These Desired Things, Steve Matchett’s much anticipated fourth book, is a stimulating, philosophical offering; a tour de force in creative writing. Although, defining the book’s genre seems largely superfluous, for its immersive, lyrical text is part fiction, part memoire, part autobiography. Complete with a suitably insightful foreword by Manish Pandey (writer of SENNA – the movie) and with its chapters illustrated throughout by the visually enthralling artwork of Renée French, Matchett’s new book is both engaging and exceptionally pleasing on the eye.The chapters of the work are presented as a collection of eleven short stories: all of them varying in their individual plots, their settings and their style, yet all of them remain essential elements of the whole; for running through each is a series of subtle, uniting threads. And through Matchett’s captivating telling of these affectionate tales, the author’s (already renowned) written ‘voice’ attains a whole other level of intimacy: The reader feels truly bonded to the writer’s emotions.It is also encouraging to note, These Desired Things is no continuation of the author’s previous works: Matchett’s F1 trilogy stands complete. This latest book, therefore, represents a refreshing new mission. Indeed, by introducing to us his pair of delightful (if mysterious) fictional characters, creations so readily brought to life by the author in two of this book’s short stories – The Chestnut Tree and The Shadows Cast of Candlelight – it seems that Matchett is already laying out his plans for a future novel.Undoubtedly, the diversity of all eleven stories – and the inimitable style of the storytelling – is sure to introduce a whole new readership to Matchett’s writing. That said, the author has been most careful to include stories that will appeal to those already familiar with his earlier books – those readers with a knowledge and passion for Formula 1 motor racing. And, most likely, these same passionate readers will be moved to tears on reaching the closing lines of the book’s penultimate chapter, Breaking Bread with Ayrton Senna.Steve Matchett gives abridged readings of this truly atmospheric story during his public appearances, his after-dinner events. Now, however, for the first time in print, this most endearing homage to the fallen, three-time world champion driver, Ayrton Senna, is presented in its full, unabridged form.
Hollywood is a transitory place. Stars and studios rise and fall. Genres and careers wax and wane. Movies and movie moguls and movie makers and movie palaces are acclaimed and patronized and loved and beloved, and then forgotten. And yet…
And yet one place in Southern California, built in the 1920s by (allegedly murdered) producer Thomas Ince, acquired by Cecil B. DeMille, now occupied by Amazon.com, has been the home for hundreds of the most iconic and legendary films and television shows in the world for a remarkable and star-studded fifty years. This bizarre, magical place was the location for Tara in Gone with The Wind, the home of King Kong and Superman, of Tarzan and Batman, of the Green Hornet, of Elliot Ness, of Barney Fife, of Tarzan, of Rebecca, of Citizen Kane, of Hogan’s Heroes and Gomer Pyle, of Lassie, of A Star is Born and Star Trek, and at least twice, of Jesus Christ. For decades, every conceivable star in Hollywood, from Clark Gable to Warren Beatty, worked and loved and gave indelible performances on the site.
And yet, today, it is completely forgotten.
Pretty much anyone alive today, from college professors to longshoremen, have probably heard of Paramount and of MGM, of Warner Bros. and of Universal, and of Disney and Fox and Columbia, but the place where many of these studio’s beloved classics were minted is today as mysterious and unknowable as the sphinx.
Hollywood’s Lost Backlot: 40 Acres of Glamour and Mystery will, for the first time ever, unwind the colorful and convoluted threads that make for the tale of one of the most influential and photographed places in the world. A place which most have visited, at least on screen, and which has contributed significantly and unexpectedly to the world’s popular culture, and yet which few people today, paradoxically, have ever heard of.
The Olympic Airways story has fascinated Graham M. Simons for many years. This new book represents the culmination of decades spent researching the history of this fascinating Greek airline. It is a story of evolution, conflict, personality and politics, all set against a backdrop of world and civil wars, coups and counter-coups.During the course of his research, it became apparent to the author that many of the fine details pertaining to the company weren’t widely known, although almost everyone had heard of the towering, controversial, leading figurehead who oversaw much of the central part of the story: Aristotle Socrates Onassis. His colorful life is threaded through this history, lending it drama and multiple levels of intrigue.The airline’s story cannot be told in isolation. Olympic did not spring fully formed into being in 1957. The named company may have come into being then, but its roots were set much further back in history through a number of predecessor airlines – both national and international – who had been using the Hellenic Republic and Athina as the crossroads of the air for the Eastern Mediterranean since the dawn of aviation.This is the story of the birth and dramatic life of an airline with a chequered, controversial and complicated history. Graham M. Simons has skilfully woven all the various threads to create a powerful and important historic record.
Las Vegas, Organized Crime and the Pinnacle of Motorsport
The path of Grand Prix racing in America wound through raceways at Sebring, Riverside, Watkins Glen, Long Beach, and finally Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. At each stop, the influence of organized crime seemed no more than a handshake away. But at Caesars the vast crime syndicate appeared deeply involved in the operations of the luxury-branded resort. The Caesars Palace Grand Prix then culminated in an unholy alliance of the world capital of gambling, shadowy figures, and the international czar of Formula One.
During its four-year run of successive Formula One and CART IndyCar events, the race hosted the biggest names in motorsport–Mario Andretti, Bernie Ecclestone, Roger Penske, Chris Pook, Alan Jones, Nelson Piquet, Niki Lauda, Danny Sullivan, Bobby Rahal and Al Unser among them. The podium celebration of the inaugural Grand Prix put the convergence of alleged organized crime influences and auto racing on public display, while the years that followed provided their own curiosities. This book traces the intertwined threads through decades of accounts, extensive interviews, and the files of the FBI.
200,000 kilometres in 3,000 days across five continents. Or in other words, just 66 kilometres a day on average – which is quite enough for a 30-year-old Land Rover.
Amidst the Scottish Highlands, battered by the elements, stands a neglected Land Rover. It does not seem to be the ideal vehicle for a trip around the world, but Christopher Many believes otherwise. He has the dream of embarking on a tour de force to the frozen wastelands of Siberia, North and South America, and across the continent of Africa – equipped with little more than a passport, credit card and full tank of petrol. His goal? “To explore strange new worlds and boldly go where no Land Rover has gone before.”
Intelligently and with perseverance, Christopher scours the globe from Mongolia to Somaliland to find out what makes the earth “tick”. Soon enough the adventure turns into a sprawling n-dimensional tapestry of philosophical conundrums, rollercoaster emotions and first-hand observations in 100 countries. When he pulls on a few loose threads, a Pandora’s box of information is released, often at odds with conventional Western views. Christopher returns eight years later – exhausted, snake-bitten and malaria-infected – but with a few prized cogwheels in his knapsack, a greater understanding of the world we live in, and … with the love of his life.
Equal parts sophisticated lexicon on global affairs and darkly witty travel chronicle, his book presents a vivid picture of the adventures, agonies and joys of world travel, and asks some very “uncomfortable” questions … truly going “where few have gone before”.
Take a ride in Matilda’s passenger seat next to this vagabonding philosopher, provided you are not in a rush …
In 1948 Watkins Glen staged the first official American race for sports cars since the Vanderbilt Cup races of the early years of the century. This book is about the transformation of post-World War II racing in America and how road racing became a leading sport in the US, beginning at Watkins Glen and followed by Sebring, Daytona, Laguna Seca and other circuits.
These historic first five years are fundamental to road racing in America when the race was staged through the village streets and neighboring countryside until a permanent track was built in 1953. The races introduced famous international marques such as Ferrari, Jaguar, Porsche, Allard, Healey and Cunningham and encouraged a pantheon of great drivers to develop, among them, Briggs Cunningham, John Fitch, Phil Walters, Phil Hill, Jim Kimberly and Walt Hansgen. Later, from 1961 to 1980, Watkins Glen was the site of the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix.
Cameron Argetsinger, a lawyer and leader in upstate New York, was the man with the dream and the story of how he made it all happen against enormous odds is told in detail. It includes anecdotes and interviews contributed by many of the early participants, and has exclusive color photographs taken during years when color photography was practically unknown.
In 2011, Watkins Glen celebrates the 50th anniversary of its first Formula 1 Grand Prix. Had the early Sports Car Grand Prix of 1948-52 not taken place and quickly become a huge popular success, Watkins Glen would long ago have disappeared in the annals of history. Instead, it remains to this day a challenging race track, with two nationally televised events each year, and it is the home of the world’s first Motor Racing Research Library.
Over 300 photographs provide vivid and fascinating illustrations of the men and machines who threaded together every part of this extraordinary story. Full race results and statistics for all entrants in the 13 races run between 1948 and 1952 are also provided in detail. A final chapter shows how many of the race cars from the early years are now highly valued and are prize-winners at concours events.
Love being in your home workshop? You’ll love this book then.
Inside you’ll find a detailed, step-by-step description of building a large home workshop – from levelling the ground and constructing the building to placing the machine tools in the finished workshop… and everything in between.
Lighting, storage, layout and power – it’s all covered in a practical, down-to-earth style.
Have space for only a more modest workshop? That’s included as well.
Building workbenches that are solid, cheap and long-lasting – that’s in this book too.
There’s also a multitude of material on tools and techniques – from using hand files to multimeters, from wiring electrical relays to using taps and dies to make threads, from welding techniques to sharpening drill bits.
Always wondered about using jigs, guides and templates? Or what you should look for when selecting a sheet metal folder? It’s all in here.
