I'm looking for some information on a possible book title. Now this is going by a person’s memory from 1967 as told to me last week.
"Designing a Racing Car" by "Colin Chapman"
Now I know there have been many books produced but was this indeed a title and if not what are variants that it may have been?
Cheers.
Race Car Design Books of the 60's
Started by
giffo
, Jun 28 2007 08:31
10 replies to this topic
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#2
simonlewisbooks
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Posted 28 June 2007 - 08:57
I've never heard of any book by Chapman I'm afraid. Maybe an IMechEng paper or two might have appeared but not a book as such
There was a superb publication by the 750Motor Club issued in the mid 60s that compiled numerous learned features on designing and building cars for their assorted series and among the authors was Arthur Mallock - possibly Chapman contributed as well. Not an easy book to find now , it was a thick paperback and they don't tend to survive in tact too well. I can't for the moment recall the exact title but it's quite similar to the one you mention. Could be the one you mean.
One the same subject - Alan Staniforth wrote the famous HIGH SPEED LOW COST about designing and building the Terrapin single seater.that appeared in the late 60s. Again rare, especially in good condition.
In the early 60s Pomeroy was the author of a small book THE RACING CAR EXPLAINED aimed at older children but frankly a bit technical for that market and based on the Lotus/BRM/Cooper era of the early 60s.
The same author teamed up with Stirling Moss on DESIGN AND BEHAVIOR OF THE RACING CAR a very good book which uses Moss's recollections of the significant single seaters he drove through his career to explain the theory and development of designs through the late 40 to the early 60s.
Those are the ones that spring to mind at the moment. Most of the others are later publications like the Len Terry book.
There was a superb publication by the 750Motor Club issued in the mid 60s that compiled numerous learned features on designing and building cars for their assorted series and among the authors was Arthur Mallock - possibly Chapman contributed as well. Not an easy book to find now , it was a thick paperback and they don't tend to survive in tact too well. I can't for the moment recall the exact title but it's quite similar to the one you mention. Could be the one you mean.
One the same subject - Alan Staniforth wrote the famous HIGH SPEED LOW COST about designing and building the Terrapin single seater.that appeared in the late 60s. Again rare, especially in good condition.
In the early 60s Pomeroy was the author of a small book THE RACING CAR EXPLAINED aimed at older children but frankly a bit technical for that market and based on the Lotus/BRM/Cooper era of the early 60s.
The same author teamed up with Stirling Moss on DESIGN AND BEHAVIOR OF THE RACING CAR a very good book which uses Moss's recollections of the significant single seaters he drove through his career to explain the theory and development of designs through the late 40 to the early 60s.
Those are the ones that spring to mind at the moment. Most of the others are later publications like the Len Terry book.
#3
kayemod
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Posted 28 June 2007 - 08:58
Perhaps you are thinking of 'Colin Chapman - Lotus Engineering' by Hugh Haskell? This book is listed at astonishing sums on AbeBooks these days, I've seen over £700, also a copy with a starting price of £500 on eBay a few weeks ago. I'd better get a padlock for my bookcase.
#4
Ray Bell
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Posted 28 June 2007 - 09:01
You'd reckon that it would be worth reprinting if that's the case!
Ridiculous that books can be that price...
Let's not, by the way, leave Design and Behavior of the Racing Car (Moss and Pomeroy) out of the equation. A bit general, but heaps of understanding in it.
Ridiculous that books can be that price...
Let's not, by the way, leave Design and Behavior of the Racing Car (Moss and Pomeroy) out of the equation. A bit general, but heaps of understanding in it.
#5
Vitesse2
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Posted 28 June 2007 - 09:02
Not Colin Chapman, but Colin Campbell, I think.
The Sports Car: Its design and performance (Chapman & Hall 1954, 2nd edition 1959, 3rd edition 1969)
Retitled as:
Design of Racing Sports Cars (Chapman & Hall 1973)
He also wrote:
The Sports Car Engine: Its tuning and modification (Chapman & Hall 1963)
A quick trawl of ABEbooks shows lots of copies of the first one, the cheapest being American editions published by Robert Bentley. The engine book is much rarer.
The Sports Car: Its design and performance (Chapman & Hall 1954, 2nd edition 1959, 3rd edition 1969)
Retitled as:
Design of Racing Sports Cars (Chapman & Hall 1973)
He also wrote:
The Sports Car Engine: Its tuning and modification (Chapman & Hall 1963)
A quick trawl of ABEbooks shows lots of copies of the first one, the cheapest being American editions published by Robert Bentley. The engine book is much rarer.
#6
Dave Wright
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Posted 28 June 2007 - 10:34
Two possibilities - books on racing car design by people associated with Chapman
Racing and Sports Car Chassis Design by Mike Costin and David Phipps
Racing Car Design and Development by Len Terry
Racing and Sports Car Chassis Design by Mike Costin and David Phipps
Racing Car Design and Development by Len Terry
#7
Cirrus
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Posted 28 June 2007 - 11:49
The 750MC book mentioned earlier was "Design for Competition". It contains, amongst many useful articles, a lecture given by a very youthful Mike Pilbeam.
#8
eldougo
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Posted 28 June 2007 - 12:02
I have read my copy of Colin Campell DoRSC book a few times over the years and it,s been in my keeping since the1970,s.I still got it.
#9
simonlewisbooks
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Posted 28 June 2007 - 12:04
Originally posted by Cirrus
The 750MC book mentioned earlier was "Design for Competition". It contains, amongst many useful articles, a lecture given by a very youthful Mike Pilbeam.
Thats the one I was thinking of. Well done Cirrus. A very interesting book on many levels as so many of those who contributed , or feature, seem to have gone onwards and upwards in the sport from their days in the 750MC.
#10
Cirrus
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Posted 28 June 2007 - 19:48
I wouldn't want to part with my "Design for Competition" - it's falling apart, but still very enjoyable. I've got a copy of the Hugh Haskell Lotus book as well. I bought it at Chaters for £25 when it first came out - I can't believe it's so desirable now.
#11
Mistron
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Posted 28 June 2007 - 20:18
That's funny, I was reading 'design for competition' just the other night.
The section on the various specials is fascinating, and the reports on talks on building bodies in Alloy or GRP are still interesting and useful.
Does anyone know what happened to 'Magaloysius' the 1172 '7' style car built with an aluminium monocoque chassis by John Woollatt? or the Pinnochio 750 car built by 2 Glider pilots which featured all wood construction? Both described in the book
Great cars, and a fascinating book.
The section on the various specials is fascinating, and the reports on talks on building bodies in Alloy or GRP are still interesting and useful.
Does anyone know what happened to 'Magaloysius' the 1172 '7' style car built with an aluminium monocoque chassis by John Woollatt? or the Pinnochio 750 car built by 2 Glider pilots which featured all wood construction? Both described in the book
Great cars, and a fascinating book.
