THE TOLEMAN STORY - BOOK OF THE MONTH IN OCTANE

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The Toleman Story – Last Romantics in Formula 1
By Christopher Hilton.
Small, unfashionable, short of money – and the last of its kind to become a force in Grand Prix racing. The story of Toleman is not only fascinating and improbable, it has never been told before.

This was the team that took Ayrton Senna into Formula 1, to which he responded by creating a masterpiece of movement at Monaco. It is still talked about. This was the team that launched Derek Warwick, one of the most popular and accomplished men in British motor sport. This was the team that brought Rory Byrne, Ferrari’s design genius, to sudden prominence. This was the team that enabled Pat Symonds, Renault’s race tactician, to construct his career.

And this is the whole story. Lavishly illustrated, the book retraces the narrative from the very beginning and covers the dramas, heartbreaks and triumphs of each racing season in detail. It is full of poignant memories never published before, as well as hilarious anecdotes and penetrating insights. More info.

BECK'S BUS!

Cheers! Volkswagen celebrates Transporter milestones in style.

Throughout November and December, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is celebrating two significant anniversaries at the AutoMuseum in Wolfsburg, Germany.

It's 60 years since Heinrich Nordhoff presented the first prototype Transporter van to the press, and 30 years since the third generation Transporter was launched. Both anniversaries come at a time when Volkswagen is preparing to celebrate the launch of the latest versions of the Transporter van and today's people carrier and camping derivatives, the Caravelle and California, in the new year.

The first generation of Transporter prototype, a Dove Blue panel van, is on show, together with memorabilia from all generations of Transporter. The T1 is affectionately known as the ‘splittie' thanks to its distinctive split windscreen which was initially derived from ideas generated by the T1 Beetle.

Also on display - and a very appealing attraction - is the so-called Beck's Bus, a converted T1 with a built-in bar dispensing ice-cold beer.

From T1 right through to T3, which was launched in 1979, the rear-mounted, air-cooled engine was a hallmark of the model range. Only in 1984 was the engine changed for a water-cooled unit.

The Transporter is Volkswagen's best-selling model in the UK and worldwide. Over one million of the current model have been sold since introduction in 2003, making a total of over 10 million since production started in March 1950.

Source: Volkswagen

A RARE AND BEAUTIFUL ALFA

Thanks to Pete Vack at VeloceToday for his very favourable review of Alfa Romeo Montreal – The dream car that came true.

Here is an extract from it.

"Bruce Taylor’s second book, “Montreal - The dream car that came true”, is the perfect companion to the superb “Alfa Montreal - The essential companion” (read review). It’s full of useful and interesting information, not to mention 575 color illustrations, almost all focusing on some aspect of the Montreal. For Montreal owners or would-be owners, this becomes like the “essential companion”, essential. With a dearth of literature available on this rare and beautiful Alfa, there is surely a place on the shelf for this book.

On the surface, “The dream car that came true” appears to be a glossy ode to the Alfa Montreal. But Taylor is deeper and better than that; he knows and presents Montreals as one who not only appreciates the feminine form (and there is a great deal of that in both books, but I’m not complaining) yet can easily get down to engineering concepts (Taylor is retired from CERN in Switzerland) and the mechanical nuts and bolts."
Click here to read the full review

EDWARD TURNER BLUE PLAQUE UNVEILING VIDEO

Speeches by Tony Benn and John Rosamond.
Thanks to Falak Waheed for sending us the video clips.

E-TYPE ENTENTE CORDIALE

The E-Type that belongs to one of our number at Veloce Publishing - pictured here in Chatéaubriant, France, alongside a very rare BMW E38 7-series V12. The freshly baked baguette and handmade chocolates that then followed weren't bad either!
Thanks to www.amicalee38.org for the picture.

VIVA VELOCE!

The Earl of March has now confirmed the theme of the 2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed - provisionally to be held on 2-4 July 2010 - as
‘Viva Veloce! - The Passion for Speed'.

This theme celebrates Italy's all-consuming fascination with motor racing, and its global influence on the sport. From Alfa Romeo to MV Agusta, Ascari to Agostini, and Monza to the Mille Miglia, Italians have raced with breathtaking fervour, inspiring desire and devotion that transcends national identity.

Italian DNA runs through many of the sport's most memorable and passionate performances. Whether it's Fangio and Wimille dominating the immediate post-war years in Alfa Romeos, Moss and Behra battling against the odds in Maseratis, Villeneuve and Schumacher's towering achievements in Ferraris, Toivonen and Kankkunen blasting through the forests in Lancias, or Surtees and Hailwood sweeping all before them on MV Agustas, competitors from many nations have shared in Italy's glory.

Equally, many legendary Italian motor sport heroes took on their countrymen in non-Italian machinery, such as Nuvolari and Varzi in German Silver Arrows, Agostini and Rossi rising to new heights on Yamahas, Mercedes-Benz conquering the Mille Miglia, and Porsche making the Targa Florio its own. The 2010 Festival of Speed will honour the cars, motorcycles, drivers and riders that raced with unbridled Latin zeal, and the legendary feats they achieved, with a particular emphasis on the centenary of one of Italy's most celebrated marques - Alfa Romeo.

Running alongside the 2010 Festival central theme, Goodwood will also celebrate 60 years of the Formula One World Championship, with a gathering of cars and drivers that have shaped the history of motor sport's most glamorous series. The 60th anniversary of the epic Carrera Panamericana road race, and 50 years since the RAC Rally took to the forests for the first time, will both be marked in true Goodwood style too.

Also in action for 2010 will be a dazzling array of cars and motorcycles from a huge variety of disciplines, enhancing the Festival's reputation for showcasing not only the world's most famous stars, but also its lesser known gems. Tackling the famous 1.16 mile Goodwood hillclimb on two-wheels and four will be everything from early Grand Prix and endurance machines, to off-road and contemporary racers.

Complementing the overall Festival of Speed theme will be a host of other attractions at the world's greatest celebration of motoring. Aside from getting close to the action-packed hillclimb and paddocks, Festival-goers will be able to relish some of the most stylish vehicles ever designed at the Cartier ‘Style et Luxe' concours d'elegance, glimpse into the future of personal transportation at the BP Ultimate FoS-TECH technology pavilion, see many of motor sport's famous faces up close, swoon at the mouth-watering display of supercars in the world's finest moving motor show, witness the exciting sideways action on the Forest Rally Stage and become a part of the action at the off-road activity fields and Junior Festival of Speed.

Goodwood Festival of Speed founder, Lord March says: ‘It will be fabulous to have so many great cars and drivers here at Goodwood to celebrate our Italian-flavoured Viva Veloce! theme for 2010. I look forward with much anticipation to seeing some of the greatest drivers, riders and machines in action.'

The provisional date for next year's Festival of Speed is 2-4 July 2010.
Press release & image source: Goodwood Motor Sport

THE 240 FASTEST MERCEDES MEN – AND WOMEN!

Racing for Mercedes-Benz – A Dictionary of the 240 Fastest Drivers of the Marque By Hartmut Lehbrink.

From the vast number of drivers who have competed for Mercedes-Benz and its ancestors in the past 115 years, legends such as Hermann Lang, Karl Kling, Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher stand out. However, history should not forget all those other works drivers and privateers whose exploits added to the fame of the company at the wheel of formula, sports racing and touring cars; drivers whose names have often unjustly faded from view. Now those drivers have also been celebrated in a comprehensive dictionary with over 300 pictures from Veloce Publishing. Famous or obscure, the 240 fastest of these drivers are presented in this volume, which has been compiled in close co-operation with Mercedes-Benz Classic. Only one thousand copies of this beautifully illustrated 250-page hardback volume have been printed in English. It is available now from bookshops or from www.velocebooks.com and provides a unique, comprehensive record which is a veritable who's who of the four-wheeled sport.



• An encyclopaedia of Mercedes-Benz racing drivers.
• A veritable who’s who of the four-wheeled sport.
• Cars that have been subjected to the ultimate tests on road and track.
• Stars from every corner of the world make guest appearances.
• Features 300 photographs, old and new.
• A comprehensive and fascinating compendium of the men and women who have driven for one of the world’s oldest and most successful manufacturers.
Click here for more info about the book.

SIR JACKIE STEWART RELEASES FAMILY TRIBUTE SONG TO HELP MECHANICS

Three-times Formula One World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart's sons have recorded a tribute song for their father's 70th birthday. . . with a little help from Eric Clapton.


The song and its sentiments touched Sir Jackie so deeply that he felt that he should share it. The decision was taken to release the song and DVD on download, with all proceeds going to the charity which he founded some 20 years ago, The Grand Prix Mechanics' Charitable Trust. The charity exists to support former and current-day F1 mechanics in times of need.

To preview both the song and music video, please visit http://www.sirjackiestewart.com.

The song is available to download from iTunes and Amazon MP3. The DVD will also be available to download in the next couple of weeks.

For further info on the Grand Prix Mechanics Charitable Trust, please visit http://www.gpmechanicstrust.com.

The Veloce book Tales from the Toolbox – A collection of behind-the-scenes tales from Grand Prix mechanics by Michael Oliver features a foreword by Sir Jackie Stewart.

40% of all royalties of the book will also go to the Grand Prix Mechanics Charitable Trust!

Click here for more info about the book.

NEW VELOCE SAMPLE PAGE EBOOKS ON MYEBOOK.COM

Check out these new ebook previews of Veloce books!

See more on Veloce's Myebook partner profile page

NEC CLASSIC MOTOR SHOW 2009

It's the NEC Classic Motor Show today and over the weekend, and although Veloce will not be there, our friends at the Deux Chevaux Club of Great Britain will be, showcasing excerpts from our popular new book André Lefebvre, and the cars he created at Voisin and Citroën.

On top of that, they'll have the amazing Coccinelle prototype on display for all to see (as featured in the book), as well as an original TPV 2CV prototype from the 1930s!

We strongly recommend visiting their stand, check out the book, check out the cars, and see for yourself what all the fuss is about. The Deux Chevaux Club of Great Britain can be found at stand number 1C38.

ANDRÉ LEFEBVRE REVIEW

André Lefebvre, and the cars he created at Voisin and Citroën receives another good review this month, this time from Classic Car Mart.

"It's a fascinating story well told, aided by a host of illustrations." – Classic Car Mart

A LITERARY TRIUMPH IN LONDON

Photo by James Crosby
Another successful book signing for John Rosamond on 1st November at London Motorcycle Museum's "military" day, pictured here with Bill Crosby.

The London Motorcycle Museum situated at Ravenor Farm, Greenford, London is the home of the Crosby collection and loaned exhibits totalling more than 120 British motorcycles, many of which are Meriden Triumphs.

Save the Triumph Bonneville! – The inside story of the Meriden Workers’ Co-op by John Rosamond. Available now!

COMPETITION TIME!

How do you fancy winning one of 5 copies of Motor Movies – The Posters! (worth £34.99)? Perfect for a Christmas present.

Well, all you have to do is answer the simple question that you can find on this competition page.

Motor Movies – The Posters! was BOOK OF THE MONTH - Top Gear magazine Nov '07 ... AND No.6 Channel4's 4Car Top 10: car books for Christmas 2007.

Get your entries in quick! This competition ends November 27th 2009.

THE ENDURING CULT OF THE CAFÉ RACER, IN ALL ITS TON-UP GLORY!

The Café Racer Phenomenon (Those were the days … series)
By Alastair Walker

The Café Racer is one of the most enduring styles of motorcycle ever created, encapsulating the rebellious spirit of the '50s. This new book is a look back at the glory days of the Café Racer, from Friday night dices on London's North Circular road, through the street specials craze of the Seventies, to the modern day revival.
The Café Racer Phenomenon, a new book in Veloce Publishing's Those were the days … series features a huge, global Café Racer community directory alongside a unique mix of personal memories, previously unpublished photos, iconic machines and chassis builders in profile. Wonderfully evocative reading for any ‘ton-up’ rider of past or present.
The Café Racer machine captures the very essence of motorcycling, with its stripped-to-the-bone styling and a timeless blend of cat-quick chassis, matched to a barn-storming engine.
From its roots in the ’59 Club, home-brewed specials and the creation of the Triton by Dave Degens, the Café Racer became the must-have Rockers’ motorbike. It then became the template for a new generation of fast road riders in the 1970s, with the rise of Dunstall, Rickman, Seeley and many more bespoke bike builders.
The big factories jumped on the bandwagon too. Machines like the Moto Guzzi Le Mans Mk I, Ducati 900SS and the MV Agusta 750S all captured the spirit of the Café Racer. Then the slick, super fast, Japanese sport bikes of the 80s came along, and looked set to consign the Café Racer special to the history books.
But a revival had to happen. The Ace Café London re-opened, bike builders as diverse as Wakan, Fred Krugger, Nick Gale and Roland Sands all began to create lean, back-to-basics motorcycles, but with their own unique twist on Café Racer heritage. From the Buell 1125 CR to the Guzzi V7 Sport, mainstream modern bikes have also re-discovered their street racing soul.

The 96-page paperback book is available now from bookshops or from www.veloce.co.uk.

ROBSON PRODUCES THE GOODS ONCE AGAIN!

Just found this new review of Fiat 131 Abarth (Rally Giants Series) by Graham Robson on www.dep-o.co.uk.

"Another motoring book from the prolific author Graham Robson – he is accredited with writing over 130 books – this 130 page softback book covers most of the bases for those with a 131 Abarth obsession.

I find a good way of testing a book is, especially if I’ve researched the subject car for a feature, does it tell me something I didn’t know? Whilst the background to the car was more or less familiar, all the details of its impressive rallying career weren’t so familiar.

Generally, getting hold of decent in-depth books, covering a specific Italian single model in English, can be a bit tricky – but once again Robson has produced the goods. The only bit of serious info lacking is a comprehensive 131 Abarth tech spec. On the whole, a thoroughly good value read." (4/5)

Check out more great motoring book reviews on www.dep-o.co.uk.