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Post by mikael on Jan 7, 2019 8:36:34 GMT
I think that the book cover photos of the reissues of Robert Daley's two books, "Cars at Speed" (2007, orig. 1961) and "The Cruel Sport" (2005, orig. 1963) are truly beautiful. The photo on the "Cars at Speed"-cover (below) shows the section of Spa between La Source and Raidillon/Eau Rouge. In the original layout, the Start/Finish was here, where the cars are in the photo, after La Source - not before as now. One can sense the large gradients of this beautiful circuit. (I would love to go there sometime; and I envy René for his relatively easy access thereto ...) (P.S. Just got this book - finally; looking much forward to reading it.)  The cover photo of "The Cruel Sport" (below) is also beautiful. It gives a good feeling of the speed; and when one has looked at this photo for some time, one can almost hear the sounds and sense the smells ... This is Spa again, at almost the same place as shown in the first photo - just after the start, at the old Start/Finish section, as seen from the bottom-position in the first photo. (P.S. I've had this book since the reissue appeared in 2005.)  |
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Post by chrisb on Jan 7, 2019 18:02:50 GMT
Mikael the top photo really gives you the sense of just how challenging the start of the lap was, and when you consider the drivers never really spoke of the first bit of 'Old Spa' being that challenging it really does put into perspective the rest of the old circuit and just how scary it was.
I haven't read either of these books but if the photos are anything to go by - then they are something special, which is a thought....
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Post by chrisb on Jan 7, 2019 18:04:35 GMT
the thought being, what books are you looking forward to in 2019? and I suspect the above two may well join the groaning collection, many thanks Mikael they really do look like great books to join the collection
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Post by Carl on Jan 7, 2019 21:56:39 GMT
Mikael,
Those books sound wonderful and both covers are awesome depictions of speed. The first photograph made me wince at the lack of crowd protection at Eau Rouge and Raidillon, a very fast sequence even nearly 50 years ago! Those hay bales would have barely slowed any errant missile...
Spa-Francorchamp would be a wonderful place to visit, both for racing and military history. The current battle of the bulge may be within Mercedes concerning Hamilton's ego.
Cheers, Carl
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Post by mikael on Jan 10, 2019 14:53:28 GMT
the thought being, what books are you looking forward to in 2019? and I suspect the above two may well join the groaning collection, many thanks Mikael they really do look like great books to join the collection Chris,
"The Cruel Sport" is a mainly a photo collection in coffee-table book format, with a limited amount of text. (There are some anecdotes, but not many.) The photos are all truly outstanding.
"Cars at Speed" is a "normal sized" book, containing a collection of anecdotes, i.e., the chapters are completely independent of each other. It contains a number of pencil sketches, but there are no photographs at all (except for the shown (excellent) photo on the dust cover).
Cheers, Mikael
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Post by chrisb on Jan 11, 2019 14:22:20 GMT
thanks Mikael, I did wonder about the Cruel Sport as there is a documentary entitled that and it shows all the tragic accidents from the 1950's, and it is sad as it reminds us of just how many needlessly perished but the book sounds interesting
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Post by charleselan on Jan 14, 2019 20:54:11 GMT
The cover photograph of book number one is stunning and really illustrates that amazing part of the Spa circuit. However no photo or TV image really captures the gradient of both sides of that valley; if you walk it on a warm day you will know  . The picture itself was probably taken on the beginning of lap two of the 1962 Belgian GP. Leading is Trev Taylor still in the space frame Lotus 24 followed by Jim in the new monocoque Lotus 25 with an inspired Willy Mairesse in the already outdated Ferrari 156 "Shark Nose". Behind then comes Graham Hill in the BRM and Bruce McLaren in his Cooper. The first three pulling away at a rapid rate of knots with Trev full of confidence and driving beautifully. Willy was labelled "Wild" by many as he did press on a bit, but you have to be more than wild to win the Targa Florio as he did in later years. Jim finally took the lead, but Trev and Willy had an almighty battle until Trevor 's Lotus jumped out of gear and he spun, with poor Willy collecting him, resulting in both having huge accidents. I believe that Trevor actually went through a small barn or marshals post,; Willy's Ferrari caught fire, but fortunately both escaped serious injury. This was the first of several accidents that Trev Taylor was involved in and none were of his doing, the resulting loss of confidence basically ruined what could have been an outstanding career. He did however regain some excellent form in the late 1960's driving a works F5000 Surtees, but luck was never kind to him. Willy Mairesse likewise had some big accidents and one at Le Mans saw him get very badly burned; he could not live without racing after that and tragically took his own life. This race was the scene of Jim Clark's first GP victory on a circuit he despised, and not the last as he dominated on this challenging venue. It was also here that he dispensed with the peak/visor on his Everoak helmet as he found the reclined driving position of the Lotus 25 allowed the wind to get under the peak which forced his head back. Wonderful memories, thanks Mikael. |
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Post by chrisb on Jan 14, 2019 22:01:02 GMT
I seem to recollect stories of drivers putting stones as some sort of brake system on the starting grid, which must have been hell for anyone towards the rear of the grid with all those flying rocks, but must have been so exhilarating going down the hill with all and sundry around you,
JC, I had always thought Trev and Willie had collided when fighting for the corner and Trev had then hit a telegraph pole, which caused the fire, but I could be wrong, there is a wonderful photo of Trev holding up a pit signal saying he was ok to Jimmy such was the camaraderie in the team after the trials and tribulations of 1961, there is a great interview with Trevor in MotorSport some years ago and he comes across as a really good bloke who revered Jimmy, I wonder how that went down with his 1964 team-mate Innes,
Jimmy was terribly affected by his first ever visit to Spa in 1958 when Masten and Archie blasted by him in the rain and then later on Archie had his fatal accident, Jimmy being at the hospital after the race and despite talking normally to Archie was told Archie would soon die and then when he returned in 1960 with his teammates including Alan Stacey and nearly having an accident with the blood splattered body of Chris Bristow [looking like a rag doll according to Jimmy's auto-biogaphy] it was no wonder he despised the place, but my word what does it say of a driver or human being come to that who is so honest in their dislike of a racing circuit he still conquered it 4 times -
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Post by mikael on Jan 15, 2019 4:39:28 GMT
... Archie ... ... Alan Stacey ... The achievements of Archie Scott Brown and Alan Stacey were most impressive indeed. Imagine to reach the highest level in motor sport - and to be highly competitive at that level - in spite of having no right hand, as in Archie's case, or in spite of having no right foot, as in Stacey's case; that is iron will and determination! |
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. The picture itself was probably taken on the beginning of lap two of the 1962 Belgian GP. Leading is Trev Taylor still in the space frame Lotus 24 followed by Jim in the new monocoque Lotus 25 with an inspired Willy Mairesse in the already outdated Ferrari 156 "Shark Nose". Behind then comes Graham Hill in the BRM and Bruce McLaren in his Cooper.