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Books > Sport & Leisure > Sports & outdoor recreation > Motor sports > Car racing

An Independent Man - The Autobiography (Paperback): Eddie Jordan An Independent Man - The Autobiography (Paperback)
Eddie Jordan 2
R463 R422 Discovery Miles 4 220 Save R41 (9%) Ships in 9 - 17 working days

The hugely entertaining, and extremely candid, autobiography of one of the most colourful characters in motor sport Eddie Jordan gave Michael Schumacher his first drive, and helped groom a whole series of drivers early in their careers, including Damon Hill and Johnny Herbert. But he funded his first move into motor sport by selling smoked salmon well past its sell-by date to rugby fans leaving Lansdowne Road; when stopped for speeding by a policeman, he ended up selling him his car. Jordan set up his own team, and moved into Formula One at the end of the 1980s. It wasn't long before the team began to pick up podium finishes, and in 1998 won its first race - a remarkable achievement on a comparatively small budget. The following year was even better, but sadly this was to be the peak, as the search for more finance and legal battles with sponsors hit hard. Eventually, in January 2005 he sold the team. AN INDEPENDENT MAN goes behind the scenes to reveal the true personalities of the drivers Jordan worked with, and his battles with Bernie Ecclestone. It shows how, when so much money is involved, nothing is ever simple. His has been a life lived to the full, and his account is packed full of superb stories, colourful adventures and revealing tales.

No Angel - The Secret Life of Bernie Ecclestone (Paperback, Main): Tom Bower No Angel - The Secret Life of Bernie Ecclestone (Paperback, Main)
Tom Bower 1
R403 R368 Discovery Miles 3 680 Save R35 (9%) Ships in 9 - 17 working days

'I'm no angel.' Bernie Ecclestone Born into poverty, Bernie Ecclestone has made himself a billionaire by developing the world's second most popular sport - Formula One racing. Private, mysterious and some say sinister, the eighty-year-old criss-crosses the globe in his private jet, mixing with celebrities, statesmen and sporting heroes. His success is not just in creating a multibillion-pound global business but in resisting repeated attempts to snatch the glittering prize from his control. Ecclestone has never before revealed how he graduated from selling second-hand cars in London's notorious Warren Street to become the major player he is today. He has finally decided to reveal his secrets: the deals, the marriages, the disasters and the successes in Formula One racing, in Downing Street, in casinos, on yachts and in the air. Surprisingly, he has granted access to his inner circle to Tom Bower, described by Ecclestone as 'The Undertaker' - the man who buries reputations - and has given him access to all his friends and enemies. All have been told by Ecclestone, 'Tell him the truth, good or bad.' No Angel is a classic rags-to-riches story, the unique portrayal of a unique man and an intriguing insight into Formula One racing, business and the human spirit. Tom Bower is the author of nineteen books, including biographies of Robert Maxwell, Mohamed Fayed, Gordon Brown, Richard Branson, Conrad Black and more recently, Simon Cowell.

Westwood - Everyone's Favourite Racing Circuit (Paperback): Tom Johnston Westwood - Everyone's Favourite Racing Circuit (Paperback)
Tom Johnston
R1,291 R1,057 Discovery Miles 10 570 Save R234 (18%) Ships in 12 - 19 working days

Westwood (or 'Wetwood' as some called it) was the first purpose-built automobile road-racing track in Canada. Its location in Coquitlam on the slopes of British Columbia's coastal mountains meant that it often rained, but the rest of the time it may well have been the most beautiful racing circuit in the world. The track was built and owned by the Sports Car Club of British Columbia. SCCBC members viewed it as a special place where family members of racing enthusiasts grew up over its 32 seasons. The track ran just about any kind of racing that came along for cars, motorcycles and karts, but was best known for its spectacular races for smaller formula cars, Formula Atlantic in particular. Sadly, in 1990 Westwood suffered the common fate of racetracks located near expanding cities world-wide and was converted into a housing development and golf course.

Porsche 356 - 75th Anniversary (Hardcover): Gordon Maltby Porsche 356 - 75th Anniversary (Hardcover)
Gordon Maltby; Foreword by Grant Larson
R1,341 Discovery Miles 13 410 Ships in 12 - 19 working days
The Bugatti Queen - In Search of a Motor-Racing Ledgend (Paperback, New ed): Miranda Seymour The Bugatti Queen - In Search of a Motor-Racing Ledgend (Paperback, New ed)
Miranda Seymour 2
R339 R309 Discovery Miles 3 090 Save R30 (9%) Ships in 9 - 17 working days

THE BUGATTI QUEEN is the beautifully illustrated story of an indomitable and fascinating woman, a pioneer of motorsport who revelled in danger. Born in 1900 in a tiny French village, Helene Delangle, aka Helle Nice, became a dancer and a stripper before catching the eye of Ettore Bugatti. Seduced by the combination of machines and speed, Helle Nice went on to have an unprecedented career, competing in numerous Grands Prix and becoming the only woman to drive on the treacherous American speedbowls in the 1930s. She set new land-speed records before a notorious accident which almost ended her racing days. Re-creating her rollercoaster career with authority and panache from many previously unpublished sources, Miranda Seymour reveals the story of an unforgettable life and sheds new light on the extraordinary and reckless world of motor-racing between the wars.

Jaguar XK120 (Hardcover): Simon Ham Jaguar XK120 (Hardcover)
Simon Ham
R652 Discovery Miles 6 520 Ships in 9 - 17 working days
Jaguar D-Type - The Story of XKD526 (Hardcover): John Elmgreen Jaguar D-Type - The Story of XKD526 (Hardcover)
John Elmgreen
R652 Discovery Miles 6 520 Ships in 9 - 17 working days
Brian Redman - Daring Drivers, Deadly Tracks (Hardcover): Brian R Edman, Jim Mullen Brian Redman - Daring Drivers, Deadly Tracks (Hardcover)
Brian R Edman, Jim Mullen; Foreword by Mario Andretti 1
R1,574 R1,283 Discovery Miles 12 830 Save R291 (18%) Ships in 9 - 17 working days

Brian Redman is one of very few notable British racing drivers whose racing life has yet to be put on record in book form. Now that is about to be rectified. Packed with photographs, Redman's memoir is a vivid account of his varied racing exploits, with special focus on the period 1968-73 when he won major sports car races in Ford GT40s, Porsche 908s and 917s, and Ferrari 312PBs. Highly readable, and at times both humorous and poignant, this is a very personal book that will be welcomed by this popular and highly respected driver's legions of fans.

The Racing Driver's Pocket-Book (Hardcover): Colin Goodwin The Racing Driver's Pocket-Book (Hardcover)
Colin Goodwin
R274 R255 Discovery Miles 2 550 Save R19 (7%) Ships in 12 - 19 working days

The glamour and exhilaration of the golden days of motorsport cannot be matched, ringing with the names of famous international marques: Bentley, MG, ERA and Aston Martin; Bugatti, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Auto Union and Alfa Romeo. Using extracts from contemporary race-reports along with expert advice on competitive driving and vintage advertisements, this new title takes a light-hearted look at motor racing from its earliest origins up to the beginnings of Formula 1. Featuring great names like Juan Fangio and Malcolm Campbell; eccentric personalities like the Siamese racing Prince 'Bira'; famous races such as the Mille Miglia and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and iconic tracks from Brooklands to the Nurburgring, The Racing Driver's Pocket Book evokes the unique spirit and elan of the period. It also focuses on the cars that achieved lasting fame, such as the famous German 'silver arrows' of the 1930s, and explains racing terminology and tactics - outlining track rules and regulations, as well as providing a few pointers on appropriate racing attire.

Total Competition - Lessons in Strategy from Formula One (Paperback): Ross Brawn, Adam Parr Total Competition - Lessons in Strategy from Formula One (Paperback)
Ross Brawn, Adam Parr 1
R357 R293 Discovery Miles 2 930 Save R64 (18%) Ships in 12 - 19 working days

Total Competition is the most compelling, comprehensive and revealing insight into what it takes to get to the top in Formula One that has ever been published. Across four decades, Ross Brawn was one of the most innovative and successful technical directors and then team principals in Formula One. Leading Benetton, Ferrari, Honda, Brawn and Mercedes, he worked with drivers such as Michael Schumacher, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton to make them world champions. In 2017, he was appointed F1's managing director, motor sports, by the sport's new owners Liberty Media. Now, in this fascinating book written with Adam Parr (who was CEO and then chairman of Williams for five years), he looks back over his career and methods to assess how he did it, and where occasionally he got things wrong. Total Competition is a definitive portrait of modern motorsport. In the book, Brawn and Parr explore the unique pressures of Formula One, their battles with Bernie Ecclestone, and the cut-throat world they inhabited, where coming second is never good enough. This book will appeal not only to the millions of Formula One fans who want to understand how Brawn operates, it will also provide many lessons in how to achieve your own business goals. 'A must-have insight into the awe-inspiring career of a true motor racing great' Daily Express

The Golden Days of Thompson Speedway & Raceway - Sports and Formula Car Events 1945-1977 (Hardcover): Terry O'Neill The Golden Days of Thompson Speedway & Raceway - Sports and Formula Car Events 1945-1977 (Hardcover)
Terry O'Neill
R5,444 Discovery Miles 54 440 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

Occasionally a spark of inspiration can become the catalyst for transition. Just such an occasion took place with the construction of Thompson Speedway in 1940, a five-eighth-mile banked oval track, dubbed "The Indianapolis of the East." A road course joined to the oval in 1952 enlarged the track to form the first privately-owned complex where sports car drivers could race safely. It transformed the face of sports car racing in America, and hastened the demise of the dangerous open-road events together with the majority of flat and boring airfield race venues. These two volumes tell the story of the ground-breaking racetrack and, as far as possible, detail the drivers and cars that participated in the races. They are profusely illustrated with contemporary photographs showing well-known drivers such as Briggs Cunningham, Bill Lloyd, Bill Spear, Lance Reventlow, Walt Hansgen, George Constantine and Denise McCluggage in action driving Maseratis, Jaguars, Porsches, Coopers, Ferraris and other makes that they imported from Europe and that are now in such popular demand. Today, the Raceway has been regenerated and runs as a successful venture under the control of Jonathan Hoenig, great-grandson of the original owner. Volume One, The Formative Years: 1945-1959, covers the years 1938-1960 and describes the development of sports car racing at Thompson as early as 1945. It explains the politics involved between land-owner, John Hoenig, and Raceway manager George Weaver, and their unsuccessful attempts to establish a working relationship. Their disagreements led to the development of the Raceway's second layout by Weaver as it separated from the Speedway Oval in 1958. Volume Two, Changing Fortunes: 1960-1977, sees Hoenig and Thompson Raceway in Windham County Court in 1961, the culmination of a long-standing dispute over share holdings. SCCA policy changes in the first half of the 1960s involving the conflict between professional and amateur status also contributed to the eventual demise of the Raceway under Weaver's control in 1967. Subsequently, the venue was revived by the Hoenig family, with a new track that incorporated the original Speedway oval, but the fuel crisis, a lack of investment and a general decline in spectator interest led to its closure again in 1977.

Monaco - Inside F1's Greatest Race (Paperback): Malcolm Folley Monaco - Inside F1's Greatest Race (Paperback)
Malcolm Folley 1
R341 R311 Discovery Miles 3 110 Save R30 (9%) Ships in 9 - 17 working days

**THE ONLY DEFINITIVE ACCOUNT OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST RACE - FULL OF EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS WITH NIKI LAUDA, ROSS BRAWN, DAMON HILL, DAVID COULTHARD, SIR JACKIE STEWART, OLIVER PANIS AND 2016 WORLD CHAMPION NICO ROSBERG** Circuit de Monaco. Monte Carlo. The ultimate race in the Formula One calendar. When you think of Formula One, you think of Monaco. Once a year, yachts jam the harbour, celebrities fill the stands and luxury sports cars litter the streets as of thousands of people gather from across the world to watch the greatest, and one of the oldest, races in motorsport. Monaco is glamorous, prestigious and seductive. But for the drivers, it is the most demanding race of the year. The narrow streets, tight corners and sharp elevations make it the ultimate test of driving skill. It is physically draining and mentally exhausting. Proposed today, the race would not exist but it remains the jewel in the crown for every Formula One driver. There is simply no other race like it. Win at Monaco and your name is etched in history. You will join the likes of Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton. With exclusive interviews and insight from drivers and a wealth of F1 insiders, award-winning sportswriter Malcolm Folley goes behind the scenes to discover what it's really like to drive and live and breathe this iconic circuit. He reveals along the way a unique and definitive portrait of the circuit, and recreates in thrilling detail its most extraordinary weekend, when only three cars finished.

Formula 1 Technical Analysis 2016/2018 (Hardcover): Giorgio Piola Formula 1 Technical Analysis 2016/2018 (Hardcover)
Giorgio Piola
R1,503 R1,220 Discovery Miles 12 200 Save R283 (19%) Ships in 9 - 17 working days

The last edition of an automotive literary classic: the technical analysis of Formula 1 penned by Giorgio Piola. After 25 years of publication, the historic draughtsman is bring the curtain down on this experience with a volume that examines the last three seasons, from 2016 to 2018, as always reviewing the principal technical innovations in the spheres of chassis and engine design. This three-year analysis is appropriately completed with a retrospective of some of Piola's most important drawings from a 50-year career that began back in 1969.

Villeneuve - His Untold Life from Berthierville to Zolder (Hardcover, None Ed.): Karoly Mehes Villeneuve - His Untold Life from Berthierville to Zolder (Hardcover, None Ed.)
Karoly Mehes 1
R771 R666 Discovery Miles 6 660 Save R105 (14%) Ships in 9 - 17 working days

Villeneuve sheds new light on the Formula 1 legend through 48 illuminating interviews with his contemporaries and a stunning array of action and behind-the-scenes photographs, many previously unseen. Gilles Villeneuve, F1's last cavalier, lives on in the memories of his fans - his heritage all the more colourful thanks to Karoly Mehes' vivid tribute. Villeneuve's Formula 1 career only lasted for 67 grands prix between 1977 and 1982, yet he made an indelible impression as a driver who raced without limits. Having debuted for McLaren, the daredevil Canadian soon switched to F1's most charismatic team: Enzo Ferrari was Villeneuve's biggest fan. After his tragic death in May 1982, Villeneuve's legend has continued to grow globally. Karoly Mehes has interviewed Villeneuve's Ferrari team-mates, his opponents and journalists - as well as Gilles' widow, Joann, and son, Jacques (world champion of 1997). Nearly 40 years on, they speak about the incandescent star of Formula 1 - a man who gave everything for his beloved sport, ultimately his life.

The Indianapolis 500 - Inside the Greatest Spectacle in Racing (Paperback): J Craig Reinhardt The Indianapolis 500 - Inside the Greatest Spectacle in Racing (Paperback)
J Craig Reinhardt
R372 Discovery Miles 3 720 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

Known as the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing," the Indy 500 humbly began in 1911. Labeled as the first speedway, this two-and-a-half-mile oval is now home to many of today's top races, including the Brickyard 400, the Verizon IndyCar Series, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, the SportsCar Vintage Racing Association, the Red Bull Air Race World Championship, and its most famous race, the Indianapolis 500. In The Indianapolis 500: Inside the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, speedway tour guide and racing aficionado James Craig Reinhardt shares what makes the legendary racetrack special. He reveals the speedway's unbelievable history, fast-flying action, notorious moments, and its secrets, including facts about the beginning of the brickyard, why the drivers kiss the finish line, how milk became the drink of choice, and much more. The perfect gift for the veteran or rookie, The Indianapolis 500 is a must-have for all race fans.

Driven - The Men Who Made Formula One (Paperback): Kevin Eason Driven - The Men Who Made Formula One (Paperback)
Kevin Eason 1
R399 R363 Discovery Miles 3 630 Save R36 (9%) Ships in 9 - 17 working days

Formula One is speed, glamour, danger - and eye-watering wealth. Driven: The Men Who Made Formula One tells how a small group of extraordinary men transformed Formula One from a niche sport played out on primitive tracks surrounded by hay bales and grass verges into a GBP1 billion circus performing in vast theatres of entertainment all over the world. Led by Bernie Ecclestone, the billionaire ringmaster, this clique started by scraping a living to go racing and ended up creating space-age cars, turning drivers from amateur gladiators into multimillion-pound superstars, like Ayrton Senna and Lewis Hamilton, while the names of Ferrari, McLaren and Williams are now as familiar around the world as Manchester United or Real Madrid. For 20 years, Kevin Eason watched how these men operated like a sporting Mafia, protecting each other while squabbling over the vast wealth pouring into the sport. As motor racing correspondent for The Times and then with The Sunday Times, Eason was privileged to have a ringside seat as this cabal of wealthy characters ruled and then were pushed out of the sport they created. This colourful and compelling account of the extraordinary flourishing of Formula One explores the quirks and extravagances of the men who converged - in one generation - to shape their sport; disparate characters with a common impulse: they were racers - and they were driven.

Amedee Gordini - A True Racing Legend (Hardcover): Roy P. Smith Amedee Gordini - A True Racing Legend (Hardcover)
Roy P. Smith
R1,689 R1,249 Discovery Miles 12 490 Save R440 (26%) Ships in 12 - 19 working days

This is a story of excitement, laughs, astonishment and anger - a story of the determination of a man with a dream and a passion for motor racing in the big leagues. It is the first time that the history of the always under-financed Gordini racing team has been documented in English, and the first complete story of Gordini himself in any language. This volume will appeal to new enthusiasts and old hands of Formula 1 and sports prototypes, especially those who have owned a Gordini engined-car. It charts Gordini's early life and beginnings in motorsport, up to 1969 when Renault took over the Gordini company, keeping his name on all the racing engines until 1986, before finally resurrecting it for a performance version of the Renault Twingo and Clio in 2009. The book is packed with evocative period images from important collections, supplementary transcripts in English from many contemporary interviews, plus recollections from former employees remembering their time working with Gordini, and an exhaustive set of statistics. All the way it's a roller coaster of joy, despair, humour, and stunning images. The racing legend of 'Le Sorcier' lives on.

Nissan Sport - Touring Car Racing in Australia, 1981-1985 (Paperback): Derek Rawson Nissan Sport - Touring Car Racing in Australia, 1981-1985 (Paperback)
Derek Rawson; Contributions by Roger Bonhomme, George Fury
R669 R596 Discovery Miles 5 960 Save R73 (11%) Ships in 10 - 15 working days
Stirling Moss Scrapbook 1955 (Hardcover, 2nd Revised edition): Stirling Moss, Philip Porter Stirling Moss Scrapbook 1955 (Hardcover, 2nd Revised edition)
Stirling Moss, Philip Porter
R1,450 Discovery Miles 14 500 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

Stirling Moss is a national treasure. Arguably, the world's greatest all-round racing driver, he was a hero to several generations of schoolboys and countless enthusiasts throughout the world. He is still held in the highest esteem and is mobbed whenever he attends events. He was one of the first of the jet-setters, living a glamorous life of high octane motor sport and beautiful women. He only had to be seen with a fabulous female twice and all the papers would be reporting they were engaged. If he sneezed, the Press wrote about it. He was the Beckham of his era. Above all, he was a dedicated sportsman and probably the first to make motor racing his sole profession. He had to make a living out of it. He went rallying in the winter, not just for the fun of it, but to make some money during the racing off-season. Throughout his career he created his personal scrapbooks, several volumes per year, and he kept a diary. This book dips into his personal records and is spiced throughout with treasures to delight and fascinate. These are supplemented by period comments and many of his anecdotes. Moss has a fund of stories and is refreshingly non-PC! In spite of being adored and respected by the public for more than 50 years, Stirling remains the modest man he always was. Long-term friends and former colleagues have shared their fond memories with Philip Porter for this book. The year 1955 was a truly remarkable one for Stirling Moss. Yet to really establish himself at the highest levels after gamely persevering with uncompetitive British machinery, he finished the year second only to the great Fangio in the World Championship and a household name, a mega-star. If there had been a world championship for sports cars, he would have won it by a handsome margin for he recorded some extraordinary victories in possibly his greatest year. In 1955, Moss won his first Grand Prix, won the uniquely gruelling Targa Florio, won the classic Tourist Trophy for the third time and, most amazing of all, brilliantly won the Mille Miglia, the sensationally dangerous 1,000 race around the roads of Italy, reaching over 170mph! This book is a light-hearted look at the fun, the excitement, the lifestyle, the challenges, the tragedies, and the victories.

Ayrton Senna - The Last Night (Hardcover): Giorgio Terruzzi Ayrton Senna - The Last Night (Hardcover)
Giorgio Terruzzi
R1,089 R910 Discovery Miles 9 100 Save R179 (16%) Ships in 9 - 17 working days
The Timeless Racer (Hardcover): Daniel Simon The Timeless Racer (Hardcover)
Daniel Simon
R1,306 R989 Discovery Miles 9 890 Save R317 (24%) Ships in 12 - 19 working days

This book presents, in large-format images, Simon's unique virtually designed racing machines and tells the story of international racer Vic Cooper, who time-travels under the name 'Vic13' and later 'Mean13' to the past and the future to compete in a wide variety of motor races. His attempts are supported by world famous constructor Masucci, who built amazing vehicles for Cooper between the years 1916 and 2582. In this first volume of The Timeless Racer, Cooper time-travels to the year 2027, where he competes in the world-famous--and legendarily dangerous-- 48 Hours of America endurance race. The book puts three vehicles in the spotlight, shown in incredibly photo-realistic images.
Car enthusiasts, design fans, and fiction addicts will be awed by fantastic and futuristic race cars in drawings and hyper-real renderings up to 24 inches wide. The book includes special attention to the fine details that make alternate worlds believable: fictitious sponsors and conflicts, with characters described in spectacular detail through photographs and back stories.
In this captivating series, Simon returns to create an imaginary but entirely possible reality of glamour, speed, and honor. Welcome to The Timeless Racer.
The foreword has been written by racing legend Jacky Ickx, who raced in the 1960s, '70s and '80s for many famed teams such as Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche, Brabham or Lotus. He is the only driver to have won in Formula One, Can-Am, Le Mans, and the Paris-Dakar rally.
REVIEWS:
"Daniel's designs are spectacular. And the machines--presented in every detail and a highly personal style--intrigue as always." -- Flavio Manzoni, director of Ferrari Design
"Simon created a dream world I would race in any day-- this is really cool stuff " -- Andre Lotterer, winner 24 Hours of Le Mans with team Joest Audi R18, 2011 and 2012
"Daniel Simon's imagination is matched only by his spectacular vision of a sensational motor racing future. With its suave drivers, gorgeous girls, and international men of mystery, The Timeless Racer is a book like no other." -- British GQ magazine
"Daniel's imagination is extraordinary. It is joyful to see this fantasy blend of past and future racing." -- From the foreword by Jacky Ickx, racing legend
"I have photographed motor racing for 50 years, and I am amazed by Simon's virtual imagery." -- Rainer W. Schlegelmilch, famed racing photographer

Michael Schumacher (Paperback): James Allen Michael Schumacher (Paperback)
James Allen 2
R340 R311 Discovery Miles 3 110 Save R29 (9%) Ships in 9 - 17 working days

Gifted with a rare blend of superior ability and unshakeable nerves, Michael Schumacher is the outstanding Formula One driver of his generation. Over the past 15 seasons he has won an unprecedented seven world drivers' championships and in the process has captured the imagination of fans all over the world. For all his success, Schumacher is also a controversial figure, feared for his ruthless tactics and despised for using extreme methods in pursuit of success. From his first Grand Prix with Jordan to his Benetton world championships and his attempt to win back Ferrari's crown, this is a thorough and engaging look at Schumacher's entire racing career. The story behind Schumacher's record five consecutive world titles is uncovered, and his impact on the racing world as a whole following his retirement is examined. Frank, honest, and adroit, this is an in-depth look at the life and career of a champion.

DB4 G.T. Continuation - History in the making (Hardcover): James Page DB4 G.T. Continuation - History in the making (Hardcover)
James Page
R1,366 Discovery Miles 13 660 Ships in 12 - 19 working days
Racing in the Dark - How the Bentley Boys Conquered Le Mans (Hardcover): Peter Grimsdale Racing in the Dark - How the Bentley Boys Conquered Le Mans (Hardcover)
Peter Grimsdale
R615 R547 Discovery Miles 5 470 Save R68 (11%) Ships in 9 - 17 working days

SHORTLISTED FOR THE RAC MOTORSPORT BOOK OF THE YEAR 'Glorious...gripping and sometimes tragic' Robbie Coltrane The inspirational story of the Bentley Boys and Le Mans - the race they made their own. Le Mans, 1927. W.O. Bentley peered into the dusk. His three cars, which had led from the start, were missing. Two years running he had failed to finish. Once again he was staring into a void. Racing, his shareholders told him, was a waste of money. This race looked like being his last. W.O's engineering skills had been forged on the Great Northern railway and in the skies of the First World War, where Bentley-powered Sopwith Camels took the fight to Germany's Red Baron. Determined to build and race his own cars, he assembled a crack team from all strata of 1920s Britain, from East End boys Leslie Pennal and Wally Hassan to multi-millionaires Woolf Barnato and Tim Birkin, men in search of adventures to blaze their way out of the dark past. They dedicated themselves to building the perfect road and racing car. In the hayloft above their workshop, the first Bentley was born and soon it was the car of choice for the fast-living upper classes. They raced at the fashionable Brooklands circuit and then set their sights on the fledgling 24 Hours Le Mans race. An audacious goal for a British car, yet the Bentley Boys rose to the challenge. But on that night in 1927, after the biggest crash in racing history claimed their cars, could they still pull it off and put British motor racing on the map? In the 1920s, Bentley Motors burned brightly but all too briefly; yet its tale, filled with drama, tragedy, determination and glory still shines a century on.

A Race with Love and Death - The Story of Richard Seaman (Paperback): Richard Williams A Race with Love and Death - The Story of Richard Seaman (Paperback)
Richard Williams
R311 R285 Discovery Miles 2 850 Save R26 (8%) Ships in 9 - 17 working days

'A tragic age and a tragic character, both seemingly compelled to destroy themselves...a chilling reminder of how little control we have over our fates' Damon Hill 'One of the greatest motor racing stories' Nick Mason 'Timely, vivid and enthralling ... it's unputdownable' Miranda Seymour, author of The Bugatti Queen Dick Seaman was the archetypal dashing motorsport hero of the 1930s, the first Englishman to win a race for Mercedes-Benz and the last Grand Prix driver to die at the wheel before the outbreak of the Second World War. Award-winning author Richard Williams reveals the remarkable but now forgotten story of a driver whose battles against the leading figures of motor racing's golden age inspired the post-war generation of British champions. The son of wealthy parents, educated at Rugby and Cambridge, Seaman grew up in a privileged world of house parties, jazz and fast cars. But motor racing was no mere hobby: it became such an obsession that he dropped out of university to pursue his ambitions, squeezing money out of his parents to buy better cars. When he was offered a contract with the world-beating, state-sponsored Mercedes team in 1937, he signed up despite the growing political tensions between Britain and Germany. A year later, he celebrated victory in the German Grand Prix with the beautiful 18-year-old daughter of the founder of BMW. Their wedding that summer would force a split with his family, a costly rift that had not been closed six months later when he crashed in the rain while leading at Spa, dying with his divided loyalties seemingly unresolved. He was just 26 years old. A Race with Love and Death is a gripping tale of speed, romance and tragedy. Set in an era of rising tensions, where the urge to live each moment to the full never seemed more important, it is a richly evocative story that grips from first to last.

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