Books Best Group C/IMSA GTP book?

JAG · 16 Dec 2007, 21:36 (Ref:2090095)

Can someone tell me which of the current Group C/GTP books they would recommend, there's a two volume edition, 'Golden Era', by John Starkey and a couple of IMSA GTP books knocking around.

All are quite expensive, but I'm specifically interested in the cars, rather than race reports.

I understand Mike of Mulsannes Corner is producing a book, which sounds right up my street, but I haven't heard much about it lately.

Speed-King · 16 Dec 2007, 21:44 (Ref:2090102)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/076...=2XZCOGFNPR1F7

Looks like Mikes book will appear in February 2008...

JAG · 16 Dec 2007, 23:16 (Ref:2090160)

Thank, just pre ordered.

Any other recomendations for sportscars in general, i.e. Can Am?

Speed-King · 17 Dec 2007, 00:38 (Ref:2090210)

No book, but an interesting blog for all those who were born too late:
http://alex62.typepad.com/imsablog/

Maybe you already know it, but I check it once or twice a week for new blog-entries as I find it rather interesting.

**skycafe** · 17 Dec 2007, 01:58 (Ref:2090237)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAG

Any other recomendations for sportscars in general, i.e. Can Am?

The Pete Lyons books on Can Am should be good, he covered Can Am during period for Road and Track and Autoweek. I don't believe the books are currently published.

robert

ensign14 · 17 Dec 2007, 07:41 (Ref:2090333)

"Endurance Racing" by David Briggs. Good luck finding it now though...

"Time And Two Seats" by Janos Wimpffen is of course a must.

ss_collins · 17 Dec 2007, 16:15 (Ref:2090610)

Mikes book if its like the rest of his stuff will be mega

Hugewally · 17 Dec 2007, 19:11 (Ref:2090728)

Quote:

Originally Posted by skycafe

The Pete Lyons books on Can Am should be good, he covered Can Am during period for Road and Track and Autoweek. I don't believe the books are currently published.

robert

http://www.petelyons.com/

Hugewally · 17 Dec 2007, 19:14 (Ref:2090732)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ensign14

"Endurance Racing" by David Briggs. Good luck finding it now though...

You mean Ian Briggs maybe? http://www.amazon.com/Endurance-Raci...7918795&sr=1-5

ensign14 · 17 Dec 2007, 19:19 (Ref:2090739)

Ian...David...I knew it was something like that.

Hugewally · 17 Dec 2007, 19:24 (Ref:2090743)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ensign14

"Time And Two Seats" by Janos Wimpffen is of course a must.

Though expensive, it is still very available from multiple sources. It's not about the race cars, its about the races... But, its highly recommended!

**skycafe** · 18 Dec 2007, 01:18 (Ref:2090988)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugewally

http://www.petelyons.com/

Obrigado senhor!

Nordic · 18 Dec 2007, 07:52 (Ref:2091084)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ensign14

"Endurance Racing" by David Briggs. Good luck finding it now though...

"Time And Two Seats" by Janos Wimpffen is of course a must.

As is 'Spyders and Silhoutettes'. It does cover the years up to Grp C, but in many ways they are very interesting. It covers the growth of the Grp 5 sihoutettes (although the mody dick 935 is wrongly captioned!) and the 3 litre prototypes that flourished and then faded just as quickly.

Some amazing photos.

(page 313 is the best

)

MulsanneMike · 18 Dec 2007, 12:04 (Ref:2091208)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ss_collins

Mikes book if its like the rest of his stuff will be mega

Well let's not get too carried away, the books not out yet!

Matra-simca · 18 Dec 2007, 14:49 (Ref:2091313)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAG

Can someone tell me which of the current Group C/GTP books they would recommend, there's a two volume edition, 'Golden Era', by John Starkey and a couple of IMSA GTP books knocking around.

All are quite expensive, but I'm specifically interested in the cars, rather than race reports.

I understand Mike of Mulsannes Corner is producing a book, which sounds right up my street, but I haven't heard much about it lately.

Jag

I have a copy of Ian Bamsey's, "Jaguar XJR Group C & GTP Cars; A Technical Appraisal of the V-12 Cars" that was published in 1989, which provides a very detailed account of that period, although unfortunately his book ends with the 1988 season. He also takes a brief technical glimpse at Porsche's 956/962 and Mercedes C 9 racers. This book is long out-of-print but you might find it on the second hand market.... Ian also authored technical appraisals on Porsche's 917 and Ferrari's 312s and 512s; they, too, unfortunately out-of-print as well.

Mr Bamsey started "Race Car Engineering Magazine" over a decade ago and he featured technical analysis on Jaguar's 1990 Le Mans winning XJR as well as Mazda's 1991 4-rotor, which closed the chapter on that epic time.

Todd

stagecoach66 · 20 Dec 2007, 01:51 (Ref:2092409)

Ian Bamsey did another book titled "The Anatomy and Development of the Sports Prototype Racing Car" (Motorbooks International 1991, ISBN: 0-87938-586-3). Does a quick overview from the 1920s to the 1970s, then really focuses on the Group C era. Mostly aerodynamics but includes engine, chassis, and transmission chapters as well. Very readable. If you're a Jaguar fan then Leslie Thurston's "TWR Jaguar Prototype Racers" (2003, ISBN: 0-9541039-1-2) is also pretty good, though more of a survey of the cars and races.

Does anyone own "Golden Era" or "Prototypes"?? Are they worth the investment?

MulsanneMike · 20 Dec 2007, 03:36 (Ref:2092434)

Quote:

Originally Posted by stagecoach66

Ian Bamsey did another book titled "The Anatomy and Development of the Sports Prototype Racing Car" (Motorbooks International 1991, ISBN: 0-87938-586-3). Does a quick overview from the 1920s to the 1970s, then really focuses on the Group C era. Mostly aerodynamics but includes engine, chassis, and transmission chapters as well. Very readable. If you're a Jaguar fan then Leslie Thurston's "TWR Jaguar Prototype Racers" (2003, ISBN: 0-9541039-1-2) is also pretty good, though more of a survey of the cars and races.

Does anyone own "Golden Era" or "Prototypes"?? Are they worth the investment?

I've not heard good things about "Golden Era". "Prototypes" was written by J.A. Martin, my co-writer for "Inside IMSA's GTP Cars". It's nearly impossible to come by these days.

Both "Anatomy and Development" as well as "TWR Jagaur..." are worth having.

benjabulle · 22 Dec 2007, 12:49 (Ref:2093750)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MulsanneMike

I've not heard good things about "Golden Era". "Prototypes" was written by J.A. Martin, my co-writer for "Inside IMSA's GTP Cars". It's nearly impossible to come by these days.

Both "Anatomy and Development" as well as "TWR Jagaur..." are worth having.

I agree with Mike, I bought "Golden Era" some weeks ago, fortunately at half the price, not so good. All Bamsey books are a must have and the "Endurance Racing" by Ian Briggs was an excellent surprise.

tlracing · 25 Dec 2007, 20:34 (Ref:2094792)

"Prototypes" is good, but some marques are better covered by more specific books, eg. Ian Bamsey on Jaguar and Paul Chudecki's 'Aston Martin V8 Race Cars' on Nimrod (including the little-known composite chassised car that was in build when the operation folded) and the AMR-1 & AMR-2.

ss_collins · 25 Dec 2007, 21:12 (Ref:2094797)

I'll pass these comments on to Ian - I think it'll make him smile. Unfortunatley he's stopped doing books for now to concentrate on RET and doing the odd bit for us.

rcarr · 27 Dec 2007, 00:01 (Ref:2095152)

I swear by Endurance Racing by Ian Briggs, it is fantastic. From what I can tell from flicking through The Golden Era, it is just a slightly thicker version of Endurance Racing.

Being close-ish to Ecurie Ecosse and the Mallock family, I have carried out my own research on the Ecosse C2 cars.

**FIRE** · 27 Dec 2007, 13:03 (Ref:2095317)

I like Porsche 956/962 by Peter Morgan and Sauber-Mercedes C9 by Ian Bamsey.

JAG · 27 Dec 2007, 18:55 (Ref:2095440)

Just bought the C9 book and have the 956/962 book on order.

Has anyone bought those Porsche & Jaguar Years books etc. that have reprints of magazine articles and features, are they worth having?

**FIRE** · 27 Dec 2007, 19:46 (Ref:2095458)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAG

Just bought the C9 book and have the 956/962 book on order.

Has anyone bought those Porsche & Jaguar Years books etc. that have reprints of magazine articles and features, are they worth having?

You mean the books by R.M. Clarke? For example this book.

I have the Targa Florio book (by Owen instead of Clarke) but I don't really like it. About the Targa Florio aren't many books so it's better than nothing. About Le Mans are much more (and better) books published.

Stephan2738 · 27 Dec 2007, 22:15 (Ref:2095530)

Not so many books (that i know of) about the Nissan Group C and GTP cars, so this might be something for you:

http://cgi.ebay.nl/NISSAN-GTP-and-Gr...QQcmdZViewItem

Kind regards,

Stephan

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