Raymond Flower

This is a wonderful trip into the past for all nostalgia buffs and an excellent way to learn something of motor sport's illustrious history. It covers all aspects of international motor sports, including hill-climbs, rallies, Indycars and land speed records, though inevitably Grand Prix racing features strongly in later years.

Nearly every page contains at least one photo, mostly of course in monochrome (some colour near the end) and all are fascinating. The title is, however, a little misleading because the book isn't simply a picture book with captions, but rather an essay on the history of motor racing accompanied by many varied pictures.

Evocative images of the early pre-war years steal the show. In contrast to the clinical scene of today, these pictures are full of life and movement, showing peoples' faces peering out of clouds of steam, smoke, and dust as the mammoth vehicles struggle for control on un-made tracks. A classic shot of Arthur Duray [1906] on page 64/5 has to be my favourite!

Flower's written narrative occupies at least half of many pages. It is well written and informative without getting too bogged down in detail, successfully giving an overview of its subject. There are some glaring mistakes, but that doesn't detract much from the reader's enjoyment.

Now long out of print, Flower's book is well worth seeking out as a historic document in its own right. Be aware, though, that most of these old photos are no longer as rare as 35 years ago, thanks to the internet!… (altro)