20 replies to this topic

[jimmyc]

Does anyone know in what years they were published? Are there any reference libraries with copies of them? Several years ago I checked the National Automotive History Collecton at the Detroit Public Library and found that they had only a couple of editions.

[HDonaldCapps]

The IMRRC (International Motor Racing Research Center) at Watkins Glen has a nice-sized collection of Yellow Books.

We have discussed their origin previously, it being determined that it was in the late 1960s, the exact year escaping me at the moment.

[Vitesse2]

The first Yellow Book was published in 1968. I have a complete set from 1968-78, apart from 1974 which is seemingly rarer than any other one from the 1970s. 1968 and 1969 are hard to come by too.

[Stoatspeed]

Oddly enough, I have just turned up a copy of the 1975 edition of the Yellow Book ... I have no idea when or how I got it?? Flipping through the pages, I am amazed at the compilation of past winners of numerous FIA championships round by round and overall .... great stuff!
I am mystified by one part of the book though - in the preamble to the list of graded drivers, it states that any of them "may compete in full international eveents ..." but it also says they may NOT "compete in events for racing cars of the International Formula 3" ... anyone know why? Was F3 not FIA sanctioned at the time?
Oh well, I guess I'll stow it in it's hiding place for another 30 years!

Dave

[jimmyc]

If you look at the calendar you will see many F3 races listed. F3 was meant to be a developmental formula, so drivers in the top echelon were not allowed to compete.

[Rob29]

Originally posted by jimmyc
If you look at the calendar you will see many F3 races listed. F3 was meant to be a developmental formula, so drivers in the top echelon were not allowed to compete.

When Formula Junior started in 1959,graded drivers were banned from that,I guess that carried forward to F3 in 1964?
Newest yellow book I have is 1992.It has graded driver list.Anyone know if this still exists as I do not recall seeing one in recent years? Incidently more recent FIA yearbooks I have seen were blue not yellow and too expensive to bother with.

[Stephen W]

Sitting on my workstation desk is a copy of the 1976 Yellow FIA book. WH Smiths used to have these and I would wait for the January Sales to pick up the previous year's copy cheap. I have the 1973, 1975 & 1976 editions; '76 was the last year that Smith's stocked the book. It used to be available as either a 'stiff' back or a plastic backed book. After '76 you had to order it and as has already been stated it wasn't cheap!

[Mallory Dan]

Originally posted by Stephen W
Sitting on my workstation desk is a copy of the 1976 Yellow FIA book. WH Smiths used to have these and I would wait for the January Sales to pick up the previous year's copy cheap. I have the 1973, 1975 & 1976 editions; '76 was the last year that Smith's stocked the book. It used to be available as either a 'stiff' back or a plastic backed book. After '76 you had to order it and as has already been stated it wasn't cheap!

You area tighta--e Steve aren't you !!! Were you, like me, born in Yorkshire?

[Stephen W]

Originally posted by Mallory Dan


You are a tight a--e Steve aren't you!!! Were you, like me, born in Yorkshire?

Perish the thought!

Lancastrian through and through; mind you I am always careful with my money and am very cautious when it comes to spending! Unlike Yorkshire folk who never part with any money if they can help it!



Any road up, what's wrong with getting old FIA books at discount prices? You're just jealous that you didn't think about it first!

[Allen Brown]

Sounds like a good idea to me too.

For example ...

Allen

[Rob]

Just wanted to say that having read good things about them here, I have purchased my first yellow book. It's the 1979 edition and it's fantastic.

[HDonaldCapps]

I have most of the Yellow Books from the 1968 edition thru the 1985 edition, which is when I turned my attention elsewhere. A few gaps, but usually more than enough on hand when I need something clarified. The difference in size between the 1968, 1969, and 1970 editions and that of 1985 is amazing since all three of those together still don't quite match that year's thickness.

It is interesting to note how the history of the FIA and the CSI moves around a bit over the years in subtle ways, as does the explanations of the Sporting Power. The 1981 edition contains a synopsis of the FIASCO War that is one of the better around, by the way.

The IMRRC has a few editions of the Sporting Code, one from the 1930's and one from 1950 that make interesting reading when one puts everything in context.

[Giraffe]

I have just the '69 and '70 plastic back editions bought in period, as I'm sure most avid enthusiasts did when they were 15 years old like I was.... Owning them gave me credability, or so I thought.............

[RS2000]

The only reason I bought it in period was for Appendix J - essential for anyone preparing or running their own car in any International event. Thankfully today the information can be accessed without anyone destroying their eyesight reading the small print of those ludicrously small books.

[CLR]

Where would I find the period regs for one litre F2

1964 to 1966

Its obviously prior to the Yellow Book period

[MCS]

I have just the '69 and '70 plastic back editions bought in period, as I'm sure most avid enthusiasts did when they were 15 years old like I was.... Owning them gave me credability, or so I thought.............

 

Great post.

 

Apologies to CLR, because I can't help.

[David Wright]

Where would I find the period regs for one litre F2
1964 to 1966
Its obviously prior to the Yellow Book period

The FIA website has copies of the old appendix J.

[Doug Nye]

The Yellow Books were originated by German photographer/writer/bright spark Eddie Guba, in conjunction with Darryl Reach and Pat Stephens of Patrick Stephens Ltd, the publishers, and the contemporary FIA. They were a darned good idea at the time and certainly made the letter of what the FIA passed as law more easily accessible than had ever previously been the case.
DCN

Edited by Doug Nye, 16 November 2014 - 09:17.

[CLR]

Yes, I had looked at period FIA on their web site. I looked at the few years they list that cover the one litre F2 period, 1964-66

BUT

It doesn't list the single seat regs only GT's ??

 

Or am I missing something here.

[Rob29]

Yes, I had looked at period FIA on their web site. I looked at the few years they list that cover the one litre F2 period, 1964-66

BUT

It doesn't list the single seat regs only GT's ??

 

Or am I missing something here.

As far as I recall 'Apendix J' referred to production sports cars and single seaters were seperate F1;F2;F3 ?

[Kvadrat]

The IMRRC has a few editions of the Sporting Code, one from the 1930's and one from 1950 that make interesting reading when one puts everything in context.

 

1939 and 1950. I took photocopies of them while being there.