Sports Car Racing, Endurance Car Racing and Brand Specific Car Books. How Many Do You Own? PART THREE

October 26, 2021

#444

Gentle reader,

Firstly, I want to thank those who have already helped me out by purchasing some of my car and racing books. THANK YOU!

For those who have not seen the first two chapters of this series, these links will take you there: The Robb Collections: Sports Car Racing, Endurance Car Racing and Brand Specific Car Books. How Many Do You Own? 

And, The Robb Collections: Sports Car Racing, Endurance Car Racing and Brand Specific Car Books. How Many Do You Own? PART TWO.

Let's start with these two magazines. The first one, RACECAR Engineering is a British publication. I found it and the second one both at Borders Books which was still alive and in it's prime in the late 1990's.

Below is not a magazine at all, but the Official Program for the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France. In French, of course.

Some of the titles of these books are saying a lot. Who is to decide what is the "Greatest" of anything? Well, if you are authoring a book, you do.

This book (below) is PACKED full of cars, many of which I have never heard of because they were not sold in the US or are/very low volume and/or Kit car makers. Truly A to Z.

At least the title of these two (above) do not imply that they cover EVERY car, only those with letters in their names. For instance, the Ford/Mercury/Mazda cars which all shared the same chassis and drivetrain are not in the TURBO book. But lots of other cool one are, including a Volvo wagon!

This book has incredibly beautiful photography and covers seemingly all UK sports cars built post-WWII.

Again, what qualifies as "Classic"? There are SO many cars of all types and ages in this beautifully illustrated tome. It's large, thick and heavy.

This is actually a novel. A fictional look at the 1970 World Endurance Racing season. The hero is a news reporter who saves the life of one of the top drivers when his car crashes in practice near where the reporter was standing. Like in Steve McQueen's 1971 film, Le Mans, the drivers names are fictional and in the book, the teams and tire companies and more are fictional. Only the cars remain the same.

There can be no more iconic or wild looking American car, than these two. They were built for one purpose, to win in NASCAR and win they did, resulting in their being outlawed.

This book uses statistics to chose the subjects of the book. A lot of really cool and yes, VERY fast cars within it's covers.

The National Street Machine Club puts out wonderful books as part of being a member of the club. 

"Marque" is French for "Mark" or in this case, car companies names. Both cover several brands and are well illustrated and thorough.

And for those on the East Coast of the US who call themselves car guys and gals, a trip to the annual car meet in Hershey, Pennsylvania is a must.

This book, being a standard catalog of® book it is VERY thorough and one will learn a lot about whatever subject the book is about.

"Stars in Cars" truly applies to the three film stars featured in these five books below.

James Garner starred in the 1960's racing epic Grand Prix which was about the Formula One races and fictional Japanese car company (Honda) entering and against all odds winning. After that, he went REAL racing.

I've never understood the title of this book. I made SURE my little brother and I could go see Le Mans in 1971, even though it was in the next town. 

Originally written in French, this English version covers a lot of McQueen's racing experiences and cars/motorcycles he owned and raced.

This book is more specific than the one above it, it does not delve into his acting, just the vehicles.

This is aptly titled, since not only did Newman star in WINNING he too went on to race for real and WIN, he did. Coming in first in class at Le Mans and second overall one year. amongst the many races he competed in.

This book is missing it's dust jacket, so I photographed the frontispiece.

Again with the titles, is it THE ultimate book on race cars? I do not know, but it is an excellent book on many race cars.

These last two remind me of the huge reference books I loved to look through in the public library, I do not remember the exact title, but it too was very encyclopedic and seemed to cover EVERY car in the world.

Thank you again, for taking the time to read this and the previous two chapters and any of the other four hundred plus articles I have written. 

To shop for any of these books, this link will take you to the MANY car and racing books which I am passing on via eBay: Items for sale by rfcollectin | eBay 

Scott

October 26, 2021

#444

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