TONY BROOKS AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Tony Brooks : Poetry in Motion
Hardback, 272 pages, 273 mm x 215mm. Colour cover, over 250 b&w and colour photographs

It took 15 years of relentless persuasion to convince Tony Brooks, one of Britain’s greatest ever racing drivers, that he should write his autobiography.

Throughout his racing career he shunned publicity, preferring to let his on-track performances speak for themselves. This is why Stirling Moss, on many occasions his team-mate in Formula 1 and sports car races, has described him as "the greatest ‘little known’ driver of all time".

Tony Brooks began his racing career at Goodwood in 1952 at the wheel of his mother’s Healey sports car. Three years later, having never previously sat in a Formula 1 car, he drove a Connaught to victory in the Syracuse Grand Prix, beating the entire Maserati works team. It was the first Grand Prix victory for a British car and driver for 31 years. His unique combination of speed and smoothness, aptly chosen by him as his book title Poetry in Motion, led to works drives with Aston Martin, BRM, Vanwall and Ferrari and brought him Grand Prix victories on Europe’s most challenging circuits – Spa, the Nürburgring and Monza. Tony Brooks and his Italian wife Pina live at Ottershaw Park, Surrey.

How to Improve & Modify Your Caravan

By Lindsay Porter
Paperback, 207x270mm, 224 pages, 975 pictures

This step-by-step, heavily illustrated guide shows the caravan owner and user how he or she can turn their caravan into a perfect and unique holiday retreat. It details the huge range of improvements available and – crucially – how you can apply them to your own caravan.

• The first ever book on choosing and fitting caravan upgrades and accessories
• How to carry out your own DIY improvements
• See what accessories are available to improve your caravan
• Find out how the experts carry out caravan improvements
• Advice on which projects are okay and which are not suitable for DIY
• See how to work successfully and without causing damage
• Features contacts for all manufacturers and suppliers

NEW MOTORING TITLES

 

MGB The illustrated history

By Jonathan Wood, Lionel Burrell
Hardback, 240 pages, 280 x 230mm, 120 colour & 120 b&w illustrations
Sales of over half a million made the MGB Britain’s most successful ever sports car. Fifty years on from the MGB’s introduction, in 1962, its classic lines, affordability, fun factor and certain ‘rightness’ mean that its enthusiastic following remains undiminished. Here is a new ‘50th anniversary’ edition of what is widely recognised as one of the best MGB books ever published. This special new edition features the original text and many of the original period photos, together with a great deal of new colour imagery and elegant, up-to-date design.

Ferrari: All The Cars : Every Ferrari ever made described and illustrated (2nd Edition)

By Leonardo Acerbi
paperback, 210 x 148mm, 408 pages, 250 colour & 133 b&w illustrations
For all Ferrari fans, this chunky, inexpensive paperback is a must-have purchase as it profiles every car made in Maranello from 1947 to date. A unique catalogue, it features a specially commissioned colour drawing for each road and racing car, together with archive photography, informative text and specification. Attractively designed and fact-packed, this 408-page book is fantastic value.

A-Z of 21st Century Cars

By Tony Lewin
Paperback, 540 pages, 1500 col. Illustrations, 225 x 200 mm
The first years of the twenty-first century brought many changes and challenges for the automobile industry, from the development of environmentally responsible vehicles to the consolidation of numerous small companies as part of major manufacturing groups. Written by auto expert Tony Lewin and featuring over 1500 stunning photographs, this superb encyclopedia is the most comprehensive guide available to the international automobile industry of the last decade. The book explores some 150 of the most significant models, highlighting their performance, stylistic features and innovations.

NEW MOTORING AND MOTORSPORT TITLES

FX4 Black Cab Manual 1958 to 1997 Enthusiasts’ Manual

By Bill Munro – Hardback, 270 x 210mm, 160 pages, 180 colour & 20 b&w illustrations

• The history of the Austin FX4 presented in the style of a Haynes Manual.
• Featuring archive photographs, drawings and plenty of technical detail.
• Expert views from dealers, owners and mechanics covering buying, using and maintaining an FX4 today.
• All FX4s will be removed from service in London by the end of 2012, marking the end of 54 years’ continuous service.

How to modify your Retro or Classic Car for high performance

By Daniel Stapleton
Paperback, 144 pages, 20.7x25cm, 310 pictures
There are four crucial aspects of a classic car’s performance: straight-line top speed, cornering speed, acceleration, and braking. This book’s detailed guidance shows you how to improve each of these, whether for more enjoyable day-to-day use, or for a diverse range of classic motorsport.

Motor Racing at Thruxton in the 1980s (Those were the days…. series)

By Bruce Grant-Braham
Paperback, 20.5x19cm, 96 pages, 100 pictures
One of the fastest motor racing circuits in the UK, Thruxton is a supreme test of high speed skill – especially where the art of slipstreaming is concerned. Consequently, it is both feared and revered. This book makes full use of the author’s unique collection of many previously unpublished colour photos to follow the evolution of UK motorsport at the venue through the 1980s.

NEW MOTORSPORT TITLES

Le Mans Panoramic

By Gavin David Ireland
Hardback, 300x200mm, 224 pages, 118 pictures
The Le Mans 24 Hours is the ultimate endurance race, and a classic feature of the motorsport calendar. This book captures the sheer scale and drama of this legendary race as never before, using specialist panoramic photography to give an unprecedented wide angle view of how the race is entered, watched, won, and lost. It is a timeless tribute to the Le Mans 24 Hours.
The Le Mans 24 Hours is the ultimate endurance race, a true test of man and machine. It is a classic feature of the motorsport calendar, attracting more than 230,000 people to the track every year to see one of the greatest spectacles in racing.
Shot over two years, this book’s specialist panoramic photography gives a real sense of the many aspects that make up the Le Mans experience: the sun setting on night time qualifying, brake discs glowing in the dark, sprawling fan camp sites, and the elation as battered cars complete the epic race.

Formula 1: All the Races – The World Championship story race-by-race: 1950

By Roger Smith
Hardback, 600 pages, 233 x 169mm, 190 colour illustrations
This remarkable book, unlike anything previously published, has been meticulously researched and written to capture the character and essence of every one of the 858 World Championship races held since the beginning of Formula 1 in 1950. Each entry highlights the key events of each individual Grand Prix – from qualifying through to the final outcome – as well as spotlighting those incidental happenings so unique to F1 that influenced a race or an unfolding championship battle. Nothing is missed. Every significant happening is recorded.

Gulf-Mirage 1967 to 1982 : WSC Giants Series

By Ed McDonough
Paperback, 21×19.5cm, 128 pages, 100 pictures
This book details the origin and history of the Mirage sports cars, designed by the British-based John Wyer Automotive firm to contest the various versions of the World Sports Car Championship between 1967 and 1975, and funded by the Gulf Oil Corporation. The cars began as developments of the Ford GT40, but they soon assumed their own identity. After 1975, the Mirage was no longer in John Wyer hands, but the name lived on, and it remained a significant player in the World Championship for some years. Includes the developmental and race history, with a full list of all events and individual chassis numbers.

APRIL BOOK OF THE MONTH

My 1001 Cars, Reference Edition

By Gabriel Voisin

“A splendid copiously-illustrated translation, which not only captures the idiosyncratic nature of Gabriel Voisin’s highly opinionated prose but includes a host of explanatory footnotes which add greatly to the original text. Highly recommended!”

- David Burgess-Wise (The Automobile)

NEW MOTORING TITLES

 

Archie Frazer-Nash …Engineer
By Trevor Tarring, Mark Joseland – Hardback, 256 pages
This wonderful new book has been written by ex-club captain Trevor Tarring, using material and photographs researched by the late Mark Joseland. Mark was himself an ex-club captain and also the archivist at Shelsley Walsh. Mark set out to write this book following a suggestion by Joé Frazer-Nash, Archie’s daughter, at her 90th birthday party in 2006. Tragically, Mark was killed in a road accident in 2009, before he could complete the work, and Trevor agreed to take over the project.

Land Rover Defender Modifying Manual : A practical guide to upgrades
By Lindsay Porter – Hardback, 270 x 210mm, 232 pages, 475 colour & 25 b&w illustrations
The legendary ‘classic’ Land Rover – the mainstay of the four-wheel-drive market world-wide for over 60 years – was rebranded Defender in 1990, and has upheld Land Rover’s reputation for producing rugged workhorses, with unbeatable off-road capability. This Haynes Manual provides a practical guide to modifications and upgrades for Defender owners who wish to update or improve their vehicles. Coverage includes modifications for both recreational off-road use and to improve comfort and cosmetic appearance.

JUST PUBLISHED

Ford Cortina : The complete history

By Russell Hayes
Hardback, 280 x 230mm, 288 pages, 200 colour & 200 b&w illustrations

Once there was a Cortina on every British street corner, but now only a handful of the four million made survive and the rest are fond memories. For 1962 the Cortina was rushed to sale as an economy car, but it rocketed to the top of the sales charts and stayed there for 20 years. To mark 50 years since the introduction of Ford‘s best-seller, this exhaustively researched history tells how it grew to be a worldwide success. With first-hand accounts from key people and evocative period photography, the design and development of all five generations of Cortina is explored in detail.

PICK OF THE WEEK

Team Lotus : My view from the pit wall

By Peter Warr
Hardback, 234 x 156mm, 240 pages, 30 colour & 30 b&w illustrations

Peter Warr was best-known for his management of the Lotus Formula 1 team, where he was one of Colin Chapman’s closest allies as well as the man who nurtured the early Formula 1 careers of Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell. Frank, informative and beautifully written, his memoir remained unfinished at the time of his death in 2010, but the bulk of his work was done and thankfully can be published. This long-awaited inside story, which is of particular interest for its author’s thoughts on Chapman and all the drivers he worked with, will be relished by all motor racing enthusiasts.

NEW MOTORING TITLES

  

Factory Original Jaguar E-Type : the Originality Guide to the Jaguar E-Type
By Anders Clausager, Simon Clay – Hardback, 176 pages, 300 colour photos, 255 x 255 mm
The E-type was an astonishing car when launched in 1961: astonishing looks, astonishing performance and an astonishingly low price. Enthusiastic drivers all over the world wanted one, and now, half a century after its appearance, they still do. Happily, as more and more worn-out, semi-derelict and long-forgotten examples are dragged out of garages and barns to be restored and given a new life, the stock of E-types is increasing.

Factory-Original Sporting Mk1 Escorts : The originality guide to Sporting Ford Escorts Mk1 & Mk2
By Dan Williamson – Hardback, 200 pages, 500 colour photos, 255 x 255 mm
Launched at the beginning of 1968, Ford’s Escort had a new platform, the new Kent crossflow engine, a new all-synchromesh gearbox and, for the first time on a Ford, rack-and-pinion steering. It was a nice drive, with light controls, a slick gearchange and excellent handling. Ford were not slow to appreciate the potential of the new model, and thus were born a series of fast Escorts, for road, track and rally that brought competition success and a queue of customers looking for a sporting drive.

Wartime Jeeps : WW2 Jeeps – Prototypes, Production Models & Special Versions
By Graham Scott, Simon Clay – Hardback, 120 pages, 200 colour photos, 255 x 255 mm
The American Jeep of World War II is one of the most familiar vehicles of all time and, having been involved in so many of the theatres of the war, Jeeps can be found almost all over the world.

PICK OF THE WEEK

Rolls-Royce and Bentley : The Crewe years
By Martin Bennett – Hardback, 280 x 230mm, 480 pages, 78 colour & 1022 b&w illustrations
The names Rolls-Royce and Bentley have long been synonymous with engineering excellence, longevity, luxury and beauty of line. This re-designed and modernised third edition of a best-selling classic traces the remarkable story of these automotive aristocrats, examining all the post-war models manufactured at Crewe, bringing the story right up to date. More recent developments include the marques’ acquisition in 1998 by rival German manufacturers, the last Crewe-built Rolls-Royce Corniche in 2002, and the 2007 Continental GT coupe and Bentley Arnage Diamond Series unveiled to mark 60 years of production at Crewe.

NEW TITLES

     

Bristol Cars On Film DVD
Region 2 DVD, 62 mins. – This souvenir DVD is based on two high-quality 16mm films shot by the late Ted Ashman, Chief Photographer of the Bristol Aeroplane Company in the mid-1950s. Enhanced by modern location footage and informed commentary, it will be greatly enjoyed by Bristol Car owners and enthusiasts.

Loco Review 2012 edition – By Martin Buck
Contributions from the UK’s leading photographers
Printed on high quality art paper
Expansive and informative captions

No Need to Die : American flyers in RAF Bomber Command – By Gordon Thorburn
This is the first book to be written about a group of remarkable men who left the wealth and comfort of America before the Second World War to volunteer for the most dangerous trade in the world.

Plough & Scatter : The Diary-Journal of a First World War Gunner
By J. Ivor Hanson, Alan Wakefield – J. Ivor Hanson’s personal diary describes his experiences as a gunner on the Western Front in the First World War, which left a deep and lasting impression on him.

Rapid Response : My inside story as a motor racing life-saver
By Dr. Stephen Olvey – Now available in paperback with an updated final chapter, this is the compelling story of the author’s life in motor racing, providing fascinating insight into crashes involving many famous racers and circuits. The book begins with a vivid description of Alex Zanardi’s crash in Germany in 2001

Team Lotus : My view from the pit wall – By Peter Warr
Peter Warr was best-known for his management of the Lotus Formula 1 team, where he was one of Colin Chapman’s closest allies as well as the man who nurtured the early Formula 1 careers of Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell.

new MOTORING TITLES

 

Automobile Year 59 (2011/12)
Hardback, 304 pages, 235 mm x 310 mm, Full colour cover, Full colour photographs
As in previous editions, Automobile Year 59 will be divided into three main subject areas: Industry, Motorsport and Culture. Each of these three areas includes exhaustive coverage of the events that punctuated the year, together with an overall assessment of their collective significance.

Bristol Cars On Film DVD – Region 2 DVD, 62 mins
This souvenir DVD is based on two high-quality 16mm films shot by the late Ted Ashman, Chief Photographer of the Bristol Aeroplane Company in the mid-1950s. Enhanced by modern location footage and informed commentary, it will be greatly enjoyed by Bristol Car owners and enthusiasts.

Porsche and Me – Hans Mezger  By Hans Mezger, Peter Morgan
Cloth hardback with paper jacket, 208 pages with over 200 photographs
The autobiography of one of the most prolific automobile engineers of the twentieth century. Hans Mezger joined Porsche in 1956 and became a principal contributor to the Stuttgart auto manufacturer’s unmatched success over the following 37 years

Rolls-Royce and Bentley : The Crewe years
By Martin Bennett – Hardback, 280 x 230mm, 480 pages, 78 colour & 1022 b&w illustrations
The names Rolls-Royce and Bentley have long been synonymous with engineering excellence, longevity, luxury and beauty of line. This re-designed and modernised third edition of a best-selling classic traces the remarkable story of these automotive aristocrats, examining all the post-war models manufactured at Crewe, bringing the story right up to date.

NEW MOTORING TITLES

     

Form Follows Function : The Art of the Supercar
By Stuart Codling, James Mann – Hardback, 224 pages, colour illustrations, 254 x 312 mm
For Form Follows Function: The Art of the Supercar, renowned automotive photographer James Mann brings 20 of the world’s most beautiful and desirable supercars into the studio. Removed from their ordinary environment and shot on black backgrounds, the photographer’s lens reveals not just the engineering brilliance of these cars, but also the inherent beauty in their form and details.

How to Paint Flames (2nd Edition)
By Bruce Caldwell – Paperback, 160 pages, 350 colour illustrations, 270 x 210 mm
Custom paint jobs are more popular than ever, and no form of custom painting is "hotter" than the flame job. The newest styles, tools, and techniques are described and shown in this newest edition of the bestselling How to Paint Flames.

Supercharging Performance Handbook
By Jeff Hartman – Paperback, 176 pages, 300 colour illustrations, 270 x 210 mm 
Packed with thorough explanations of the different types of superchargers and aftercoolers available, expert guidance to help the reader decide which supercharger is right for which application, and in-depth discussion of such topics as efficiency, proper sizing, proper installation, and supporting systems modification, Supercharging Performance Handbook provides the knowledge you need to significantly increase your vehicle’s horsepower.

Toyota Aygo Petrol : 2005 to 2011 Owners Workshop Manual
Hatchbacks with petrol engines – 1.0 litre (998cc) – Does not cover diesel engines

NEW MOTORING TITLES

   

BMW Ultimate Drives Volume 1: 1937-1982 By Jeremy Walton
Packing BMW’s dream machines from 75mph pre-war icons, to the 230mph supercars of the 21st century into an 80,000+ word book project, full of the finest original photographs, was a long held fantasy of author Jeremy Walton. His aim was to move his work from the earlier ‘Unbeatable BMW’ racing tales, to how it feels to drive the best of the best from BMW. All without relying on rehashing factory photographs and PR editorial.

Morgan 4/4: The First 75 Years By Michael M Palmer
Hardback, 192 pages, 264 colour and b&w photographs, 260 x 215 mm
At the core of Morgan motoring lies the Morgan 4/4. It is the great grandparent of the rest of the ‘traditional’ Morgan range. Representing the best of the traditional British sports car, it combines modern performance and reliability with iconic styling that recalls a golden age of motoring. In this fascinating and in-depth account, Michael Palmer examines the car’s history, design, development and manufacture.

The story of Sprite Caravans By Andrew Jenkinson
Paperback, 20.7x25cm, 206 pictures
This book tells of the story of Sprite caravans, from early primitive designs to the sophisticated Sprite of today. It describes how one man – Sam Alper OBE – was driven to provide the caravanning public with cheap affordable holidays, by bringing the VW/Ford mass-production ethos to the caravan industry.

The first book written on Sprite Caravans, and the first UK book to cover one brand of touring caravan.

4-cylinder Engine Short Block High-performance Manual By Des Hammill
Paperback, 250 X 207mm (portrait), 112 pages, 195 colour pictures
A complete practical guide on how to blueprint (optimize all aspects of specification) any 4-cylinder, four-stroke engine’s short block to obtain maximum performance and reliability without wasting money on over-specced parts.

Morgan 4/4

Morgan 4/4: The First 75 Years

By Michael M Palmer
Hardback, 192 pages, 264 colour and b&w photographs, 260 x 215 mm
At the core of Morgan motoring lies the Morgan 4/4. It is the great grandparent of the rest of the ‘traditional’ Morgan range. Representing the best of the traditional British sports car, it combines modern performance and reliability with iconic styling that recalls a golden age of motoring. In this fascinating and in-depth account, Michael Palmer examines the car’s history, design, development and manufacture.

 

Land Rover Series I-III

Land Rover Series I-III : Your expert guide to common problems & how to fix them

By Maurice Thurman
Paperback, 128 pages, 125 pictures, 21×14.8cm
A compact but comprehensive troubleshooter and guide to the Series I, II & III Land Rovers. This book identifies the most common problems encountered with Series Land Rovers, from engine noises to suspension issues, and provides quick, often innovative roadside repairs to get you moving again, together with thorough advice on more expensive repairs. Covering most civilian models, including both petrol and diesel engines, this is an essential book for Land Rover drivers.

The Car Book

The Car Book – The Definitive Visual History

Dorling Kindersley

This is the definitive visual history of the automobile. "The Car Book" stylishly shows you everything you might want to know about the history of the automobile. With stunning visual images and over 2,000 cars featured, the evolution of the car is tracked from decade to decade and across international borders, from India’s Ambassador to Italy’s Alfa Romeo.

A-Series Engine

The A-Series Engine : Its first sixty years

By Graham Robson
Hardback, 270 x 210mm, 256 pages, 30 colour & 170 b&w illustrations

Built from 1951 to 2000, BMC’s A-Series engine was a remarkably successful, versatile and invaluable power unit that far outlived its original projected life. Not only did it power road cars as varied as the Austin A30, the Mini and the MG Midget, but it also found use in world-class race and rally cars, record-breaking special machines, light commercial vehicles and even tractors. This fascinating illustrated book chronicles the full history and achievements of this remarkable engine, nearly 15 million of which were made.

Rodder’s Journal

The Rodder’s Journal (Hot Rod Magazine)

Issue 52 features the "Takeout T," a ’23 Ford Model T roadster built and owned by Russ Freund of Post Falls, Idaho. You may recognize the Model T from this year’s show circuit as it won many awards and was a contender for the AMBR. The article touches on the build of this roadster and all of the efforts made by the members of Russ’ car club, Thee Inland Emperors. It also describes in detail Russ’ history of hot rodding with his father, Claude Freund, who unfortunately passed away shortly after the TRJ photo shoot.