We’ve had a kind of literature tidal wave lately, with a giant stack of auto books swinging by our desks. He then are some of our fave picks.
As always, these titles are available from all good bookstores, including office fave www.pitstop.net.au. For wholesale enquiries, contact Capricorn Link at sales@capricornlink.com.au.
SCALEXTRIC: A RACE THROUGH TIME
RRP $39.99
I’ll kick off here with my personal fave book to come through in recent times. Celebrating 50 years, everyone remembers the frustration of getting those damn Scalextric cars to stay on track and the elation you got from seeing them whiz around the track and then go spiralling off into the fridge.
For anyone who loves the ‘toys’ then, this is the ultimate guide to electric racing, taking readers through from the first sets of the early 1950s into the latest technology employed for 2000 and onwards.
Basically, it’s just one big toy catalogue, with heaps of photos, guides and just general Scalextric lore to keep you entertained. And that it certainly did, for probably a good two hours straight before I had to put it down and actually do some work for once. It’s great stuff.
5/5
CRASH!
RRP $19.95
If it’s twisted, mangled metal and some of the best fender-benders from the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s, then Crash! is the kind of book that should get your blood pumping.
Spread out over 192 pages, the black-and-white images are almost arty in nature, with some truly bringing a tear to the eye at good old-schoolers going the way of the wrecker. Each photo is captioned, and a short introduction details the people involved at crash scenes and how this has changed over the last century.
Old-school trainspotters will relish the many makes and models strewn throughout the book, but our personal fave was a Chev Bel Air seemingly swallowed up by a large hole in the road. Given the smile on the cop’s face, though, it’s seems as if no-one was hurt. That’s a bloody miracle if you ask us!
If you’re looking for crash-centric coffee-table material, look no further.
3/5
TV CARS
RRP $19.95
Featuring star cars from the wonderful world of TV, this cute little manual has pretty much everything four-wheeled (and some not wheeled at all) that’s made it way onto our screens. There are many our readers probably wouldn’t recognise, but everyone knows Mr Bean’s Mini, the Ferrari 308 GTS of Magnum PI and the Batmobile.
Every car is accompanied by a healthy serving of facts and historical tid-bits, some of which had even us scratching our heads. For example, did you know that KITT’s computer was inspired by the HAL computer in 2001: A Space Odyssey?
It’s all great stuff and sure to keep you entertained for hours and hours. Read the reasoning behind the A-Team van or simply revel in the muscle that was the Dodge Charger of the Dukes of Hazzard. It’s a guaranteed good read.
4/5
RALLY GIANTS: SUBARU IMPREZA
RRP $39.95
For nearly 20 years, Prodive has run the works in regards to Subaru’s rally prowess, including providing the expertise that has seen them storm the championship scene. As well as detailing this story, this book also provides a highly in-depth look at the Impreza itself, with full specifications and achievements of all the WRC models.
The compact book is chock-full of great colour photos, many with the WRX seemingly airborne, and no doubt on its way to another victory. Text-wise, a good chunk of everything is devoted to a year-by-year breakdown of the car’s achievements, with a car and team section up the front providing information on everything from the inspiration behind the model to its star drivers.
All that said, if you’re a rally buff, or just love Subaru’s muscled-up monster, this is the perfect book for you to pursue.
3/5
SPEED SECRETS 6: THE PERFECT DRIVER
RRP $29.95
If you’re friends have been telling you that they could run faster than you on the track, then it’s time to pull out the secret weapon – Speed Secrets.
These fantastic little books chronicle all the techniques and mindset you need to conquer everything driving, and this latest instalment, The Perfect Driver, shows you the perfect model for becoming the ultimate driver.
Now, that might all sound airy-fairy, but there are plenty of techniques covered inside, with full diagrams, graphs and more included to help the learning really sink in. Just check out some of these juicy topics: brake release, bravery (one for you, Adrian), developing luck (one for all of us), driving with your feet (as opposed to penis) and so on. Really, if you read this cover to cover, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be dropping some serious time off your laps.
4/5
VW GOLF: FIVE GENERATIONS OF FUN
RRP $45
If you aren’t aware of just how good the Mk V versions of the VW Golf have been, you must be living under one very big rock. In fact, after going for a bit of a spin in one the other day, I almost had to trade in Mello such was the enjoyment the little four-banger gave me.
So then, if you’re a VW fan, a former owner or just like a hatch or two, this is THE guide to everything Golf. Thankfully for us, the focus of this book is predominantly on the high-performance models, including the R32 models.
There are plenty of high-colour press and driving shots, and the wealth of information inclusive is simply staggering. Everything from Mk I–V is there, with an epilogue tying up loose ends, US specification and topless models. It really is a massively comprehensive guide.
Over 176 pages are there for the reading, and I almost had to wrangle this book with hot poker in hand off our resident VW nut here such was the state of her interest. Golf fan? You have to get this.
4/5
MX-5 MIATA: THE WORLD’S FAVOURITE SPORTSCAR
RRP $54.95
And that it is, with an almost uncountable number sold worldwide to either those that enjoy a real driver’s car or people that just love to get a bit of mid-ride tanning in.
Regardless, and following the same formula of the VW Golf book above, this manual is filled to its spine with press shots, releases, old sales brochures and all kinds of wonderful Mazda-specific info that should keep that light on well into the midnight hours.
There’s an interesting forward by Takao Kijimia, and the book goes on to discuss a brief history of Mazda itself, the birth of the MX-5, special-edition models (and there have been a few), the NC model and much, much more. Heck, there’s even a healthy tuning section included for mod-mad people like us.
For us, the most enjoyable part was checking out some of the stranger models, and those that never hit our shores, like the M2-1001, electric-powered MX-5, M-Speedster and M-Coupe among others. Even conversions are covered. In all, it’s like a Hyper Rev for MX-5s – only in English. If you love MX-5s, or even if you don’t, you’d be wise to make this part of your collection.
5/5
EDDIE PAUL’S PAINT AND BODYWORK HANDBOOK
RRP $45
Now, you may be asking, as were we, just who the hell is Eddie Paul? Well, Ed’s built everything from mechanical sharks to movie cars for the Fast and the Furious, and so he certainly knows what he’s talking about when it comes to bodywork and paint.
‘The Master of Movie Cars’ shows you dent-less paint repair, panel repair, replacement and alignment, tool choice, paint probs and tons more, and we managed to find at least one use for the information on one of our project cars, so it’s viable.
There are 175 pages, and most with full colour pics for you to ponder over. Step-by-step jobs are shown in full, though we did find the actual nitty-gritty of jobs a little on the skimpy side.
Regardless, there’s still plenty of tech to sink your teeth into here, especially if you’re uninitiated into the bodywork biz. If you’ve got a project car, paddock basher or likewise, this would be the perfect way to roll up some sleeves and get down to business.
2/5
OLD-SCHOOL CHOPPERS
RRP $39.95
Alan Mayes has certainly come up with some cool books, and this compilation of “No-frills bikes for real bikers” has some of the best choppers you’re ever likely to see.
Forget about American Choppers and fancy-pants, themed two-wheelers, what you’ll find here are raw, ratty and old-school pieces of free-wheeling art, and every one has a story to tell.
There are Davidsons, Indians, Ariel Square Fours and even Bobbers included here, so everyone is catered for. Our fave bike, though, was the Coke-themed Harley Panhead on page 99, which is truly over the top while keeping true to its old-school roots. And as everyone knows, vintage is back with a vengeance.
That’s the best thing about the bikes here. They are just full of personal, oldie touches that are truly ingenious, and Alan really brings them to life in both photography and text. We like it.
Oh, and there is the odd semi-clad hottie or two as well…
4/5
ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE CARS
RRP $34.95
There are so many ‘Ultimate Cars’ or ‘Super Supercars’-type books around that we could fill the office to the roof with them, so what sets this particular tome apart? Well, it’s about as thick as a dinner table for one…
Yep, 320 pages of the world’s finest metal have been squeezed into quality paper stock here, and the result is plenty of entertainment for those of us that love seen some exotic material.
Some 75 cars are covered all up, all the way from old-schoolers like the AC Cobra to the crazy Vector W8-M12. There are also 500 of the prettiest pics you’re ever likely to see and they ain’t just press shots either.
What we liked best, however, is that each page has a section entitled ‘Under the Skin’, where the internals of the car are shown over a ghosted shell, with full specifications, a piece-by-piece breakdown and interesting facts and gigues. It really is quite comprehensive without turning into a Wikipaedia article.
The Evolution made it in, as did the 911, Reno 5, WRX, Lancia Stratos, Camaro and all kinds of other stuff. I think I’ll be adding this to my personal list of ‘to buys’ very, very soon.
5/5
CITY OF SPEED
RRP $59.99
Okay, so apparently LA is the city of speed, though we’ve been struggling with that concept considering all you seem to get over there is gridlock. However, this book delves into the golden era of racing around Southern Cali and the LA area, which stretches all the way back into the 1920s.
All the great US venues, like Bonneville, Indianapolis and so on, are catered for, along with NASCAR, dirt and road racing, and even the good ol’ drag scene. The book follows these venues and races in a kind of racing chronology and history, full of interesting trivia and info that should have racing buffs biting at the bit.
The ‘Dung Beetles, Junkyard Hounds, Posionous Vipers, Big Cucumbers and Jumpin’ Jugheads’ chapter was particularly interesting, as was the rundown of salt-flat runners and those crazy bastards that partook days of track racing.
It’s a great trip down memory lane, and although very US orientated, an engaging read for all ages who have a love of speed.
3/5
BRM: A MECHANIC’S TALE
RRP $119.99
Yes, you did read right. RRP on this puppy is $119.99, but it’s quite a special book for those in the know. You see, it details the rise and subsequent fall of the great British Racing Motors, which was something of an emotional roller-coaster for Pommie pride throughout the ’50s and ’60s.
The sheer research that must have gone into this thing, not to mention trying to pull all these photos from archives and what have you, must have been absolutely astronomical, and if you’re a fan of British motor-racing history, you’ll no doubt turn every page with either a tear in your eye or a hand on your heart.
If you can stomach the price, it’s well worth the effort.
4/5
OLD SCHOOL HOT RODS
RRP $39.95
Following on from the Choppers book listed above, Old School Hot Rods serves up plenty of that courtesy of Alan Meyes.
These are rides that have truly stood the test of time, and I had to quickly pull this title off Trent before he drooled all over it. That’s because there are tons of ultra-cool rods inside, with more than a few rat rods that are just too cool for that old school. Like the blurb reads, “Old School is Deuce Coupes and Model A Roadsters. It is chromed engines and wild exhaust stacks. It is parts and pieces attached in ways the factory never dreamed about. And it definitely is ‘the look’.
Inside, you’ll find 170 pages plus of rod goodness, along with suggested reading, a lot of history and more culture than you can throw a ’50s diner at. More than 25 rods are featured all up, and every one is even better than the last. Check it out.
