Ok, the rule of this thread is:
Recommend one - and only one - book on motoring that you think others might enjoy for Christmas. It need not be in print.
It's a bit like the "what do you listen to in the car" threads that come round every so often, but as I don't listen to music but do read a lot I thought it would make a change.
Here's the first. I mentioned this one here in 2003 (thank you in advance to those who check every utterance and breath by posters to see if they stay consistent and then abrasively advise they shouldn't have even got up this morning) but it still stands.
I recommend Geoffrey Owen's book "Turning back the Clock: The Life and Times of a Motor Trader". It's an easy quick read, funny in parts, and talks about motor trading as it used to be done, so has some historical interest too.
Edited by Dipstick on 03/12/2008 at 09:46
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"The British Car Industry Our Part in its Downfall" by James Ruppert, ISBN 978-0-9559529-0-6 Foresight Publications. Don't be put off by the title. This is beautifully written with considerable charm and more than a few laughs. For example, of TVR (built in Blackpool), "...the steel chassis with a plastic body on top was their preferred method of construction, utilising melted-down plastic buckets and spades from the sea front and girders pinched from the tower." Throw away your rose tinted glasses, read it in conjunction with Geoff Owen's 'Winding Back the Clock' and you will be left in no doubt as to why Britain lost its motor industry and why the country is now in such a dire state.
HJ
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...... Britain lost its motor industry and why the country is now in such a dire state.
In my opinion it's largely because Britons lost their sense of patriotism and stopped trying to "Buy British".
(This is why L'escargot needs to read the two books. Ruppert's is partly about how his father tried to continue buying British. HJ
Edited by Honestjohn on 03/12/2008 at 12:06
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L'Esc, given the absolute horror stories of Brit made cars, are you surprised people put common sense ahead of patriotism?
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I would strongly recommend the book "Gilles Villeneuve - The life of a legend" by Gerald Donaldson. I was a bit too young to remember GV when he raced and this book really moved me, very well written.
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To get back to the original post -
A Passion for Cars by Anthony Gibbs published in 1964
An excellent and amusing reminiscence of the motoring experiences of Mr Gibbs from the 1920's to the 1960's. Lots of photos and a great read. His other books, 'Gibbs and the Phoney War' about his experiences as a War Correspondent and his autobiography 'In My Time' are also well worth a read.
A very interesting man who had some wonderful experiences.
I found copies available on Amazon and Ebay.
Edited by nick on 03/12/2008 at 10:53
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can i suggest the highway code translated in to latvian and other east european languages to stop the carnage they are causing on our roads
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Given that I spend an inexplicable proportion of my life on this site, it's odd to say that finding a motoring book under the tree would be on a par with finding a novelty Christmas tie.
So forgive the thread creep when I suggest that BR folk might enjoy the travel writing of Norman Lewis. He is the antithesis of those chortling "aren't foreign places a bit funny" type of travel writer (Bill Bryson etc) and his book Naples '44 remains one of the best books written about WWII. Graham Greene reckoned he was one of the best writers of the 20C, which is a pretty good recommendation.
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Stirling Mosses book of motoring tales - editted by the man himself, and gives some brilliant reminisces of racing from all aspects.
Includes Jenks' brilliant Mille Miglia aricle, as well as some good stuff on Stewart, fangio etc etc etc.
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Into The Red by Nick Mason & Mark Hales (Virgin): Track tests of some of Mason's beautiful collection including BRM V16, ferrari GTO , and Bugatti Type 35 complete with a cd of engine sounds. A must for the true petrol head.
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I for one, will be tucked up in a cottage in Wales over the Christmas Hols. Some of you may have some leisure time, an opportunity perhaps to do some decent page turning.
My choice for the season will be:-
1. Old Man on a Bike - Simon Gandolfi. A seventy year old riding a Honda 125cc through Mexico.
Any other ideas. For some reason I thought it would would appeal to Lud for his Antipodean trip.
Moved into an existing thread -Self moderation - What next ?
Edited by Pugugly on 10/12/2008 at 20:26
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About once every ten years or so I re-read "Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance" by Robert Pirsig. A delightfully period piece but thought provoking nonetheless.
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About once every ten years or so I re-read "Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance" by Robert Pirsig. A delightfully period piece but thought provoking nonetheless.
HB - what am I missing ? I've tried to read this several times, and never got past the first few chapters. Is there something wrong with me ?
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I can quite understand that it wouldn't be for everybody. Not actually over keen on his writing style myself. It's more the weirdness of it I quite enjoy. Just a bit different from most other stuff. I quite like things which are at odds with my own experiences and values. Counterpoint and attitudinal juxtaposition sometimes help me to straighten out my own thoughts. But fair enough, not everyone's cuppa...
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'Chrysler and General Motors - my part in their downfall' by E. Toyota
Admittedly not yet in print - or even written, but should make a good read.
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Not a read - but a very good DVD recommended on here. It was amongst a handful I took with me abroad recently but it didn't like my Laptop - consequently watched it tonight.
America Unchained - very good Christmas viewing.
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Still missing HJ,s yearly car by car breakdown.
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Forgotten the author's name (a Dutchman), but I've just read a paperback called "My Mercedes is NOT for sale". Lightweight but insightful story of driving an old Merc 190D from Holland down the West coast of Africa and then selling it to the locals. used to be big business. Some interesting characters and a bit of a history lesson too.
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following a particular long running thread on this site i was gonna write a screenplay for a film called 'Dude, where's my mitsuibushi colt CZC' :-)
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