engineering'' by Hugh Haskell (Osprey, 1993).
or ''Theme Lotus'' by Doug Nye (MRP), which seems to a ''standard'' work.

Could suggest plenty of titles on Lotus Sevens, if you want to go that far down the food chain (I can say that, 'cos I'm a member of the Lotus Seven Club!).

[Cappo]

Just beat me to it kanec! Into the red is a terrific book, excellent pictures and a great depth of knowledge. Also the books by Richard Williams - Death of Senna (don’t mind the dreadful title) Racers and his recent biography of Enzo Ferrari are a very good read. Don’t forget Prof. Sid Watkins efforts.

[Ivan]

I just recieved - The Piranha Club and Ayrton Senna, The Hard Edge of Genius.

[Dennis David]

Everyday that I get a new book is like Christmas. Going to New Jersey for business next week so will have to drop in on EWACARS and see what new goodies they have for me.

[Ivan]

I would need some major restraint to there. I never knew they had a store front. I thought it was just mail order.

[Dennis David]

No they actually have a store.

[Dennis David]

The Constant Search - Collecting Motoring and Motorcycling Books by Charles Mortimer

Well I only just received the book that along with The Car Book Value Guide by Thomas E. Warth should be on every collector’s bookshelf. The book was first published almost twenty years ago and has to my knowledge never been updated or revised. With the current glut of motoring books this may be too onerous of a task. The book covers in addition to its, title sections on bicycles and cycling.

What really makes this book unique is rather than just a listing of books, the author endeavors to offer sound advise on building a library by suggesting volumes for each of 11 categories he has devised for books on motor racing alone.

Don't expect him to rubbish any of the books mentioned, as he's too much of a gentleman to do that. As an example his comments on works by Sir Malcolm Campbell prove illustrative: He was also a great showman and it has sometimes seemed to me that this aspect of his character came through too strongly in his writings. It seemed at times that as he wrote he felt he was writing for a reader who knew nothing of his achievements, whereas the reverse was true. Sounds like another British driver of recent repute!

[Dennis David]

Charles Mortimer's book got me to thinking about the series of booklets put out by Profile Publications. The first series had 96 issues each profiling a particular car and approximately 10 pages usually including some color illustrations.

1926-27 1 1/2-litre Delage