Motorsport History - Favorite Books

[AUSTRIA]

What are the books of your library, you would rescue, in case of flood, fire, earthquake or other catastrophy, if you had only the possibility to save three pieces?

My choose:

Anthony Blight - The french sportscar revolution

Ivan Rendall - The Chequered Flag

Then getting the big panic, recognizing that I must sacrifice al least four of my five Volumes of Sheldons 'A record of grand prix and voiturette racing'

[Michael M]

1) my cheque book
2) my wife's cheque book
3) my diary

[jarama]

I think the first book would be "Racing the Silver Arrows / Mercedes-Benz versus Auto Union / 1934-1939" by Chris Nixon, the second one would be "Carrera Panamericana 'Mexico'" by Adriano Cimarosti and the third one would be "Jaguar / Sports Racing & Works Competition Cars from 1954" by Andrew Whyte... but I'd try to save all of them, no less than 80 books.

[AUSTRIA]

O K Michael, next three ...

[Michael M]

1) Formula 1 - Portraits of the 60s, by Rainer W. Schlegelmilch
2) Mercedes-Benz Renn- und Sportwagen, by Karl Ludvigsen
3) Enzyklopädie des Automobils

[DAVID PATERSON]

1. Australia's Greatest Motor Race, Bill Tuckey and David Greenhalgh.

2. Australian Touring Car Championship, Graham Howard and Stewart Wilson.

[AUSTRIA]

jarama

Cimarostri is one of the authors I've an eye on; how good are his books?


David

Is the Tuckey-book the one with the many pictures of the former AGP-races since 1928? Then I am looking for it, but it seems, that it is out of print, is this right ?

[Peter Mallett]

Just looking over my shoulder at the bookshelves.

Mon Ami Mate by Chris Nixon (signed by author)

Formula One - Prints by Michael Turner - Words by Nigel Roebuck

From Chain Drive to Turbo Charger - The Story of Frazer Nash by Denis Jenkinson.

Favourite boook? Any and all of the above plus loads more but no time to list cos I've got to open a bottle of wine for my pet feminist

[jarama]

Hi, AUSTRIA:

Italian-born, Adriano Cimarosti is a well-known motor racing journalist and historian. I have a pair of his books, and I've been reading regularly his contributions in countless magazines.

About the book in question, is a vastly documented history of the short-lived but thrilling "Carrera Panamericana". With more than 380 pages, it depicts in depth the five editions of the race, with hundreds of fine quality B/W photos, memoirs -Taruffi, Villoresi, Maglioli, Kling, Fangio, Jenkinson, etc.- and a separate Appendix with complete rankings.

With Italian/English/French text, it's worth of its value. Thoroughly recommended.

[Paul Jeffrey]

Only 3!

I think I would go for:

William Court the Power and Glory Vol 1 1906-51 (entertaining read)

Photo Formula 1 (from 1978 great pictures)

Gregor Grant World Championship. Atmospheric account with anecdotes of the early years of the World Championship from Autosport's founder editor.

Nigel Roebuck's Chasing the Title (1999) is a very good read as you would expect and the new Autocourse History of the World Championship is excellent. For those wanting the business and political background to F1 look for Russell Hotten's paperback called simply, Formula 1. Sorry that was six and there are the Sheldon and Chris Nixon books etc.etc...

Paul Sheldon's "Black Books" would be first, together with Carli's Settant'anni di gare automobilistiche in Italia, plus all my files of magazine pages.
Next I would grab both of Peter Helck's books of everlasting joy and pleasure and Pomeroy's two volumes of "The Grand Prix Car" because they have become so damned expensive to replace.
And yes, if the flames would not have spread too far,
I would also grab Court's "Power and Glory" always a pleasure to look at the many pictures and read his wisdom, although not always correct.

[DAVID PATERSON]

Austria, sorry about the late reply, I didn't even notice your question.

"Australia's greatest motor race" is actually a history of the Bathurst 1000 Touring Car race. There is a book which covers the history of The Australian Grand Prix from 1928 to 1984, but unfortuntely I don't know the author's name or even the title, though I'm sure it is out of print. Ray Bell, will undoubtedly have a copy of this book and I'm sure he would happily answer your questions.

[fines]

"The Official 50-race History of the Australian Grand Prix"

Ray has more than one copy, and I'm still waiting for one to be shipped to Germany!

[Ray, please don't forget me!]

__________________
Michael Ferner

[TimD]

Paul Sheldon's "Record of Grand Prix and Voiturette Racing" books for sure - as well as the related F3 records, Goodwood and Tasman volumes.

Oops. That's already 18 volumes...

And that's without dashing back into the blaze to rescue Bill Boddy's "History of Brooklands Motor Course", my copy of Tim Birkin's "Full Throttle", the Prince Chula "Road Racing" series and Chris Nixon's "Mon Ami Mate".

And then Bill Tuckey's Bathurst book, and "Racing With the David Brown Aston Martins", Michael Hay's "The Vintage Bentley" and as many Motor Sports as I can lob out of the window to the anxious rescuers below...

[Jeroen Brink]

My selection would be "Grand Prix Greats" and "Chasing the Title" by Nigel Roebuck and "Villeneuve", the biography on the life of Gilles by Gerald Donaldson.

Soon I'll read a book by Denis Jenkinson, from what I heard about him, he may well end up high afterwards.

[fines]

Impossible to answer! I'd probably also go for the cheque book to enable me to buy them all over again.

Ok, let's try:
- For a good read, William Court's "Power & Glory"
- For all the vital statistics, Paul Sheldon's "Record of Grand Prix and Voiturette Racing"
- For a quick reference, Peter Higham's "Guinness Guide to International Motor Racing"

[bugger, what about my magazines!!! And all the other books??? I think I'd go back into the flames and die with them...]

[Ray Bell]

No, Michael, not forgotten...

The Official 50-Race History of the Australian Grand Prix was schemed by Graham Howard, but for the writing and production to overtake the races it was necesary for others to contribute to the effort:

Ray Bell - 1928 to 1935 and also 1939
John Medley - 1937*, 1938 and 1947
Graham Howard - 1948 to 1962
Des White - 1963 to 1969
Stewart Wilson - 1970 to 1985
Noel Tuckey - anylises various significant cars throughout the period
Terry Walker - produced accurate maps of all circuits used

This is the book with many pictures, but there is also the John Blanden book covering the period 1928 to 1939, less professionally written (indeed, in some instances it's woeful... sorry John), but with many other photos from the period. Where it does help is that it has lap times for each car for each lap...

[David13]

Questions like yours are always welcomed:

I would save the following masterworks:

1. COOPER CARS by Doug Nye
2. JAGUAR SPORTS RACING & COMP. CARS FROM 1954 by Andrew Whyte
3. OSCA by Orsini and Zagari
4. ALFA ROMEO GTA by Maurizio Tabucchi
5. PORSCHE EXCELLENCE WAS EXPECTED by Karl Ludvigsen
6. PROGETTI ALLA FIAT PRIMA DEL COMPUTER by Dante Giacosa
7. ECURIE ECOSSE by Graham Gauld
8. GINO & LUCIO DE SANCTIS by Alberto Rastrelli
9. COSWORTH by Graham Robson
10. LE TOUR DE FRANCE AUTOMOBILE by Maurice Louche

Wishes. D.

[TimD]

Welcome aboard David.

Excellent choices all. I have the Doug Nye and the Graham Gauld, but another 5 of these titles are on my "one day..." list.

My latest "vital" buy was a copy of "Settant'anni di Gare Automobilistiche in Italia" by Emanuele Alberto Carli. A quite extraordinary reference book. Not definitive, but a better starting point for the history of Italian motorsport I have yet to learn of.

Thanks (as so often) to Chris Knapman's Collectors Carbooks for finding this for me.

[Morris 1100]

My favorite book at the moment is "Phil Irving,an autobiography"
sorry Ray your book (The Official 50-Race History of the Australian Grand Prix)is down at number three!!

[Ray Bell]

That's okay, believe me... I spent some time with Phil when he wasn't a book, he was great to talk to.

[Morris 1100]

So Ray have you found that book with the 1927 AGP at Goulburn?
or found out anything about it?

[Ray Bell]

Spoke to Mr Adams, learned just a little bit more... Now to begin the push to have it recognised as what it was!

Then the AGP will be older than Monaco's GP!

[Morris 1100]

Then the AGP will be older than Monaco's GP!

And Goulburn can rightly claim to be the center of Australian Motorsport

[Ray Bell]

No, if that claim goes anywhere other than Bathurst it has to be to Rutherford... near Newcastle... there was a circuit there carved out of a coalmine site or something... in 1919!