- The ultimate insider’s guide to Los Angeles; features interesting and unusual places not found in traditional travel guides
- Part of the international 111 Places/Shops series with over 650 titles and 3.8 million copies in print worldwide
- Appeals to both the local market (nearly 10 million call Los Angeles home) and the tourist market (over 42 million people visit Los Angeles every year)
- Fully illustrated with 111 full-page color photographs
- A revised and updated edition
“In Los Angeles, everyone is a star.” – Denzel Washington
For more than a century, seekers of sun and celebrity from around the world have flocked to this sprawling metropolis on the Pacific, which Dorothy Parker once described as “72 suburbs in search of a city.” But beyond the red-carpet reputation and Tinseltown trappings is a west coast wonderland teeming with unexpected cultural experiences, iconic architecture, gorgeous open spaces, quirky museums, hidden vistas, unconventional art, and obscure stories about the starlets, moguls, personalities, and players who have made Los Angeles their playground. This unusual guidebook explores 111 of the city’s most interesting and unknown places and experiences: wander a serpentine path in a spiritual quest of your own making; channel your inner cowboy at a tried and true honky tonk bar; pay homage to the Dude at the bungalow where the big Lebowski lived; turn your car tires into musical instruments on the country’s only ‘musical’ road; sleep with the ghosts of Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin; view a constellation of stars more vivid than anything Hollywood has to offer. From the San Gabriel Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, Angelenos and visitors will fall in love with the real Los Angeles. Adventures beckon. Surprises await. Just imagine how much more scintillating your dinner-party storytelling will be
This book on a theme never before addressed is a tribute to the Sleator family, Franco-British family, as well as to all employees, partners, friends and customers of the Franco-Britannic Autos Ltd who, during these 10 years of the import, have promoted the extraordinary image of Ferrari in France…
Certainly the most beautiful Ferrari period in France !
The Franco-Britannic Autos Ltd, thanks to Walter and his son Donald Sleator, imported the most beautiful cars in the world on French soil from 1933 to 1989 for their most demanding customers.
Exclusive importer since 1933 in Paris of the two prestigious British brands Rolls-Royce and Bentley, then importer Rover (and Land Rover), Franco-Britannic Autos Ltd from the autumn of 1958 becomes the first exclusive Ferrari importer in France.
The Franco-Britannic Autos Ltd has experienced this new generation of buyers, the “Nouvelle Vague” as sung in one of his songs a certain Richard Anthony, young film actors, writers, and other artists, businessmen, industrialists … all needed and wanted to stand out by associating their image with that of exceptional automobiles and more particularly Ferrari.
Celebrities such as Jean-Paul Belmondo, Yves Montand, Lino Ventura, Françoise Sagan, Roger Vadim, Mylène Demongeot, Johnny Hallyday, Alain Delon, Claude Francois and many other stars were at one time clients of the Franco-Britannic Autos Ltd. The art of owning a road Ferrari, a very dynamic image, is considered a symbol of professional and social success.
The first Ferrari commercials in France by the FBA Ltd, our French stars of the “Yé-Yé” era, all the Paris Motor Shows, All Ferraris destined for the Marshall during the 24 Hours of Le Mans, piloted by Donald Sleator, then an official pilot until 1967.
There will also be a great tribute to Pierre Noblet with unpublished documents, Sylvain Garant…
Preface and anecdotes of Donald Sleator.
This charming book, packed with unique artwork and engaging photographs, celebrates scooter mania.
In a feast of nostalgia, it takes us through the evolution of the scooter, focusing naturally on all things Lambretta and Vespa, but also covering plenty of obscure and eccentric machinery along the way. Scooter enthusiasm in all its forms receives generous attention, whether as fashion accessory for fifties movie stars, style-conscious transport choice for the Mod generation, or object of worship for today’s retro-loving adherents.
- Scooters take off: rising from the rubble of post-war Italy, Piaggio emerged first with its Vespa (meaning ‘wasp’), soon followed by Innocenti and its Lambretta (named after a Milan suburb).
- Evolution: numerous Lambretta and Vespa models over the years are illustrated and explained, accompanied by a look at the myriad accessories available for them.
- Not just in Italy: a survey of classic-era scooters from Britain (such as Brockhouse Corgi, Sun Wasp and Triumph Tigress), Germany (such as Glas Goggo, Zündapp Bella and Heinkel Tourist), Japan (such as Fuji Rabbit, Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon and Honda Juno) and elsewhere.
- Mod culture: emerging in the sixties and entwined with music and fashion, it made a unique contribution to scooter fandom that has since embraced the globe.
- Scooters as classics: the resurgence of interest since the late seventies and all that has come with it, from restoration and racing to customising and clubs.
- Scooter tales worldwide: Cesare Bataglini’s round-the-world Lambretta odyssey; Mod revivalists in Tokyo; elderly scooters soldiering on in Africa; Indonesia’s Rebel Riders and their crazy Vespa-derived creations; scaling Ben Nevis on a Lambretta; and much more.
Quotes in the book such as “The scooters, clothes and music — an unforgettable time of my life” and “Exciting, fun and carefree days when anything seemed possible” sum up the enduring appeal of classic scooters. Anyone afflicted with the obsession will adore this book.
Touring Car Racing, a feast of nostalgia, celebrates the 60-year heritage of the British Touring Car Championship. From the era of Mini Coopers and Lotus Cortinas to the Vauxhall Astras and Honda Civics of recent years, all the highlights of Britain’s ever-spectacular touring car scene are captured in a year-by-year visual extravaganza with over 600 photos and expert commentary. Compiled by long-time touring car journalist Matt James, the book has a chapter for each year featuring a summary of the season, 10 photos showing all the top cars and drivers in action, key statistics and a profile of the champion driver. Anyone who has ever enjoyed touring car racing as a participant, spectator or television viewer will treasure this book.
- The 1950s. The British Saloon Car Championship was inaugurated in 1958 and from the start it was super-competitive, ending in a tie that was resolved by a shoot-out in favour of Jack Sears.
- The 1960s. There were three Mini champions but mainly this was a Ford era, epitomised by Lotus Cortinas (with Jim Clark ever spectacular) and big Falcons, Galaxies and Mustangs from America.
- The 1970s. Smaller classes came to the fore in this decade, with three drivers sharing seven titles — Bill McGovern took three in Sunbeam Imps while two apiece went to Bernard Unett (Chrysler Avenger GT) and Richard Longman (Mini 1275GT).
- The 1980s. Three drivers also bestrode this decade but in a wider range of cars, including Mazda RX-7, Alfa Romeo GTV, Rover Vitesse and Ford Sierra XR4i; Win Percy and Andy Rouse each took three titles, Chris Hodgetts two.
- The 1990s. Overseas drivers arrived in force to mix it with home-grown stars during the highly competitive Super Touring years, the decade’s champions including Joachim Winkelhock (BMW
- 318is), Frank Biela (Audi A4 quattro), Alain Menu (Renault Laguna), Rickard Rydell (Volvo S40) and Laurent Aïello (Nissan Primera).
- The 2000s. Vauxhalls were the star cars, taking six titles, while the decade brought three double champions in the form of James Thompson (Vauxhall Astra), Matt Neal (Honda Integra) and Fabrizio Giovanardi (Vauxhall Vectra VXR).
- The 2010s. Yet more variety and brilliant racing has characterised the current decade, with Gordon Shedden becoming the winningest driver with three titles in Honda Civics.
Formula One is speed, glamour, danger – and eye-watering wealth. Driven: The Men Who Made Formula One tells how a small group of extraordinary men transformed Formula One from a niche sport played out on primitive tracks surrounded by hay bales and grass verges into a £1 billion circus performing in vast theatres of entertainment all over the world.
Led by Bernie Ecclestone, the billionaire ringmaster, this clique started by scraping a living to go racing and ended up creating space-age cars, turning drivers from amateur gladiators into multimillion-pound superstars, like Ayrton Senna and Lewis Hamilton, while the names of Ferrari, McLaren and Williams are now as familiar around the world as Manchester United or Real Madrid.
For 20 years, Kevin Eason watched how these men operated like a sporting Mafia, protecting each other while squabbling over the vast wealth pouring into the sport. As motor racing correspondent for The Times and then with The Sunday Times, Eason was privileged to have a ringside seat as this cabal of wealthy characters ruled and then were pushed out of the sport they created.
This colourful and compelling account of the extraordinary flourishing of Formula One explores the quirks and extravagances of the men who converged – in one generation – to shape their sport; disparate characters with a common impulse: they were racers – and they were driven.
Are phantoms “alive” and walking the streets of Tinseltown and beyond?
Hollywood. Film capital of the world. Haunted Hollywood brings together twenty-five stories that capture both the spirit—and the spirits—of Tinseltown. These tales concern historic landmarks, theaters, watering holes, hotels, and houses that are haunted by movie stars, television personalities, and other celebrities. You will be shivering in your seat as you read about all these and more:
• Film siren Jean Harlow died at only twenty-six, but many believe she’s still “living” in her old home outside Beverly Hills.
• Elke Sommer, the German-born actress and artist, is convinced a ghost saved her life by waking her after her house caught fire. Who’s to say?
• John Wayne has ridden off into the Final Sunset, but he apparently misses his private yacht. He’s been known to come aboard from time to time. . .
There is something unique about Southern California’s San Fernando Valley.
Whether it’s the Valley Girl cliché, the host of movie and television stars and studios that call “The Valley” home, or a whole sun-kissed lifestyle, there is no doubt that nearly everyone is fascinated by this area of nearly two million people.
North of Mulholland: Essays from the San Fernando Valley Business Journal looks at life in this unique part of the world in a series of essays that take on everything from strip malls to Countrywide Home Loans; from the Los Angeles Times to technology; and from Los Angeles’ City Council to living up the street from Michael Jackson’s family compound. Written in an Andy Rooney-type conversational style, North of Mulholland captures the lifestyle and the foibles of the contemporary Valley as seen through the eye of a long-time resident businessperson and community leader.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Dennis P. Zine said of the book: “North of Mulholland is clearly written by someone who truly understands the San Fernando Valley. This collection of essays by my friend and civic leader Marty Cooper is entertaining, informative, and insightful.”
WHERE THEY RACED: Speed Demons in the City of Angels tells the story of a pre-gridlocked Los Angeles… a time ripe with orange groves, movie stars, year-round sunshine and more auto racing and innovation than anywhere else in the world. This documentary film is told with hundreds of vintage photos, lost archival films and revealing interviews that reunite the ghost tracks of Los Angeles with the cars that raced on them to give these fading memories a victory lap.
