Reviews, December 2009

Out of the Shadows
Behind the Scenes of 1960s Motor Racing
Roger Lane

Following a positive response from his inclusion in Motor Sport’s You Were There feature a few years ago, Roger Lane has taken the plunge and published his photographs in a 144-page book.

The images, taken for the Agfa Gevaert company after the advertising manager assigned Lane to capture “the colour and atmosphere of international motor racing”, range from saloon car events at Silverstone to all the glamour of the Monaco Grand Prix.

From the privileged position of being behind the scenes at some of motor racing’s most important meetings, Lane brings you a wonderful inside look at the world of 1960s motor sport. Particular attention is paid to Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Jochen Rindt and Jacky Ickx, but the images of paddock life and the ‘colour and fashion’ of motor racing are of equal interest. Especially for those who didn’t experience it first hand.

The photos are divided into different race meetings, and Lane provides an introduction to each group of images and explains how he took them. Even though some of his earlier images are not of the highest quality, this is still a great collection. If they were good enough to be printed in Motor Sport, they’re certainly worthy of a £25 book now… EF
Published by Halsgrove Publishing, ISBN 978 1 84114 925 7, £24.99

Porsche 917 X17
The Cars and drivers in studio
Jeffrey R Zwart

Fantastic studio shots of the 917 and some great insight from drivers who raced the car in period are included in this beautifully-bound tome.

Zwart, who fell in love with the 917 after watching Le Mans, is a filmmaker who specialises in “high-action commercials”, but that hasn’t impeded him here. Quite simply, these are some of the most stunning static shots of 917s we’ve seen.

Words from Derek Bell, Vic Elford, Jackie Oliver, David Piper, Gérard Larrousse, Brian Redman and Hurley Haywood help make this a must-have for 917 fans, although don’t expect a blow-by-blow account of its racing efforts or any race results. EF
Published by David Bull Publishing, ISBN 978 1 935007 04 3, $149.95

Seven Fifty Motor Club
The birthplace of modern British motorsport
David Morgan

This well-researched book has a foreword by our own Bill Boddy, founder member of the 750MC. The club’s history is recounted year by year, from its formation in 1939 up to events in 2008. There’s a chapter on the Austin Seven (naturally), the club’s various racing categories and its future. Peppering the text is a wonderful array of photos, and sidebars focus on the club’s more famous members and milestones.

The 750MC’s place in British motor racing cannot be understated – its ‘everyman’ formula helped to pioneer an industry, making Morgan’s effort essential reading. GB
Published by Haynes, ISBN 978 1 84425 716, £30

Marcos
Making my Marque
Jem MarshA Little Goes A Long Way
Simon Park

Ignore the occasional typo and you won’t be disappointed with this tale. A very amusing and occasionally hilarious account of doing the London to Sydney marathon in a Mini. Brilliant.
Published by Trafford Publishing, ISBN 978 1 4251 85084, £9.99

Formula Junior 1958-2008
Bernard ‘Ben’ Cowdrey
A very thorough little pictorial book about the history of Formula Junior, which includes race results as well as some interesting photos.
Published by Bernard Cowdrey, contact Ben at [email protected], £15

Le Mans 2009
This slightly drawn out and repetitive review does include some great onboard footage along with plenty of driver interviews and race action. This year’s 24 Hours was significant, so it’s probably worth the investment.
Produced by Duke, www.dukevideo.com, £16.63