World War II Veterans in Motorsports

by Art Evans

As both a former race driver and movie industry PR man, the author understands his topic from both sides. Plus, the 23 men and women covered here were personal friends of his.

The Other Bentley Boys

by Elizabeth Nagle-Turnbull

To this day we think of the storied drivers by that name but it is the “other” Bentley Boys—the mechanics—who first called themselves that.

Lotus 72, 1970–75

by Pete Lyons

“The wedge” won more GPs and Driver’s and Constructor’s Championships than any other Lotus, it was the longest-lived design then and now, it scored in four of six seasons—there are several good books about it, and this is definitely one of them.

Second to One: All But For Indy

by Joseph Freeman & Gordon Kirby

Winning the Indy 500 makes you a household name. Well, in some households. For a while. The ones who don’t win, no matter how long the list of their accomplishments here or elsewhere, get no love. Here’s their story.

Vintage Jaguar Keyrings 1955–1980

by Morrill “Bud” Marston

If you thought vintage Jaguars are interesting, just wait until you see vintage Jaguar key rings. Jaguar made over 350,000 cars during just the period covered here so there’s plenty of variety to investigate.

100 Years Ago, Anniversary of the Armistice

by Tom Dine

Bentley Motors is 100 years old and this little book celebrates the company founder’s achievements—and that’s before he ever built his eponymous cars and winning Le Mans five times.

New York City Horsepower: An Oral History of Fast Custom Machines

by Michael McCabe

What makes a New York custom bike or car different from those made anywhere else? Or modern ones different from earlier ones? Meet several generations of builders and see their shops and their creations.

One Formula – 50 Years of Car Design

by Gordon Murray and Philip Porter  

“Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright” – the extraordinary legacy of oenophile, soap box racer, and Bob Dylan disciple Gordon Murray. He is the man who also created the road-going sports car that won Le Mans, who designed  F1 cars that won 50 Grands Prix, and who is still pushing every envelope he can find.

Stardust International Raceway

by Randall Cannon and Michael Gerry

Legendary drivers, the FBI, Howard Hughes…it’s a big story but the track was short-lived and pretty much forgotten until two local boys with racing interests put this fine book together.

We Speak from the Air, WW2 Broadcasts from the RAF

by the Ministry of Information

Read this alongside some of Winston Churchill’s speeches and there won’t be a dry eye in the house. The over 1000 RAF and WAAF personnel that made these wartime broadcasts remained anonymous but the highly personal pictures they paint cut to the bone.

Fireship: The Terror Weapon of the Age of Sail

by Peter Kirsch

A fireship doesn’t put out fires, it starts them. This profusely illustrated book is the first to examine the role of this device, from antiquity to the early nineteenth century.

Lotus Esprit, The Official Story

by Jeremy Walton

The Lotus Esprit may have held a record among British sports cars for continuous production—28 years and almost 11,000 copies sold—but pick up an automotive encyclopedia today and you’ll find that this Lotus hardly warrants a footnote.