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Book reviews

The Complete Bentley  

by Eric Dymock

Published by Dove Publishing Ltd

ISBN 978-0-9554909-1-0

.The Complete Bentley" is the definitive Bentley guide, and  the only single volume with an accurate comprehensive model-by-model guide. Written by Eric Dymock this large-format fully illustrated book provides details, specifications and pictures of every Bentley, from the rotary aero engine of World War I to the latest Flying Spur range planned for 2009.  These are preceded by a history of Bentley from it’s inception to the present day, laid out as a chronological account of the company since it started the aforementioned aero engines in1915.

It tells how Walter Owen Bentley started the company and produced his first car at the London Motor Show in 1919, an impressive 3 Litre sports, the prototype of a style that came to symbolise cars from the 1920s. He then set about establishing it’s legendary status at Le Mans starting in 1923 before winning the 24 hours five times in the thirties.  It also explains that although W.O. could built and race sports cars his financial acumen was not anywhere near as good, resulting in 3 times Le Mans winner Woolf Barnato saving the company from going under in 1926 before Rolls Royce took over in 1931. Finally, of course VW acquired them in 1997 taking the name back to Le Mans and winning it again in 2003.

There are some wonderful photographs, in particular those from Bentley’s golden age in the 20's and 30s as well as from the more recent period when the company returned to Le Mans with the Speed 8 at the start of this century.

Included in the history are potted biographies of the men who worked and drove for the company from the likes of Walter Hassan who looked after Woolf Barnato’s cars to Shadwell Harry Grylls who was Chief Designer in the fifties

If you are a fan then this book is the book for you covering as it does not only the history of the company in one volume but the cars and then people as well.  It is a little expensive at £55.00 but it can be found on the web a discount(Vinehouse Distribusion for example)

The Grand Prix Saboteurs

The extraordinary untold story of the Grand Prix drivers who became British secret agents in World War II

By Joe Saward

Morienval Press (www.morienval.com).

ISBN: 978-0-9554868-0-7

£12.99 ($24.99)

The Grand Prix Saboteurs is  not really a  motor racing book,  it’s actually closer to a spy thriller or a war history book. It details the activities of two SOE (Special Operations Executive) agents in occupied France during the Second World War who just happened to be GP drivers as well. The first, British born Willy Grover (who raced under the name W WiIliams), was the winner of the first ever Monaco GP in 1929 while the other, Robert Benoist, was one of France’s top racing drivers in the 20s and the man who would have been World Champion in 1927 if such a title had existed at the time.

Author Joe Saward does start of with Motorsport, which given his background as a GP journalist isn't surprising. He  describes the two men and their respective racing careers before the war intervened in 1939. Both men then enlisted for their respective countries forces, returning home after the fall of France in 1940. Grover to the UK and a posting to Fife in Scotland with the Royal Army Service Corps whilst Benoist  returned to his job working for Bugatti in Paris.

Before long Grover, who was brought up in France, is recruited to SOE by its leader Maurice Buckmaster and returns to France to work with the resistance. There he joins up with Benoist and the two set to work, undergoing many close encounters and exploits before their subsequent betrayal and capture by the Germans later in the war.

It is when the book moves into the war years that it really picks up and in fact reads like a Robert Ludlum spy thriller complete with chases, assignations, clandestine ops , everything, gripping stuff indeed!   And although it falls off a bit later on its remains a thoroughly good read (my only other complaint is the number of grammatical and spelling mistakes).

What adds to spice to the whole story is the many revelations unearthed by Saward during his research, research that appears to have been pretty extensive. In fact he does not shirk from bring to light details that cast doubts on some of the more accepted views of SOE’s more famous members who although all were without doubt very brave  some may not have been quite as heroic as the authorities or the film ‘Carve Her Name With Pride’ claimed after the war. His findings also point out some of the failings of SOE’s leader Maurice Buckmaster, some of whose agents were simply not really good enough to work behind enemy lines. One such was extraodinary Francis Sutill, the man dropped into Paris to run the Prosper Network. He  may well have been a great organiser and a very brave man with a myriad of talents but as he apparently spoke French with a strong English accent he doesn't strike me as spy material…. shades of ‘allo ,allo’!.  oh and he wasn’t the worst!

Saward did not I believe not write the book to cause any controversy however he simply states the facts as he found them. Its a very reasonable price.(£12.99) and  Saward apparently had trouble getting this published, si I believe he did it himself so for that reason alone you should buy it . Plus it is a rollocking good read with some remarkable facts unearthed along the way! 

Encyclopedia of F1

by Pierre Menard

Published by Chronosports SA

Hardback 3 vols 928 pages Price £65.00

ISBN 2-84707-123-7

In three volumes covering the history of Formula 1, the books contains loads of photos, numerous drawings and plenty of facts about the sport. Its big and heavy but, for the serious fan, I believe its worth it.

This book is the result of 14 years of work by the author and is made up of three volumes. This third edition covers the history of Formula 1 racing from its inception in 1950 through to Alonso’s second title in October 2006. It contains over 1200 photographs, some by top F1 snapper Bernard Cahier who also writes in the book. The book allows readers to review F1 ‘s evolution and every team that has taken part in the Championship. Its coverage of the drivers is sadly brief and as its suppose to be an Encyclopedia of F1 it should have covered some of the other personalities within the sport like Prof Watkins, Balestre, etc.

Most of the two main volumes then concentrate on all the teams that took part in the World Championship over the years which it does very well.   The third volume is given over to the stats from of all Grand Prix from 1950 to the present day, lap charts, times .  Finally there is also an interview with Nigel Roebuck and another from Cahier.

Generally then its a very good book, on the downside its expensive at £65 but for such a piece of work that’s probably a fair price. If you are a  fan of F1 its a great reference guide to the last 57 years.  Its only real failing, its massive 10lb weigh aside, is, as with any book about the  F1 championship, by March its out of date!
 

Mind Driving – Stephen Haley

• Paperback: 208 pages

• Publisher: DIA Publishing (19 Sep 2006)

• Language English

• ISBN: 1873371160

• Price £12.99

A books go this one is fascinating, particularly as driving is the most dangerous thing most of us do. Author Haley explains how we can reduce the risks and helps you  understand the techniques that the experts use, which are not just conventional driving skills. The key, crucially, how they think, has always been the most vital part of safe driving, but until now no one has tried to explain the mental processes involved. This is what "Mind Driving" does!

It shows you the real dangers, how to control them, how to make the correct decisions and importantly how to enjoy driving and do it safely. Driving is, the book states, done with your "Mind", the mechanics of driving are another skill that while important are not the only skill required to stay out of trouble.

As Haley states,the commonly held belief is that learning to drive is all about passing the test, and as a result it’s all hands, feet, rules and regulations, not about the other factors that stop people having ‘accidents’(few are actually accidents in the true sense of the word). “When they have a crash we blame other people involved and not the system. Yet the current system implies that driving skill is just about car control and fast reactions. Tell a 17-year-old that and he’s over the moon.” Stephen Haley book is primarily about learning a second set of skills, ones that use “eyes and brain rather than hands and feet”.

One of the main themes of the book is Risk Assessment and Observation. It’s this that makes its approach so fundamentally different from other driver training manuals. It tells so many ‘obvious’ things and how to deal with them you wonder why you never thought of them before, for example: there are 3 types of  surprises, all equally deadly’, not just the ones that appear and catch you out but the ones you create for others and yourself!

Everyone who drives should read this book. If you’re involved in driver training or road safety you should read this book.  Buy this book for your family and friends and yourself, you will all benefit. No matter how good a driver you think you are this book will make you better. Not only is it very important io is also fascinating. Excellent!

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