[Books] Best Books - Your Recommendations

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by John Elwin

Another that falls into that category is Tom Rubython's Ayrton Senna biography. I knew Ayrton during his early days but lost track as he progressed up the ladder. However, a good friend of mine was very close to him throughout his career & confirms that aside from a couple of minor matters it is a very accurate description of his career. I shall read it again one day.

That's interesting. I have the book as I'm a bit of a Senna completist when it comes to books, but I confess I've never got around to reading it. I seem to recall that it got a bit of a panning when it came out?

[John Elwin]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

That's interesting. I have the book as I'm a bit of a Senna completist when it comes to books, but I confess I've never got around to reading it. I seem to recall that it got a bit of a panning when it came out?

I found it to be an extremely good read. I too noted some adverse comments, which I think were directed at the author as much as anything. As I said I spoke to a friend who probably knew Ayrton better, and for longer, than anyone else & his comment was that there were one or two minor points he would query but overall he considered it to be a very fair account.

Read it - hopefully you will enjoy it!

[Aysedasi]

I really must! Thanks

[skycafe]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

I got a nice book in Le Mans this year - effectively a belated birthday present from my wife. 'Un Siecle D'Affiches', containing all of the Le Mans posters from 1923 to 2022. Text in French and English. Right up my street! The perfect Le Mans coffee table book!

Oh, that looks gorgeous!

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by John Elwin

I found it to be an extremely good read. I too noted some adverse comments, which I think were directed at the author as much as anything. As I said I spoke to a friend who probably knew Ayrton better, and for longer, than anyone else & his comment was that there were one or two minor points he would query but overall he considered it to be a very fair account.

Read it - hopefully you will enjoy it!

Nice to hear it from the horse's mouth. Of course Rubython's not the easiest person to like. He has a tendency to let his own opinion get in the way of what would otherwise be an excellent read, as I found out with biography of James Hunt, but you have to give him credit for the amount of research he puts into these books. And if someone who knew Senna can say it's an accurate description of Senna, there's no higher praise than that

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by skycafe

Oh, that looks gorgeous!

It really is!

[Kingair]

Mount Panorama by John Smailes.

A great read, covers both bike and car racing at Bathurst, history behind the track and some of the characters that have raced at the mountain.

[E.B]

Originally Posted by Kingair

Mount Panorama by John Smailes.

A great read, covers both bike and car racing at Bathurst, history behind the track and some of the characters that have raced at the mountain.

Sounds good. A reasonable price too (and in stock at Booktopia)

[Broadclystboy]

For all you Ford GT40 aficionados out there, two recent books well work considering:-

Ford GT40 Anthology (John Allen and Graham Endeacott - Veloce). Not a traditional history but highly interesting articles on the car's background. Worth the price of admission for photos of the Alan Mann testing at Goodwood in December 1965, as well as chassis 1013 being driven in the London rush hour...

Also Lola GT (John Starkey - Veloce again). A rather slim volume but everything you want to know - and more - of the GT40 inspiration

[Kingair]

A Race With Love And Death, the story of Britain’s first great Grand Prix driver, Richard Seamen.

A very interesting read, in the lead up to WW2 with fast cars, drivers, politics, Hitlers involvement with funding for Mercedes and Auto Union.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by Kingair

A Race With Love And Death, the story of Britain’s first great Grand Prix driver, Richard Seamen.

A very interesting read, in the lead up to WW2 with fast cars, drivers, politics, Hitlers involvement with funding for Mercedes and Auto Union.

I'd second that, a very interesting read, especially regarding the politics. On fascinating thing (for me) was that Listerine was around so long ago, I thought mouthwash was a modern invention!

[John Elwin]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

I'd second that, a very interesting read, especially regarding the politics. On fascinating thing (for me) was that Listerine was around so long ago, I thought mouthwash was a modern invention!

Yes, it is a good read.

I am now reading Cedric Selzer's self-produced book 'Winning the World Championship with Jim Clark'. Although not a professional writer - he wrote it to raise funds for Marie Curie \\\cancer Care -it is a fascinating insight into the early days of Lotus in F1 up until the end of 1964. Thereafter he worked with Paul Hawkins, Ulf Norinder & Roger Nathan.

A fascinating insight into very different times not so long ago

[VIVA GT]

I finished reading this a few weeks ago. A very well (self) written & entertaining book about a very interesting life with classic cars & motorsport included. Highly recommended.

[coppice]

My 'proper' review of Jon Saltinstall's Jacky Ickx book is now on speedreaders.info. but , in short, if you are even vaguely interested in Ickx's career and/or motorsport in the 60s/70s/90s, this book is for you. It is huge - 600 pages and 7lbs - and details every single event its subject contested , from bike trials to Le Mans , and from Grands Prix to Paris- Dakar.

[S griffin]

Ickx certainly has been one of motorsport's greatest all rounders, so his story is book is bound to be interesting