Archive for Items Categorized 'Biography/ Autobiography', only excerpts shown, click title for full entry.

A Life in Car Design – Jaguar, Lotus, TVR

by Oliver Winterbottom

After a half century of design—and not only cars—there are stories to tell, insights to share, and a new generation to motivate. You may have never heard of Winterbottom but this book delivers.

Mickey Thompson, The Lost Story of the Original Speed King in his Own Words

The first American to break the 400-mph barrier and holder of more speed and endurance records than any other man in automotive history died by—bicycle. On which the killers sent by a former business partner had ridden to his house to shoot him!

More Than Automobiles: The Packards of Warren, Ohio

by A.J. Balfour

Who was the first female FBI agent? Would you have known it was a Packard? Written by a longtime Packard enthusiast, the book follows two generations of Packards, using many previously unpublished images.

The Road to the Top is Not on the Map

edited by Carla Bailo and Terry Barclay

Candid observations from high-level female auto industry execs look at the practical (cf. do you really need a graduate degree?) and the abstract (cf. finding joy in the workplace). Whether you’re just starting out or looking at a career change, there’s probably an idea here that could show the way.

Shadow: The Magnificent Machines of a Man of Mystery

by Pete Lyons

That man of mystery was the quiet if not secretive Don Nichols, founder and principal of the Shadow team/s that competed quite successfully for 11 seasons—before fading into oblivion. For the first time, a proper book connects the dots.

Ladies of Lascaris: Christina Ratcliffe and the Forgotten Heroes of Malta’s War

by Paul McDonald

The RAF did tremendously important reconnaissance work on Malta, and the women and girls who worked as plotters and cipherenes helped. Obviously, they had private lives, and Ratcliffe’s in particular is way out there.

Carlo Demand In Motion and Color: Automobile Racing 1895–1956

by Gary D Doyle

The German artist Carlo Demand (1921–2000) illustrated more books than any other artist, yet his name is not nearly as well known as that of many of his contemporaries or as the quality of his work would indicate.

Niki Lauda: The Biography

by Maurice Hamilton

One of the greatest F1 drivers of all time, he died in his sleep at age 70. He had worn many different hats in his life on and off the track, one of them to hide the scars of that near-fatal accident at a race he, then the defending world champion and points leader, considered so unsafe that he attempted to arrange a boycott.

Jim McGee, Crew Chief of Champions

by Gordon Kirby 

He cut his teeth working on a private Indy entry cobbled together in a backyard garage and rose to run some of the big-league outfits of his day. An important book about an important man.

Rudolf Uhlenhaut

by Wolfgang Scheller and Thomas Pollak 

The legendary Mercedes engineer was a hands-on wrencher and a good enough driver to embarrass professional shoes. He valued teamwork and hated blowing his own horn—which is why this is the first-ever comprehensive biography.

Frank McClean: The Godfather of British Naval Aviation

by Philip Jarrett 

Many important aviation developments wouldn’t have happened if McClean hadn’t had the means, the skills, and the convictions he possessed. At long last here’s a book to give credit where credit is due.

The Blunt End of the Grid

by Dave Roberts

Roberts’ approach to motor racing is the polar opposite to the clinical diligence of an F1 team. The best testament to this book is that if former McLaren head honcho Ron Dennis read it, he would need specialist counselling.

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