New book releases for October 2021. Jalopy Magazine selects the latest available books that we want to read.
At The Greatest Speed: Gordon Bennett, the Father of International Motor Racing
James Gordon Bennett was the rather spoiled son of the millionaire publisher of the New York Herald. He took over the business from his father and was a supporter of technology and sports, with speed in mind.
Being born in 1841 Bennett was there to witness the invention of the motor car and became fascinated with them. Instigating the Gordon Bennet Cup in 1900, a race between Paris and Lyon. Three countries entered in the first race, but this grew into a phenomenon where some eighty thousand spectators would come to watch.
Anti-car sentiments grew, bureaucracy and speed limits with safety and challenges with car design were obstacles that Bennet sought to overcome. Each race is documented with the cars, drivers, courses and the races themselves.
This dedicated promotion of early motor racing was the boost the global motor industry needed and formed the basis of international racing some 100 years later. Important stuff.
Hardback: 192 pages
ISBN-10: 1913491846
ISBN-13: 978-1913491840
North Eastern Motorsport: A Century of Memories
The North East of England has been the host to a variety of motorsport since the early years of the 20th Century. Motorsport broadcaster and journalist Larry Carter takes the reader through a selection of the most memorable events, competitors, venues and the personalities in the area from the 1920s onwards.
Circuits like Croft, one of the fastest in the UK, is covered with some of the greatest drivers that have raced there. James Hunt, Barry Sheene, Niki Lauder and Wilson Fittipaldi. All sorts of other motorsports feature too, circuit racing, rallying, rallycross and trials.
If you fancy a look back through history at no longer fashionable motorsports in the area like grasstrack, sand racing on the Cleveland beaches to the hill climbs and scrambling it’s all in there.
Paperback: 96 pages
ISBN-10: 1398111724
ISBN-13: 978-1398111721
Book Reviews
The American Speed Shop: Birth and Evolution of Hot Rodding
Hot Rodding is a phenomenon that has been going for many years since its inception in the United States. The local speed shop was an important part of the scene as they didn’t just supply parts, they were often the social hub for enthusiasts. Meets, events, hanging out and maybe the odd illegal street race.
Long term hot rodder Bob McClurg tells the story of the era and the culture of the hot rodder through shop histories and many original photographs.
From the birth of the industry, racing, mail ordering and the advertising war through the performance boom of the 1960s and 1970s. The lost speed shops, some survivors, to the internet giants of supply today.
Hardcover: 28 cm x 22 cm, 192 pages
ISBN-10: 1613253346
ISBN-13: 978-1613253342
Culture & Customisation The Motor Scooter Story
Scooter customisation is huge and is certainly a mania. This book is stuffed with unique artwork and many photographs that celebrate this mania. The evolution of the scooter is told with a large focus on the two main players, Lambretta and Vespa, but also featuring many more including some of the more obscure offerings.
Scooters have often been seen as fashion accessories for film stars, or for the style conscious Mod generation.
Quotes such as “The scooters, clothes and music — an unforgettable time of my life” and “Exciting, fun and carefree days when anything seemed possible” tell the appeal of the classic scooters.
From scooters taking off, through the evolution from Italy and beyond. The Mod culture through the 1960s and the emergence of the classic scooter into the 1970s and beyond. There’s even a look around the globe with Mod revivalists in Japan to old scooters being used as transport in Africa.
Hardcover: 112 pages
ISBN-10: 1910505749
ISBN-13: 978-1910505748
Lockheed TriStar: The Most Technologically Advanced Commercial Jet of Its Time
The Lockheed L-1011 TriStar was the product of six long hard years of development, emerging in April 1972 for the first customer Eastern Airlines. The most technically advanced airliner in the world at launch the new TriStar could really fly itself.
To prove this point Lockeed took two pilots, 115 crew, some VIPs, employees and members of the press from the factory in California to Washington Dullas airport with virtually no input from the flight crew. The new Automatic Flight Control System being engaged from takeoff to landing.
However, it wasn’t all plane sailing… Engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce went bust mid development, and a major recession follwing an oil crisis reduced demand for aircraft right at the wrong time.
By 1984 250 of them had been built and Lockheed withdrew from commercial aircraft after the experience.
Rare, built in limited numbers and highly advanced for its time. A definite classic, just a little on the large side.
Hardcover: 24 cm x 24 cm, 256 pages
ISBN-10: 1526758822
ISBN-13: 978-1526758828
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