43 replies to this topic

[AdrianM]

Hello
I am after a good book on racing in the 1930's and the Mercedes, Auto Union period. I am interested in the role of the Nazi party, Hitler himself, the construction of the Nurburgring etc. There are plenty of books on the period but which is the best.
Thanks

[Ron Scoma]

I like Driving Forces by Stevenson and Hitlers Grand Prix by Hilton. There are others of course but those two are very readable and give a good overview.

Ron

[Hans Etzrodt]

* Bretz, Hans, Mannschaft und Meisterschaft, Eine Bilanz der Grand-Prix-Formel 1934-1937, Daimler-Benz AG, 1938.
* _________, BERND ROSEMEYER, Ein Leben für den deutschen Sport, Berlin: Wilhelm Limpert-Verlag, 1938.
* Caracciola, Rudolf, and Oskar Weller, Rennen - Sieg - Rekorde, Stuttgart: Union Deutsche Verlagsgesellschaft, 1935?
* Dreyfus, René, with Kimes, Beverly Rae, MY TWO LIVES, Race Driver To Restaurateur, Tucson, AZ.: AZTEX, 1983.
* Dugdale, John, GREAT MOTOR SPORTS OF THE THIRTIES, New York: Two Continents Publishing Group, 1977.
* Fellowes, Robert & Walkerley Rodney, GRANDS PRIX 1934-1939, London, MRP, 1948.
* Herzog, Bodo, Unter dem Mercedes - Stern, Preetz: Ernst Gerdes Verlag, 1966.
* Knittel, Stefan, AUTO UNION Grand Prix Wagen, München: Schrader & Partner GmbH, 1980.
* Ludvigsen, Karl, The Mercedes-Benz Racing Cars, Newport Beach: Bond/Parkhurst Books, 1971.
* ____________, Mercedes-Benz, Quicksilver Century, Isleworth, Middlesex: Transport Bookman Publications, 1995.
* Lyndon, Barré, GRAND PRIX, London, John Miles Ltd., 1935.
* Meurer, Adolf, Der Kraftsport im Neuen Deutschland, Berlin: ONS, 1935.
* Molter, Günther and Wörner Kurt, German Racing Cars and Drivers, Los Angeles: Floyd Clymer, 1950.
* Molter, Günther, Rudolf Caracciola, Titan am Volant, Stuttgart, 1995.
* Monkhouse, George, MOTORACES, London: Newes, 1937.
* ________________, Motor Racing with Mercedes-Benz, London: Newnes, 1938.
* ________________, Autorennen mit Mercedes-Benz, München: Verlag Knorr & Hirth, 1939.
* ________________, Motor Racing with Mercedes-Benz, Herts, G.B., Foulis, 1949.
* ________________, GRAND PRIX RACING Facts and Figures, Second Edition, London: G.T. Foulis & Co., Ltd., 1953.
* ________________, and King-Farlow, Roland GRAND PRIX RACING Facts and Figures, Third Edition, London: G.T. Foulis & Co, 1964.
* ________________, MERCEDES-BENZ GRAND PRIX RACING 1934-1955, London: White Mouse Editions, 1984.
* Nixon, Chris, Racing the Silver Arrows, London: Osprey Publishing Limited, 1986.
* Orsini, Luigi & Zagari, Franco, The Scuderia FERRARI 1929 to 1939 Enzo Ferrari racing with Alfa Romeo, London: Osprey, 1981.
* Riedner, Mike, Doppelsieg, Der Rennfahrer und Verleger Paul Pietsch, Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag, 1991.
* Schumm, Alfred, Das kleine Autobuch, Hamburg: Verlag Broschek, 1937.
* Sebastian, Ludwig, Hinter dröhnenden Motoren, Wien: Carl Ueberreuter, 1952.
* Sheldon, Paul with Rabagliati, Duncan, A RECORD OF GRAND PRIX AND VOITURETTE RACING Volume 2-3-4, 1926-1949, Esholt, Shipley, West Yorkshire: St Leonard's Press, 1987-1993.
* Stuck, Hans and Burggaller, E.G. Das Autobuch, Berlin: Drei Masken Verlag, 1933. (copies of racing section and statistics)
* Tragatsch, Erwin, Die großen Rennjahre, Bern: Hallwag Verlag, 1973.

But there are others, of course.

[Geza Sury]

Originally posted by Hans Etzrodt
Nixon, Chris, Racing the Silver Arrows, London: Osprey Publishing Limited, 1986.

This is one definitely NOT to be missed! It has been reprinted this year and available for £40 at various Internet bookshops. I ordered my copy from Chater's.

[Leif Snellman]

I too strongly recommend Nixon's "Racing the Silver Arrows."

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by Leif Snellman
I too strongly recommend Nixon's "Racing the Silver Arrows."

I think we all do! If you can lay your hands on wartime copies of Motor Sport they produced a very good series on racing in the 30s. Unfortunately, it was never finished: I suspect the subject matter was considered unpatriotic in wartime.

Hans has provided a very good list there, but at least one of the editions he quotes won't have been available in Australia, Adrian: the Dugdale book was published by Gentry Books in the UK - they'd have had Antipodean rights to it. And the currently available (2nd) edition of Racing the Silver Arrows is published by Transport Bookman, not Osprey.

Incidentally, the Nurburgring was completed well before the Nazis came to power - it's odd how its building seems to be associated with them in many people's minds. There's a brief account of its construction in Cyril Posthumus' book The German Grand Prix (Temple Press 1966).

[AdrianM]

Thanks all

[ensign14]

Rosemeyer! by Elly Beinhorn (tr Chris Nixon) is another great book, period, although it only touches on Nazism &c.

Also try Shooting Star by that man Nixon, about Richard Seaman, which has a little about the Nazis and the problems Seaman had in doing anything with his money.

Not yet got the Nye book 'Dick & George', still saving...

If you want some background about how the 'other half' lived, 'Amateur Racing Driver' by TP Cholmondeley-Tapper (do any non-native English speakers want to hazard a guess how the 1st half of the surname is pronounced? ) is available cheaply thanks to a 60s book club reprint (about £10) and is well worth a look. Also 'The Racing 1500s' by David Venables dealing with Mercedes hijacking the Tripoli GP 1939.

[AdrianM]

Thanks
Yeah I want a book which covers the whole period and deals with the political aspect too. I saw Driving Forces by Stevenson at the local Motoring bookshop so I think I will go for that. Looks to cover the whole period yet is very detailed and it got a good review by Atlas. Will wait to see if Nixon's "Racing the Silver Arrows" becomes available in store. Is that a good choice?
Cheers

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by AdrianM
Thanks
Yeah I want a book which covers the whole period and deals with the political aspect too. I saw Driving Forces by Stevenson at the local Motoring bookshop so I think I will go for that. Looks to cover the whole period yet is very detailed and it got a good review by Atlas. Will wait to see if Nixon's "Racing the Silver Arrows" becomes available in store. Is that a good choice?
Cheers

Don't leave RTSA too long - the last reprint was only 1000 copies, I think, most of which will have been pre-ordered. I'd guess it will be out of print again by the new year. I saw a first edition go for over £60 on eBay recently.

[Ron Scoma]

Originally posted by ensign14
TP Cholmondeley-Tapper (do any non-native English speakers want to hazard a guess how the 1st half of the surname is pronounced? )

Chumley - ?

Ron in Chicago who speaks American.

[Pedro 917]

I saw a book this afternoon in a second-hand bookshop in Antwerp. It was about Mercedes and written by Monkhouse. It's surely one of the books that Hans mentioned but as I checked so many books, I can't recall if it was in English or German. It had a lot of pictures and I believe the price was 125 Euro.

[ensign14]

Originally posted by Ron Scoma


Chumley - ?

Ron in Chicago who speaks American.

Correct, but you are technically a native English speaker. Just about.

I have never seen a 'political' book which mentions the motor racing side, BTW. Is anyone aware of any of those books about military vehicles and whether they deal with the relationship between the Nazis and AU/MB? Military contracts &c?

[Leif Snellman]

AdrianM,
In Nixon's book there is a chapter for each year and also a chapter called "Deutschland Über Alles - Racing and the Nazis"

Originally posted by Pedro 917
I saw a book this afternoon in a second-hand bookshop in Antwerp. It was about Mercedes and written by Monkhouse. It's surely one of the books that Hans mentioned but as I checked so many books, I can't recall if it was in English or German. It had a lot of pictures and I believe the price was 125 Euro.

I guess it could be Monkhouse's "Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Racing 1934-1955." http://www.ddavid.co...b_gp_racing.jpg
Exists in both English and German editions. The price sees a bit high to me as I just happened to buy one myself this morning for 40.50 Euro (German edition).
Doing some Google search I also came up with some amazing prices (£85.00, $150.00) for Monkhouse's "Motor Racing with Mercedes Benz"! I don't know what to say. I bought one in a second-hand bookshop in Stockholm a few years ago for 40kr (about $5 ) so perhaps I did a good deal!

[Barry Lake]

Can someone tell me if Driving Forces was ever available in hard cover form? All I can find at the moment is soft cover versions.

I had an idea it was originally published as Driving to Win - with the same sub-title as now.

[Ron Scoma]

Originally posted by Barry Lake
Can someone tell me if Driving Forces was ever available in hard cover form?

No.

Ron; a man of, thankfully I've been told, few words

[Option1]

Originally posted by Ron Scoma


No.

Ron; a man of, thankfully I've been told, few words

Is that "No, no one can tell Barry." or "No, it wasn't ever published in hardcover form."?

Neil
(A man of a few more words, most of them nonsensical)

PS: I've already got "Driving Forces", but I must look into getting the Nixon book. Great thread this.

[AdrianM]

Does anyone know any places online which are selling Nixon "Racing the Silver Arrows"?
Thanks Leif. That is what I'm looking for. That is in the above isn't it?
Thanks

[Ron Scoma]

Originally posted by AdrianM
Does anyone know any places online which are selling Nixon "Racing the Silver Arrows"?
Thanks Leif. That is what I'm looking for. That is in the above isn't it?
Thanks

Chater's will probably have it since it was reissued by Transport Bookman, a company Frank Stroud started.

www.chaters.co.uk

Ron, who has Driving Forces in the original, and only, PAPERBACK binding....

[Geza Sury]

Originally posted by Leif Snellman
I guess it could be Monkhouse's "Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Racing 1934-1955." http://www.ddavid.co...b_gp_racing.jpg
Exists in both English and German editions. The price sees a bit high to me as I just happened to buy one myself this morning for 40.50 Euro (German edition).

By pure coincidence, I just happened to order my copy of the Monkhouse book from Amazon US. They have a few copies available. What's interesting is that the publisher of this book is not White Mouse, but an unknown publisher called 'Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.' My order would arrive only in March or April since I ordered Doug's new Jack Brabham book as well, which would appear only in Spring

BTW, I would like the sell my Bernd Rosemeyer biography (by Chris Nixon), because I recently acquired a hardcover copy, so now my softcover book is for sale at a bargain price ;) I you're interested, just drop my a PM.

[Barry Lake]

Originally posted by Ron Scoma

Ron, who has Driving Forces in the original, and only, PAPERBACK binding....

Thnx

[aldo]

About "Driving Forces" it's still available, paperback only, from the publisher, Robert Bentley in Cambridge, Mass. www.bentleypublisher.com at $ 24.95.

My evaluation of the book ist that it's worth to be read because it's the only one, so far, trying to link the racing and political/social worlds, yet it's only a try, missing many key points and sliding on some mistakes here and there. Its limit, clearly recognized by the author himself, is to have been written on secondary sources, mainly in English, i.e. other books on the subject and not the original archive documents available in Germany.

[Dennis Hockenbury]

I haven't been on TNF much as of late, and just found this thread. Wow, I had no idea how many books on this period I have on my shelves. And how they seem to have multiplied since I joined TNF!

As with most others, I would highly recommend 'Racing the Silver Arrows' as my personal all-around pick that answers AdrianM's question. I have read this book so many times now.

'Driving Forces' was a book that I enjoyed although I couldn't quite shake the feeling that Stevenson started writing the book with a conclusion already reached and wrote the book to support the conclusion. (I'm not sure that this makes sense although I know what I am trying to say). I agree with Aldo's comments on this as well.

There are so many others that I have really enjoyed as well. My top picks would include:
Dick & George - Nye
Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Racing 1934-1955 - Monkhouse
The Mercedes-Benz Racing Cars - Ludvigsen
Quicksilver Century - Ludvigsen
Rosemeyer! - Elly Beinhorn
Auto-Union Album 1934-1939 - Nixon

[AdrianM]

Hi,
Am about to buy the Nixon book from Chaters and have found their is a reprint available by Transport Bookman: RACING THE SILVER ARROWS MERCEDES-BENZ VERSUS AUTO UNION.
Does anyone know if this is just a reprint or is it a different work?
Does it have any updated sections from the original?
The original is £95.00 while the new one is £39.99:
http://www.chaters.c...ftoken=94674989
What do you think?
Thanks

[Geza Sury]

Originally posted by Dennis Hockenbury
There are so many others that I have really enjoyed as well. My top picks would include:
Dick & George - Nye
Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Racing 1934-1955 - Monkhouse
The Mercedes-Benz Racing Cars - Ludvigsen
Quicksilver Century - Ludvigsen
Rosemeyer! - Elly Beinhorn
Auto-Union Album 1934-1939 - Nixon

I have 'Racing the Silver Arrows' and just recently ordered the Monkhouse Mercedes book and now I'm after a good Auto Union one. I found the Nixon title on Amazon but it seems it's more like a photographic tribute, rather than their racing history. Peter Kirchberg's book must be interesting but my German is far from perfect, so I'm afraid I wouldn't understand it properly

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by AdrianM
Hi,
Am about to buy the Nixon book from Chaters and have found their is a reprint available by Transport Bookman: RACING THE SILVER ARROWS MERCEDES-BENZ VERSUS AUTO UNION.
Does anyone know if this is just a reprint or is it a different work?
Does it have any updated sections from the original?
The original is £95.00 while the new one is £39.99:
http://www.chaters.c...ftoken=94674989
What do you think?
Thanks

It's a reprint, Adrian. Only the dust jacket is different - the first edition published by Osprey has a predominantly silver jacket, while the TB reprint jacket is mainly blue.

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by Geza Sury

I have 'Racing the Silver Arrows' and just recently ordered the Monkhouse Mercedes book and now I'm after a good Auto Union one. I found the Nixon title on Amazon but it seems it's more like a photographic tribute, rather than their racing history. Peter Kirchberg's book must be interesting but my German is far from perfect, so I'm afraid I wouldn't understand it properly

Yes, Geza, Auto Union Album is almost all photos, all from the AU archives. There's no AU history in English, I'm afraid.

[AdrianM]

Originally posted by Vitesse2


It's a reprint, Adrian. Only the dust jacket is different - the first edition published by Osprey has a predominantly silver jacket, while the TB reprint jacket is mainly blue.

Thanks I will go for that then.
That is good news for all the guys that said it was unavailable as Chaters says it is a latest release.

[Brun]

Originally posted by AdrianM
Hi,
Am about to buy the Nixon book from Chaters and have found their is a reprint available by Transport Bookman: RACING THE SILVER ARROWS MERCEDES-BENZ VERSUS AUTO UNION.
Does anyone know if this is just a reprint or is it a different work?
Does it have any updated sections from the original?
The original is £95.00 while the new one is £39.99:
http://www.chaters.c...ftoken=94674989
What do you think?
Thanks

Bought it at the Revival Meeting this summer and I'm very happy I did so. Visacard and I were therefor very happy to invest those 40 pounds in the British economy

[VWV]

Yesterday I ordered a copy Nixon's "Racing the Silver Arrows" along with "AUTO UNION RACING CARS" and "MERCEDES-BENZ W25.W125.W154.W156" both by Colin Pitts, Unique Motor Books as a Christmas present to myself . I know that Unique Motor books is a colection of contemporary magazine articles but I want to know if anyone has read these two on the Auto Union and Mercedes Grand Prix cars and if they are any good. For £9.95 each i thought I would take a shot and order them. Anyone have any opinions on Unique Mortor books reprints?

[karlcars]

Just a note that Schiffer Publishing is anything but unknown to those of us who are also interested in militaria. They are a big-time publisher of such material.

The chapter on the Thirties in my book Classic Grand Prix Cars will indeed give a pretty good picture of this period.

[Ron Scoma]

I would also add...

Le leggendarie Auto Union by Cancellieri and DeAgostini. It was published in 1979 in an edition of 5000 copies. Motor Books in St. Martins Lane should have a copy or two around. It's in Italian.
Also, the HMSO publication on the T80 LSR has been reprinted in hardback.

Cheers,

Ron Scoma

[Geza Sury]

Originally posted by Vitesse2
Yes, Geza, Auto Union Album is almost all photos, all from the AU archives. There's no AU history in English, I'm afraid.

Thanks Richard That means I must considerably improve my German before I purchase Peter Kirchberg's AU book...

[Hans Etzrodt]

Originally posted by Vitesse2
...There's no AU history in English, I'm afraid.

Auto Union V16 Supercharged by Ian Bamsey, 1990. Not a very impressive but interesting nevertheless.

Automobile Quarterly Vol.8 No.1 (1969) by Karl Ludvigsen, 16 pp text with drawings, charts and pictures; then 15pp Walter Gotschke color prints and the complete AU racing record.

[Holger Merten]

Originally posted by Vitesse2

Yes, Geza, Auto Union Album is almost all photos, all from the AU archives. There's no AU history in English, I'm afraid.

Don't be afraid Richard, there is one. Get your copy by this link at amazon

The history of progress is the Audi history written by Kirchberg, Erdmann, Plagmann. All Insiders of the Audi history. This book is published by Audi since 1973 with yearly updates of every new year. I wrote the upates for
1980 - 1993.
This last edition gives a good overview of the whole history of Audi, Auto Union, NSU, DKW, Wanderer and Horch.

You'll find on 250 pages the story, the most important cars, the important persons and so on. Enjoy!

[Racer.Demon]

And don't forget the Auto Union history (in English) that Holger himself is working on...

[Holger Merten]

Mathijs, please. Don't remember me for all the promises I made.

But it's going ahead.....It's also a history of progress.

[Racer.Demon]

Please don't get me wrong there, Holger - my post certainly wasn't intended that way.

I was merely stating the fact that ultimately your Auto Union history will belong up there among the other AU literature.

[Holger Merten]

Anyway, I know what I promissed you, therefore it was a good kick-off post.

[Option1]

Not sure if this fits in this thread or not, but Amazon has Auto Union Gp Race and Record Cars: Their Reconstruction and Restoration by Peter Vann. I know nothing about it and nor, it sems, does Amazon.

So does anyone know of it and, if so, is it worth it?

Neil

[Hans Etzrodt]

Originally posted by Vitesse2
...There's no AU history in English, I'm afraid.

here another one:
The 16-cylinder G.P. Auto Union by Cyril Posthumus, 1967, Number 59 of Profile Publications, 12 pp text, photos, drawings and paintings.

[Geza Sury]

Originally posted by Holger Merten
But it's going ahead.....

Here's one Hungarian who would purchase and English language copy immediately ;)

[Holger Merten]

You must have a look on Amazon. There was a big one, we wrote between 1987 and 1995 in two volumens, the first one was published in 1992, the other one in 1995, I'm still waiting for the 3rd vol.

The book is called: Im Zeichen der Vier Ringe. If you got a copy you'll find everything about AU on about 1000 pages. A very well done publication by the Audi Public relations dept. and the Auto Union history dept.

Try to learn German and got a 2nd hand copy on Amazon .

[Holger Merten]

Here is the link to the german Amazon site.

Vol. I: 1873 - 1945.
Vol. II: 1945 -1968.

Keep reading in the right circles.;)