[Books] Favourite driver biography ?

[nicanary]

[QUOTE=STUBBY44;3163320]

Originally Posted by D-Type

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Archie and the Listers by Gerald Donaldson. It's exactly what it says on the cover: the intertwined stories of Archie Scott Brown and the Lister cars he drove. It captures the spirit of the fifties very well: the blend of enthusiasm, amateurism and professionalism.)

The bit where the team are bringing the stinking remains of Archies car home in the transporter after his fatefull crash captures the way things were in those days. Very haunting !

Iv just started "Poetry in motion..... Tony Brookes" . Looks like another good one.

Brooks' book is excellent - obviously written by an educated and thoughtful man. He is very forthright about other drivers he raced against, and tells you how it was without histrionics or slander.

One of my best reads for a long time.

[skycafe]

Originally Posted by KC

I have just finished reading the words of Mel Kenyon, probably the best oval racer ever in America. The book is entitled "A Hand for the Wheel: The Mel Kenyon Story". It is very uplifting after all of the pain and glory he has had through his 50 years of racing (he just won a race two weeks ago in Ft. Wayne, Indiana). If you get a chance read this one, it might open your eyes about how oval racing got started in America.

I never knew there was a book about Mel. The people of this era were on the road constantly, from race track to race track, several races a week. Racing to stay ahead of expenses.

I really like The Mudge Pond Express by Sam Posey. Well written. He only did two GP, he did the 500, was a F5000 champion, drove Trans Am and Can Am.

[Richard B]

Not a drivers biography (hope there isn't a differant thread!) but "I just made the tea" by Di Spires is a fanatstic read. Di and her husband ran catering/hospitality for F1 teams for 30 years from the early 80's. Some candid, hilarious and sometimes tragic stories.
ISBN 9780857332233

[FastDB2s]

Very good read is The Definitive History of Cyril Kieft & his Racing Cars 1949 to 1955, bought it because on of my customers has bought the GP Kieft.