1994: The Untold Story of a Tragic and Controversial F1 Season

1994: The Untold Story of a Tragic and Controversial F1 Season

1994 was a watershed year for F1 in so many ways, the fatal accidents of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna shook the sport to its core. What followed was mayhem. For the first time all the arguments are painstakingly examined in one book. Fresh insights, exclusive interviews, and a plethora of evidence is brought together in a story that is guaranteed to amaze and shock.
This book is a thorough examination of a turbulent season, including…
′ Rushed car changes
′ Teams unhappy with how the crisis was managed
′ A power struggle for control of the sport
′ Vague rules being exploited
′ Accusations of politically motivated penalties
′ An alleged cover-up after a horrific pit-lane fire
′ A controversial conclusion
It also saw Michael Schumacher and Benetton first emerge as championship contenders, upsetting the establishment. Many believed their sudden rise was down to cheating, whilst others felt they were scapegoated because of politics. For the first time all the arguments are painstakingly examined in one book. Fresh insights, exclusive interviews, and a plethora of evidence is brought together to give the clearest analysis yet into the above events. The book contains over 250 photos which help bring this story to life, many of which are rare and from those involved.
There are exclusive contributions from former F1 driver Mark Blundell, Benetton insiders: Willem Toet, Frank Dernie, Simon Morley (the “junior employee” blamed for the Hockenheim fire). Williams’ insiders Paul West and Richard Wise. You will be astonished at what is unearthed. 1994 was tragic, chaotic, political, technical and involved some very colorful characters at the heart of the action. It’s a story that will amaze.
′ Did Senna hear illegal traction control on Schumacher’s Benetton at Aida?
′ Concealed launch control was later found on Schumacher’s Benetton. Why?
′ Was the Hockenheim fire caused by Benetton removing their fuel filter?
′ Despite pleading guilty, why did Benetton receive no serious punishments after the fire?
′ Schumacher was banned / disqualified from a quarter of 1994 races due to various infringements. Politics or cheating?
′ Did a return to simpler cars contribute to the accidents?
The book seeks to answer these and many more questions.

1950s Motorsport in Colour

1950s Motorsport in Colour

It was unusual for sporting events in the ’50s to be photographed in colour, so this archive is a real treasure, capturing the excitement and atmosphere from a golden age of British motorsport. Despite being unpublished at the time they were taken, these original photographs were unearthed 50 years later, sensitively restored, and then published for the first time in this book. Images of Goodwood, Aintree and Brands Hatch feature classic 1950s racing cars such as Triumphs, Jaguars, Mercedes and Porsches. See close ups of the action and many of the well known drivers of the time – Fangio, Taruffi, Stirling Moss, Masten Gregory, and many more. Martyn Wainwright’s love of the sport, and talent for reportage photography shines through in this evocative and authentic collection.

An absolute must for Revivalists and all lovers of classic motorsport, 1950s Motorsport in Colour has been out of print for several years, but is now available again in this new paperback edition as part of Veloce’s “Classic Reprint” series.

The Definitive Barracuda & Challenger Guide: 1970-1974

The Definitive Barracuda & Challenger Guide: 1970-1974

The 1970-1974 Plymouth Barracudas and Dodge Challengers are compact, lightweight, and extremely powerful pony cars; some are considered to be the greatest Mopar muscle cars of the era. The platform, known as the E-Body for this generation, was Chrysler’s response to the competition from the Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro. Today, the E-Body Barracudas and Challengers are some of the most valuable and popular muscle cars ever built.

In The Definitive Barracuda & Challenger Guide: 1970-1974, seasoned journalist Scott Ross has unearthed new information from the key personnel involved in designing, engineering, and building these brash muscle cars. Ross provides comprehensive engine, transmission, and interior options as well as essential trim package and color code information. You learn the bottom line on original equipment packages and options. Ross covers Special Edition, R/T, Gran Coupe, and Rapid Transit System packages. And of course, the preeminent models in the lineup, Hemi ‘Cuda, Challenger 440 six pack, AAR ‘Cuda, and Challenger TA are covered in extensive detail. The large option list (and which options were available on which cars) is covered in great detail, which will greatly assist you with authentication.

Barracudas and Challengers are some of the most powerful and valuable Mopar muscle cars ever built. If you have been searching for the comprehensive story and vital option information for these classic Mopar muscle cars, you don’t need to look any further.

The Cars of Harley Earl

The Cars of Harley Earl

At 6-foot, 3-inches tall, Harley Earl was an imposing figure, but his true stature lies in his towering talent for automotive design and styling. Over his 50-year career, he created as well as collaborated on the most innovative, bold, technologically advanced cars made by General Motors. As a titan of American auto design, the cars he helped create are still celebrated today. And as an enduring legacy, he inspired a generation of engineers, designers, and stylists.

Veteran automotive historian David W. Temple has researched and unearthed the complete story of Harley Earl’s cars, his notable design achievements, and many accolades. Working as a coachbuilder at his father’s Earl Automotive Works in Hollywood, California, the young Earl learned his trade. After styling the 1927 LaSalle for GM president Alfred P. Sloan, Earl rose to prominence and ran the newly created department of Art and Color. Automobile design stagnated during the Depression and World War II, but the number of his contributions to the automotive world in the 1950s is staggering. When the jet age hit, he fully embraced aviation design and infused it into GM cars. The Buick Y-Job and GM Le Sabre featured many firsts in automotive design and hardware. The Y-Job’s fender extensions trailing over the doors, disappearing headlamps, flush door handles, a metal cover over the convertible top were a few innovations. When General Motors needed to show off its cars and technology, Harley Earl-designed cars were the stars of the Motorama show that toured the country from 1949 to 1961. He led the team that created the 1953 Corvette, and this iconic American sports car is still going strong today. He was involved in the creation of the 1955-1957 Chevy Bel Air, otherwise known as the Tri-Five Chevy.

Harley Earl’s drive toward bold and innovative design spurred American car design during the mid-twentieth century. His distinctive designs defined the 1950s finned cars and set American automotive design on the path it has followed into the modern era. With this in-depth examination, you learn the inside story of these remarkable cars and the man behind them.

Barn Find Road Trip: 3 Guys, 14 Days and 1000 Lost Collector Cars Discovered

Barn Find Road Trip: 3 Guys, 14 Days and 1000 Lost Collector Cars Discovered

Great collector cars are still out there–just waiting to be found!

Sadly, there is very little reality in reality TV. That wouldn’t be so bad except for the fact that these shows are the only TV shows for the barn-find collector car aficionado.

Barn Find Road Trip is the antidote to all the manufactured collector “reality” shows. It’s a real-world, barn-find banzai run in which auto archaeologist Tom Cotter, his car collector pal Brian Barr, and photographer Michael Alan Ross embarked on a 14-day collector-car-seeking adventure with no predetermined destinations. It’s barn-find freestyle! Roaming the Southeast, they documented their day-to-day car search in photos and through stories and interviews. This trip is absolutely real and the same kind of junket any gearhead with the skills, knowledge, and time can undertake.

Cotter and company hit the road in Cotter’s 1939 Ford Woody, the kind of car that opened doors and started the conversations that revealed where interesting cars were squirreled away. The result? The discovery of over 1,000 collector cars and some of the most amazing barn-find stories Cotter has yet unearthed, all accompanied by Ross’ evocative photography. If you love stories of automotive adventure, this is the book for you!

Luftwaffe Advanced Aircraft Projects to 1945, Vol. 1: Fighters & Ground-Attack Aircraft, Arado to Junkers

Luftwaffe Advanced Aircraft Projects to 1945, Vol. 1: Fighters & Ground-Attack Aircraft, Arado to Junkers

“Among Midland’s most successful aviation books have been the three Luftwaffe Secret Projects titles. Ingolf Meyer, the artist who worked on Luftwaffe Secret Projects Volume 1 Fighters 1939-1945 has, since the publication of that book, continued his research into German experimental aircraft in the era of the Third Reich. He has unearthed a remarkable range of further secret projects and experimental aircraft which did not appear in the earlier volumes. This huge archive of research will now be published in an estimated four volumes over the next few years, starting with this book.
This work covers fighters, night-fighters and attack aircraft, alphabetically by manufacturer. This first volume will cover aircraft, projects and designs produced by manufacturers from Arado through Junkers, while the second volume will cover those from the manufacturers Lippisch to Zeppelin.

Over the course of this new series, approximately 40 percent of the aircraft discussed and illustrated will not have appeared in the original series. In order to address the many new aircraft featured in these books, their style will be markedly different from the earlier volumes. They will contain more illustrations and less text. Normally one aircraft will be covered on each page. For many, it was the illustrations which made such an impact when Luftwaffe Secret Projects was first published. Increasing the number of illustrations in the new series will only enhance the appeal of these books.”

A highly illustrated history of German experimental secret project fighters and ground-attack aircraft in alphabetical order starting with those manufactured by Arado and ending with Junkers. This first volume in a new series reveals a remarkable range of secret projects and experimental aircraft that did not appear in the very popular Luftwaffe Secret Projects series. Aircraft, projects and designs are detailed, with approximately 175 color illustrations. Historians, aviation enthusiasts, and modelers will find this book a valuable resource.

Racing Demons Porsche and the Targa Florio

Racing Demons Porsche and the Targa Florio

“Forever hailed as the world’s last true road race, the legendary Targa Florio in Sicily was first held in 1906 on a 148 km (92 mile) circuit that twisted and turned though the Madonie mountains east of Palermo, passing through a number of small, picturesque villages before running along the Mediterranean coast and back to the start/finish line. Each year, for one spectacular spring day, this tortuous course, laid out on the island at the toe of the boot of Italy, was the focus of the entire racing world.

There was simply nothing quite like racing exotic sports cars around narrow island roads lined with over half a million race crazy Italians who, together with Sicily’s spectacular backdrop and the circuit’s challenging characteristics, created the magical ambiance that made the Targa one of the most famous races in the sport’s history. And no other car won this grueling event more times than Porsche.

Racing Demons – Porsche and the Targa Florio for the first time brings together the many Porsches that raced in the Targa Florio, from the lone privately entered 356 Cabriolet that started the race in 1953, to the works Martini 911 RSR, which won the last ever Targa twenty years later, marking Porsche’s eleventh victory in Sicily.

At the wheel of the many legendary Porsches that were raced in the Targa during the span of two decades, were some of the top drivers of the 50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, such as Umberto Maglioli, Edgar Barth, Stirling Moss, Graham Hill, Jo Bonnier, Gerhard Mitter, Rolf Stommelen, Vic Elford, Brian Redman, Jo Siffert, Herbert Müller, and Gijs van Lennep.

This unique book contains more than 500 black and white and color photographs, many never published before, including a number of images unearthed from the Porsche factory’s archive in Stuttgart, and a broad selection taken by photographers living in Sicily during the years the race was held. Each tells its own fascinating story.

Racing Demons – Porsche and the Targa Florio is the definitive story of one of the world’s greatest marques taking on one of the most challenging circuits of the twentieth century, and crossing its finish line first more times than any other manufacturer. Fasten your seat belts and hang on. You’ll enjoy the ride.