July 2017
Porsche 914 – The Racing History
By Roy Smith
Writing about a subject is relatively easy when there isare plenty of period pieces from which to glean information, but with little research material available and certainly no books on the subject, celebrated author Roy Smith has had the mammoth task of starting from the very beginning and carefully constructing the relevant jig-saw pieces of this new work published by Veloce. Ever since his first book in 2007, Alpine and Renault—The Sports Prototypes, also published by Veloce, Smith has built a reputation for producing real investigative dossiers on subjects, leaving no stone unturned. This latest title is written in that same style, producing the first detailed volume on the Porsche 914, but not in a dry way, rather in an engaging manner where the reader wants to keep turning page after page.
The story of the Porsche 914 is not unlike that of the ugly duckling becoming a swan. Few, other than die-hard Porsche fans, showed much, if any, interest in the two-seat, mid-engined offering by the Stuttgart company in 1969, particularly given the shared VW componentry and the hefty price tag. It is said not even Ferry Porsche was enamored by the car—the model given to him on his 60th birthday is now an exhibit in the Porsche Museum. However, like many things, time is a great healer and nostalgia sells—especially when the auction houses start to discover these newly minted gems, which were possibly irrationally overlooked by the motoring populace, or not given a real chance to bloom in period. This new book offers an opportunity for readers to understand thoroughly the antecedent racing history of the 914. However, if this new work sounds appealing, be quick, as this tome is limited to just 1,500 copies.
Available at: Veloce Publishing Ltd., www.veloce.co.uk. Price: £65.00 + P&P.
Reviewed by Mike Jiggle
The Art of Race Car Design
By Bob Riley with Jonathan Ingram
Bob Riley has seen his 80th birthday recede in his personal rear-view mirror while continuing to enjoy a 60-year career as a racing car designer that has taken him from Formula Vee to Indianapolis, Daytona and Le Mans. His efforts have also landed him in Victory Lanes almost everywhere, as cars he’s designed, built or worked on have won the Indy 500, Daytona 500, 24 Hours of Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, some of them several times.
As Riley says in the book’s Preface, “This is the story of what I’ve learned and how some of my cars found their way to the front and some didn’t.”
After leaving NASA’s Saturn rocket program behind to focus on racing cars, Riley began establishing the credentials and earning the respect that have carried him forward throughout his career. That and his burning desire to succeed and to win.
This book, now in its second printing, traces that progress, with Riley’s personal illuminations providing direction, and with tales of experiences enjoyed, lessons learned and victories savored, readers get a good idea of who this man Bob Riley truly is. Included also are comments from selected drivers, engineers, crew chiefs and mechanics who have worked with Riley in achieving his goals, and these further dimensionalize the man in question. All in all a good read for everyone and no doubt educational for many.
Available for US$39.95/£24.95 from enthusiast bookstores or directly from www.jingrambooks.com
Reviewed by John Zimmermann
