Motor Racing: The Pursuit of Victory
By Anthony Carter
This new book is not a treatise on the competitive spirit that drives all racers toward excellence on the track, but then again, perhaps it is, just not in an analytical how-it’s-done sense. Following on from his previous Motor Racing: Reflections of a Lost Era, author Carter assesses a period (1930-1962) when access to the sport’s main players was far less restrictive than in today’s media-managed paddocks, so the drivers, mechanics and designers consequently became human heroes fans could appreciate as people rather than sound bites mouthing tailored quotes.
The book’s unquestioned highlight is the excellent period photography from the personal archives of Reggie Tongue, Bob Dance and others. Yes, that Bob Dance, one of Jim Clark’s former mechanics and still a Lotus stalwart today. Dance also supplies his own chapter, “Life at Lotus,” a personal tale of happenings under Colin Chapman’s roof during the heyday of the marque.
Often dense with detail these stories have a definitely British perspective, but they’re also informative and illuminative and go far afield to look at other nations’ teams and cars. Except for Dance’s chapter, which goes through to 1970, the story ends in 1962, leaving the door open for the next book in the series, which would be good.
Available for US$59.95 at enthusiast bookstores or direct from distributor Quayside Publishing Group at www.qbookshop.com
