My Greatest Defeat: Stories of hardship and hope from motor racing’s finest heroes

My Greatest Defeat: Stories of hardship and hope from motor racing’s finest heroes

My Greatest Defeat is a collection of honest and revealing insights into 20 of the greatest living racing drivers, legends of the worlds of Formula 1, Indycar, NASCAR, Le Mans and Rally. Interviews conducted specially for this book are with (in alphabetical order) Mario Andretti, Derek Bell, Emerson Fittipaldi, Dario Franchitti, Jeff Gordon, Mika Häkkinen, Damon Hill, Jimmie Johnson, Tom Kristensen, Niki Lauda, Sebastien Loeb, Felipe Massa, Rick Mears, Emanuele Pirro, Alain Prost, Carlos Sainz, Jackie Stewart, Bobby Unser, Ari Vatanen and Alex Zanardi. Here are five highlights…

  • Dario Franchitti — The Indycar champion talks of the deaths of the friends that book-ended his career in racing, the heartbreak that each caused and the aftermath of accidents that affected the physical functioning of his brain.
  • Jeff Gordon — One of the all-time NASCAR greats, he looks back on his many championships, admitting that today he cannot view a single one with anything but regret as family relationships were soured and stretched to breaking point.
  • Jimmie Johnson — One of the greatest stock car drivers in history, Johnson was at one time considered a reckless outcast. He reflects on the little-known crash that almost killed him and changed his mindset forever.
  • Niki Lauda — A racer who needs no introduction, Niki Lauda discusses the loss of one of his aircraft over Thailand in which all on board were killed; for eight months he fought to clear the name of his pilots and change aircraft safety forever.
  • Alex Zanardi — In a deep and revealing conversation, the Paralympic gold medalist, who lost both legs in an Indycar accident, discusses how we decipher between our passion and our ambition and how childhood dreams affect our adult decisions.

Striking portrait artworks come from a revered artist in modern comic book design, Giuseppe ‘Cammo’ Camuncoli, who is renowned for the dark, brooding style that has seen him become a staple in the Vertigo, DC and Marvel stables.

When Honda Went Dirt Track Racing

When Honda Went Dirt Track Racing

Get the complete history of Honda’s involvement in dirt track racing, during the ‘80s and ‘90s. The premium hardcover book with dust jacket cover will be limited to 1,000 printed copies. Includes over 500 pages of compelling interviews and first-hand accounts of when Honda entered dirt track racing, leading to their development of the legendary Honda RS750D dirt tracker and fueling the Honda versus Harley rivalry, an iconic chapter in dirt track racing history. The story is told largely in the form of 60 plus interviews with some (unfortunately not all) of the participants, A large selection of photographs accompanies the narrative along with copies of period journalism.

“We’re excited to release this exclusive new book! It’s been years in the making, and a lot of research with many of the racers and individuals who were around during the era. You will not find a more complete story of Honda’s history in Dirt Track Racing. Thanks to all my colleagues and contributors who helped tell this story,” said Chris Carter, owner of Motion Pro, Inc.

Gerald Foster added, “I would like to thank everyone involved with this book, from the bottom of my heart. I’m truly grateful for the personal time and effort each contributor made. This has been a herculean task over a number of years and I hope you and motorcycle fans all around the globe will enjoy it.”

The Irish International Grand Prix 1929-31

The Irish International Grand Prix 1929-31

The Irish International Grand Prix 1929-1931, is a truly remarkable exploration of the earliest efforts by the newly-founded Irish Free State to gain recognition as a progressive independent modern country by its international peers.
 
Bob Montgomery, is the Curator of the Royal Irish Automobile Club (RIAC) Archive, said: “If I think about it, I have been researching and preparing to write this book for a period of some 20 years. I began to note the stories from people who were there and to gather photographs from the event during that time. Some of the stories and many images that can be found in this book have not been seen or heard about since the races took place in the late 1920s and early 1930s.

The book will, I hope do justice to the history of the Phoenix Park and how it’s very existence was so important to the emergence of motorsport in the early part of the last century, which culminated in the three Grand Prix.  It’s a book designed to appeal to anyone with an interest in Irish history and not just the motorsport enthusiasts.

Dornier Do 335 (X-Planes 9)

Dornier Do 335 (X-Planes 9)

The Dornier Do 335 was conceived as a high-speed, all-weather fighter, and represented the pinnacle of piston-engined aircraft design. The Do 335 was a big aircraft, weighing just over 10,000kg when laden with fuel, equipment, and pilot, yet powered by two Daimler-Benz DB 603 engines, it was capable of reaching a maximum speed of 750km/h at 6400 meters, making it the fastest piston engine aircraft produced in Germany during World War II.

Some forty aircraft were built between late 1943 and the end of the war, and it was intended to deploy the type as a day fighter, bomber, night fighter, bad weather interceptor, and reconnaissance aircraft, all of which were intended to incorporate the latest armament, bomb sights, communications, and radar equipment, as well as an ejector seat. Featuring archive photography and specially commissioned artwork, this is the full story of the aircraft that the Luftwaffe hoped would turn the tide of the war.

Motocross the Golden Era

Motocross the Golden Era

Dive deep into the most exhilarating sport on the planet with the biggest motocross book ever published. Read 480 pages about the bikes, the champions and the technology that made this sport great. See over 600 big images that bring the sport to life. Hear the inside stories that bring the Golden Era alive.

MotocrossThe Golden Era is s step back in time, a heartfelt tribute to a magical period when talented and outspoken riders raced the most exciting factory machines ever built. It is my personal thank you to an amazing group of people that welcomed me into their traveling circus for the first six years of the 80’s. For a young kid from England it was a dream come true. I was meeting heroes like Hannah, Howerton, LaPorte and Sun. Every weekend we’d get on airplanes and travel to stadiums and rough outdoor tracks across the country.

It was a traveling circus like no other. Mike Goodwin, a successful rock concert promoter, was the circus promoter and Larry Huffman was the ring leader. Riders like Hannah and Johnson were always ready to play the part of clown and Bailey and Glover were always the magicians. Money poured in from big tobacco sponsors and bike sales boomed. Motorcycle factories wanted a big slice of that growing pie and spent millions to ensure they won.

Exotic hand-built factory bikes went to a growing group of top riders. Howerton and Barnett on Suzukis, Hannah and Bell on Yamahas, Ward and Liles on Kawasaki and Sun and Bailey on Honda. The ultimate factory team was finally assembled in 1985 when O’Mara, Bailey, Hannah and Lechein came together at Honda. It was a magical moment that will never be repeated. The team roared to victory everywhere they went and the AMA decided that things had to change. The cost of success was getting out of hand and the factory-bike era came to an end. For 1986 exotic one-off factory bikes were banned and a production-based rule was introduced.

A magical era was over but for those who witnessed that glorious time it will never be forgotten. It was a Golden Era and I hope this book helps you relive those amazing memories.

Morgan the March of Progress

Morgan the March of Progress

THE DEFINITIVE HISTORY OF MORGAN FROM 1909 TO PRESENT DAY

This fantastic 288-page hardback with well over 400 photos ranging from 1909 to present day, including many from the MSCC and Morgan Motor Company archives which have not been published before. As well as being good to look at, we hope you’ll find it a great read too!

A Quiet Greatness, Japan’s Most Astonishing Automobiles for the Collector and Enthusiast

A Quiet Greatness, Japan’s Most Astonishing Automobiles for the Collector and Enthusiast

A Quiet Greatness, Japan’s Most Astonishing Automobiles for the Collector and Enthusiast, is the most in-depth, authoritative guide to collectible Japanese cars ever created. This four-volume set (plus supplement and index) includes sports cars, touring cars, and Japanese cars in motorsports. Beautifully designed and written for car collectors and enthusiasts alike, A Quiet Greatness is resplendent with stunning photography, and rich with technical details, original charts, and diagrams.

Six years in the making, A Quiet Greatness was created by Mark R. Brinker and Myron T. Vernis, and designed by Richard M. Baron, former Art and Design Director of Road & Track magazine for 32 years.

Produced by a high-quality printer of art books, A Quiet Greatness was created as an encyclopedic showpiece to be kept and enjoyed for years. The set weighs 35 lbs. and arrives in a slipcase with spot varnish and custom-cropped top corners to always keep the book-set beautifully organized and easy to access.

Each book has a thick, laminated hard cover, designed for durability and years of enjoyment. One of the first artistic details you’ll see is the edge of every page is painted with a pop of bright red – reminiscent of a Japanese Hanko. Printed on 100 lb. art paper, the full-color pages also have the added touch of a spot-gloss varnish over each image to enhance the aesthetic. All information on the cars is organized alphabetically and chronologically by marque.

Inside, you’ll find cars you know and love, but there are also many that will be a delight to discover. Both Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) cars and those exported to other markets are covered in great detail. And, like the authors, you may just find yourself enticed to add a car or two to your collection. Packed with historic details, the authors go deep into the stories collectors and enthusiasts crave.

FROM THE AUTHORS:The Japanese auto industry has a 60-year history of incredible success in the United States, and it is surprising that no one has created a serious and beautiful book on the subject…until now. Through A Quiet Greatness, we hope to shine a light on the most interesting and truly special cars from Japan, highlight this nation’s great automotive accomplishments, and legitimize their place in the collector car universe. Many of the greatest cars from Japan never made it to the U.S. and have been largely unknown throughout most of the world. Our aim with A Quiet Greatness was to create a reference work for those interested in discovering the vast and magical landscape of Japanese automobiles.” – Authors Mark R. Brinker and Myron T. Vernis

Out of This World: Historic Milestones in NASA’s Human Space Flight

Out of This World: Historic Milestones in NASA’s Human Space Flight

  • A stunning coffee table book of historically significant NASA photos
  • Amazing photographs complemented by quotes and stories from noted personalities at NASA
  • A chronological journey through NASA’s history, from Apollo to the James Webb Telescope
  • Awe-inspiring, inspirational and motivational, a perfect gift and a must for your library
  • Quotes from astronauts Commander James Lovell and John Glenn, as well as John F Kennedy, Ralph Waldo Emerson and many more

“The history of space exploration is best presented in this book of NASA photographs, whose images are universally inspirational.” – Commander James Lovell, Apollo 13

NASA has worked at the forefront of space exploration and research since 1958. Their devotion to furthering our understanding of what lies beyond our atmosphere has seen 12 humans walk on the surface of the moon, helped form the International Space Station, and placed numerous rovers on Mars. Voyager 1, launched by NASA on 5 September 1977, is the furthest manmade object from earth, having left our solar system entirely – and the agency’s plans for the future are equally inspiring.

This book celebrates NASA throughout the years, from its inception to its 60th anniversary in 2018, and beyond. A visual tour-de-force, the book collects high resolution NASA photos of historic significance; from rarely seen photos and the words of President John F. Kennedy commanding the space race, to the many triumphs and tragedies of the Apollo Missions, moon landings, the International Space Station, space shuttles, journeys to Mars and explorations of our galaxy’s outer reaches. These breathtaking images are complemented by heartfelt words of hopes and imagination for the future, encouraging readers to admire their world from a different perspective. NASA: the Greatest Milestones is a stunning 300 page book.

Innate Drive

Innate Drive

I chose not to post the illustrations from this book online (as many have encouraged me to do).  Instead, I wanted to produce a body of work that could be processed as an experience, studied and hopefully enjoyed.  This book is a collection of illustrations of 100 car concepts, drawn over the course of three plus years.  The project was simply motivated by a passion for the automobile and my deep desire to continually create.

Nathan Ward Young

Drivers on Drivers

Drivers on Drivers

Motorsports greats on their rivals, teammates and heroes

Published in support of cancer charity Hope for Tomorrow, Drivers on Drivers features some of the greatest names in motor racing speaking candidly about their biggest rivals as well as their heroes, teammates and friends. It is a unique concept, with those interviewed ranging from legends of the 1950s such as Tony Brooks and 1960s rally icon Paddy Hopkirk, to Derek Bell, Mika Häkkinen, and current superstars such as Sir Lewis Hamilton.

Each driver is in conversation with a leading motorsport writer or broadcaster, and the book is illustrated with stunning photography throughout.

  • Thirty-one revealing interviews, featuring motorsport legends opening up about their fellow drivers and offering unique insights into what separated the great from the good, who they looked up to and learnt from, and who to avoid on-track.
  • Interviews include Tony Brooks on Stirling Moss, Jackie Stewart on Jim Clark, Gerhard Berger on Ayrton Senna, Mark Webber on Sebastian Vettel, and many more…
  • Interviewees include eight Formula One World Champions, nine winners of the Le Mans 24 Hours, and 13 Grand Prix winners.
  • Interviews conducted by Philip Porter along with a team of leading motorsport writers and broadcasters – Mark Cole, Ben Edwards, Louise Goodman, Simon Taylor, David Tremayne, Peter Windsor and Ian Wagstaff.
  • Contains stories of tragedy and humour, triumph and disaster, as these great names give personal insights into motor racing’s deepest friendships and fiercest rivalries.
  • More than 100 superb photographs illustrating pivotal career moments, on-track battles, and candid shots of their interactions with fellow drivers.
B-36 Peacemaker: The Big Stick of Strategic Air Command

B-36 Peacemaker: The Big Stick of Strategic Air Command

Hi, this is H.J. Campbell and I want to say thanks for your interest in my book. It’s a concise history and engaging story that I believe every military aviation history lover will enjoy. In this book you’ll discover the incredible B-36 Peacemaker – SAC’s “Big Stick” – and the first true intercontinental bomber capable of carrying heavier bombloads higher and farther unrefueled than any other aircraft. Details include the design and development, complete aircraft lineage, aircraft basing, evolution of model changes, deployments, atomic testing history… and the list goes on!

Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Speak softly and carry a big stick”, which was the essence of Strategic Air Command’s big stick, the B-36 Peacemaker. The B-36 was the mainstay of United States strategic deterrence policy during the early years of the Cold War. Given its ability to carry two of the largest 21-ton Mk 17 thermonuclear weapons in the arsenal, the B-36 seemed purpose-built for the role. But it was simply in the right place at the right time. Its design started even before the United States entered World War II, long before the Cold War was imagined, and well before the advent of an air-droppable nuclear bomb.

The B-36 was a truly incredible aircraft and unlike any other in its day. It was the largest piston engine bomber ever built and, at 230 feet, still holds the record for the longest wingspan of any American combat aircraft. Because of its immense size and unprecedented wingspan, it could lift more weight to higher altitudes than any other aircraft. It was the first aircraft to carry a 10,000-pound bombload over 10,000 miles. It was the first, and only, true intercontinental bomber capable of flights of over 9,000 miles without refueling and capable of remaining aloft for over 51 hours. Given the size and range of modern-day aircraft, it is difficult to understand how farsighted its specifications were at the time. It is important to understand the context of the day to fully comprehend the enormity and significance of the challenge.

I hope you’ll get your copy now of this enduring historical reference, written by a former SAC Warrior and Air Force veteran – a welcome addition to every aviation lover’s library!

Volkswagen Type 4: 411 and 412: The Final Rear-Engined VW Cars

Volkswagen Type 4: 411 and 412: The Final Rear-Engined VW Cars

What kind of car is that? It looks like a big Beetle! If ever there was a car in search of a context and market, it was the VW Type 4. Volkswagen’s first foray into the upscale sector brought engineering innovation to Wolfsburg. It also tried to convince worldwide buyers that VW still had the right stuff. With design origins in the Porsche consultancy, the signs were hopeful. However, globally, the automarket was rapidly changing.

The VW Type 4’s portfolio ran to unitary construction and fuel injection, but had to face fancy competition from Detroit’s European subsidiaries. All the while, VW was searching for its future road, and faced challenging developments. The fuel crisis and Japanese competition in North America kept the pressure on at Wolfsburg.

Could the VW 411 and 412’s solid traditional virtues carry the day? Then and now the Type 4’s unbreakable VW quality, and flat out sustainability, appealed to air cooled devotees. The 411 and 412 brought a new dimension in comfort to VW, and its hardware design was utilized by the air cooled clan both on and off road. The Type 4 even had a sports car connection, and never lost the power to surprise.

Smoke and Mirrors – Cars, Photography and Dreams of the Open Road

Smoke and Mirrors – Cars, Photography and Dreams of the Open Road

Car photography often evokes the same recycled tropes. Predictably slick, hi-spec images on the front pages of glossy magazines, or huge blow-ups on giant billboards which have one designed aim: to sell a lifestyle. But our relationship with cars is so much more meaningful than these images might suggest. Like the camera, the car has changed the way we explore the world. With cars came road trips, and with road trips came some of the most important photographic documentaries of our time. A car is a vehicle not just for transport but for our hopes, desires and dreams. In Smoke and Mirrors, a selection of world-renowned and up-and-coming photographers come together to pay tribute to the car. From Nick Turpin’s images of ‘donut’ skid marks, Todd Hido’s painterly landscapes taken through wet windscreens and William Green’s shots of sleeping Tokyo taxi drivers, these photographs display cars at their most playful, introspective and meaningful, reminding us that there is more to them than just metal and machinery – for cars are emotionally intertwined with the lives we live.

Classiche Masters – the finest workshops for classic Maseratis

Classiche Masters – the finest workshops for classic Maseratis

Classiche Masters brings together the best classic Maserati restoration workshops. Author Marc Sonnery takes you on a tour of 12 workshops. He captures their way of working, shows their expertise. He visits Maserati Classiche in Modena and speaks with the curators of the heritage. This book is a tribute, the first-ever book  to shine the spotlight on these craftsmen who are working day and night to restore and maintain classic Maseratis. Nothing can replace the knowledge in the heads and hands of these artists.

If you are already a classic Maserati owner, we hope you enjoy this book and that it might give you fresh ideas. If you are new to the classic Maserati world, a warm welcome to you. It is not the giant hypermarket, rather more of a boutique with genuine individuals, characters who are welcoming and exciting to meet. A smaller but more rewarding universe to discover and enjoy. Printed on Italian Fedrigoni paper, with over 200 high-quality photographs, this exclusive coffee table book is a worthy addition to your book collection.

Foreword by Peter Straub, chairman of the Maserati Club Presidents’ Conferences.

The All-American Hero and Jaguar’s Racing E-types

The All-American Hero and Jaguar’s Racing E-types

Briggs Cunningham’s Le Mans dream, US road racing, and the legendary Jaguar E-type

First seen by the wider world at the 1961 Geneva Motor Show, the Jaguar E-type redefined perceptions of how a sports car could – and perhaps should – look. No less a figure than Enzo Ferrari is said to have described it as “the most beautiful car in the world”. Small wonder that demand swiftly exceeded supply after Jaguar initially laid down plans to build the car in relatively small numbers.

It was an instant hit on racing circuits too: little more than a month after the launch, Graham Hill took a roadster to victory on its debut at Oulton Park. Chassis 875027, the focus of this story, was the first E-type campaigned by American racing entrepreneur Briggs Cunningham’s famous team and its performances helped persuade Jaguar to use the E-type as the basis for a competition thoroughbred that has become one of the most coveted of all time: the Lightweight

  • The E-type evolved from a distinguished series of Jaguar sports cars that notched up a sequence of victories at Le Mans in the 1950s. The car’s development is covered in detail and illustrated with exquisite cutaways.
  • Briggs Cunningham had an interesting tale to tell away from motorsport – as did many of his racing companions. He skippered the winning yacht in the America’s Cup; his right-hand man Alfred Momo won the Targa Florio as a co-driver, aged 14, and later climbed onto the wing of an airborne biplane to repair a leaking fuel line. Their contrasting backgrounds are covered in detail.
  • Before aligning with Jaguar, Cunningham harboured hopes of putting together an all-American team capable of winning the Le Mans 24 Hours. His eponymous cars made their mark, without ever quite fulfilling his dream, and feature as part of an engaging wider story.
  • In addition to running some of motorsport’s best-known names, including Bruce McLaren, Dan Gurney and Jack Brabham, Cunningham was also associated with several unsung heroes. Here, racers such as John Fitch, Phil Walters and Walt Hansgen receive the credit they deserve.
  • The book is handsomely illustrated with period photographs from some of the world’s most respected collections, as well as a gallery of studio photographs showing the car as it is today.
Lane Motor Museum –  A Hobby Gone Wild

Lane Motor Museum – A Hobby Gone Wild

After a lot longer process than we had expected, Volume 1 of a series of books featuring cars from the Lane Motor Museum collection is FINALLY HERE! With a foreword by noted collector and all-around car guy Jay Leno, text by acclaimed automotive writer Ken Gross, and photos by award-winning photographers Peter Harholdt and Bruce Sweetman, we hope this will satisfy our visitor’s longstanding and outspoken desire for “more” about the collection.

Featuring 50 vehicles, a bit of Lane Family history, and driving impressions about some of our favorites, we have tried to offer a well-rounded selection for this first volume. Outstanding photography and detailed research pack these 144 pages with automotive goodness.

How to Restore Your Chevy Truck: 1947-1955

How to Restore Your Chevy Truck: 1947-1955

Everything you need to completely restore your 1947-1955 first series Chevy pickup to better-than-new condition is shown in complete detail!

The Advance Design era (1947-1955) was historic for Chevrolet, topping all the production numbers every year they were in production. And for good reason. The post-World War II economy demanded a tough and well-engineered solution for this growing economy. Selling more than 2.5 million units during this era, Chevrolet quickly surpassed and controlled the light-truck market with style, utility, and logical engineering.

This era has been overlooked for long enough, and Deve Krehbiel, a well-known restoration expert from DevesTechNet.com who specializes in these trucks, puts his 40 years of experience restoring nothing but Advance Design trucks into an extensive and complete single volume. With more than 500 photos and detailed instruction for every aspect of a proper restoration, this book will be the restorer’s best friend. Deve’s companion book, Chevrolet Inline 6 Engine: 1929-1962 (SA455), explains in full detail the engine aspects of your project.

The Advance Design Chevy pickup is one of the most popular and highly prized vehicles at any venue. The author’s hope is that this book will give you the confidence and the knowledge to put your old Chevy truck back on the road in style. There is just nothing more interesting and more inviting than an old Chevy truck!

Le Mans 2019 Blu-ray

Le Mans 2019 Blu-ray

Toyota’s unique brand of luck came to the fore once again at the 2019 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Although the race finished with a 1-2 for the Toyota Gazoo Racing team, the finishing order saw a dramatic change in the final hours of the action, in a way that always seems to strike Toyota on the Circuit de la Sarthe.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is always about more than which car crosses the line first. The action-packed official review distills the surprise, excitement and drama of an entire day and night’s racing into four thrilling hours of high-quality entertainment.

Follow the stories in every class as teams and drivers set out to make their mark on the history books.

The challenge of driving at the limit through the night, hour after hour at speeds approaching 200mph on the straights, negotiating notorious corners with famous names such as Mulsanne, Indianapolis, Arnage, Esses and Terte Rouge where a momentary slip of concentration is enough to end hopes: all of the drama that makes Le Mans irresistible is here.

With the incomparable Radio Le Mans team providing detailed commentary every step of the way, the Official Review is the best way to relive this thrilling race in the comfort of your favourite armchair!

Extra features include on-board laps with Sebastien Buemi, Nicolas Lapierre, Laurens Vanthoor and Neel Jani, plus a stunning slow-mo sequence from the 2019 event.

Road Trip: A Practical Manual

Road Trip: A Practical Manual

Inspiration and expert advice for planning and driving road trips around the world – including 50 suggested routes

Road Trip: A Practical Manual is aimed at inspiring readers to take a road trip, while providing practical advice to help them to do so. Whether looking at popping over to Europe for a quick circuit, hankering to drive the classic routes of North America, or even aiming to cover a clutch of African countries, there is something for everyone. Importantly, every road trip featured is possible without specialist equipment and, indeed, each and every trip could possibly be completed in a hire car – though for a select few a four-wheel drive hire vehicle would be advisable.

The author offers a wealth of advice from his experience taking road trips around the world. From hiring cars and paperwork, to what to take, driving laws, crossing borders and emergencies, the engaging text aims to give the reader confidence to fulfill his/her dreams.

The second part of the book provides a wide range of route suggestions, based on the author’s own experiences on six continents. Road Trip: A Practical Manual is a fascinating guide, which will, hopefully, inspire readers to turn their independent travel dreams into reality.