This is a magnificent heavy weight hardback with black cloth cover embossed with silver title. Also furnished with dust jacket and slipcase. It measures 12x12 “ approximately. 360 pages and 390 illustrations.

This book is devoted to the 300S considered by some to be the world’s most beautiful sports racing cars. [The editor would challenge this]
The book also traces the history of the World Sports Car Championship in 1956 and 1957 against such opposition as Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Lancia, Aston Martin and Jaguar.

The content includes paragraphs on:

• Introduction and Technical Development
• Numbers
• In Italy
• The Competition
• Advertising and Sales
• The Cars [by Chassis]
• The Mystery Cars
• 350S – The Successor
• The Personalities
• Appendix :Owners Manual
• Acknowledgements
• Index.

The editor was slightly disappointed. First impressions of quality weight and size suggested a technical treatise. Considering the aesthetic merit of the 300S there was relatively little about the design and construction. I had hoped for working drawings but these were sadly absent.

The 950’s provided a rich and varied selection of competition machinery. The conduct of races was more amateur than now but it was possibly more photogenic and accessible. The book is profusely illustrated and this is compensation. Many of the pictures are period and very redolent of the era. The author’s inclusion of both black and white with colour photographs is very endearing and communicate more than words ever can. Baeumer catches the full International flavour with photographs from all continents in which the 300S raced.
One photograph will be of interest to Lotus enthusiasts [see page 187] Whitehaed in 300S [race no 48] leads a Lotus 8 and Eleven at Snetterton 1956.

A significant section of the work is given to a record of the 28 cars supposedly built. It’s as if the author hopes to make this the definitive list but this can rarely be fixed with certainty.

In conclusion a beautifully illustrated and presented book rather marred by lack of technical information and restoration detail.

Flywheel “Memories of the open Road.”

Brief Introduction

This is a touching little book that contains more that might be imagined.

In many respects is real living history, it’s about motivation under harsh conditions but its optimism relates to the future. It speaks volumes about freedom.  It also acknowledges the Commonwealth needs. The reader should appreciate that many of the soldiers would have significant impact on post war more support in a range of capacities.

This small volume is also a fascinating insight into culture and in ways looks back with nostalgia but essentially forward. As in case/ debate about streamlining [nb present day green and petrol concerns etc]
Not quite a manifesto but it does so important seeds.

Ex military personnel like Arthur Mallock  [U2] would have a considerable impact on post war clubman’s racing and in the process the development of Lotus. Ex servicemen would probably mutate wartime technology, as did Colin Chapman particularly from aviation but also in logistics organisation and planning.

The book is beautifully and lovingly illustrated. The style of drawing indicates the best of the amateur but high quality that characterised this era. The illustrations in watercolour are very evocative, capturing the spirit and essence of the machines and driving pleasure. The inclusion of known and trusted brands was perhaps a link with home, security and a reputation and safeguard.

The editor also suggests that readers might like to study our “Long and Winding Road Series” as there is a period perspective in both that might allow the reader to pick up threads and have deeper insights to the culture, motivating forces and embryo technology that would appear post war.

Review.

The authors explain that the book:
“Is a facsimile reproduction of a unique collection of motoring magazines produced during WWII in a prisoner of war camp in Mulhberg, Germany.

Each edition was drawn and scripted by hand and circulated around the camp for members to read and pass on. The first being produced in May 1944 and the last March 1945.”

Royalties from the book are donated to the Red Cross.

Items included:

• Summary of the ideal car
• Austin racing car
• Tempering steel
• History of the M.G
• Fastest on Earth
• Independent all –round
• All weather racing kit
• Things to come & Reawakening [poem]
• Alta
• Stagnate and Streamline
• The Exeter
• Highland Steed
• Ought there be a TT
• Hints Tips and Do You Know.

This small book, highly illustrated on 240 pages is an important social document and commentary. More important in some respects than academic tomes. It ought be read in context of the contribution and cultural context of the motorcar in the 20C

* This item donated by Neil Duncan and available through the A&R Library.

This book is the biography of Cliff Allison who started motor racing over fifty years ago with a little Cooper 500. Very much a countryman at heart Allison was not one of the party-going racing drivers but a driver with a huge ambition to race in Formula 1. He and Graham Hill competed in the first grand prix race for Colin Chapman’s Lotus team in 1958 and scored the first world championship points for Lotus. He later joined Ferrari and won the Argentine 1000kms sports car race with American co-driver Phil Hill as well as being a member of the Ferrari grand prix team in 1959 and 1960.

Cliff Allison can also claim victories in many sports car events including winning the Index of Performance at Le Mans in 1957 with a 750cc Lotus Eleven-Climax. His retired from racing following an accident whilst driving a Lotus-Climax in practice for the Belgian GP at Spa in 1961.

Graham Capel

Gerard Crombac

Currently available on amazon