Book Reviews
Reviews of the latest media that interest motoring enthusiasts.
Memoirs of a Hack Mechanic
If you’re watching this show, chances are you’ve spent some time wrenching on a car, and have had various levels of success for your efforts. Rob Siegel is one such shade tree mechanic, and he tells his story in Memoirs of a Hack Mechanic: How Fixing Broken BMW’s Helped Make Me Whole. It’s a good read, as Siegel takes a look back at his life through the many… Read More
Leanings 3
If you’re a car or motorcycle fan like us and have spent perhaps a little too much time flipping through car and motorcycle magazines, you’re probably familiar with writer Peter Egan. And if you’re not, Leanings 3 is a great place to start; a collection of his writings from Cycle World magazine from the years 2005 through 2013. Few writers do a better job of… Read More
Driven by Desire
Those of you who think women in auto racing begins and ends with Danica Patrick need to get an education! And a good place to start would be by turning the pages of driven by desire, the Desire Wilson story. Written by her husband, race track developer Alan Wilson, it chronicles this South African woman’s rise from beating the boys at the go-kart track at age… Read More
The Art of the Car
We can all agree that some cars are works of art. And we can also agree that some works of art are about cars. This collision of art and the automobile is never more apparent than in The Art of the Car photo book, with photography by Bob Paulding. You won’t see any beauty shots of complete cars here, just pages and pages of artful compositions of the louvres… Read More
Cord Complete
While its run of production was a short one, Cord automobiles have always struck a “chord” with collectors and designers alike. The 1930’s were an exciting time in the automotive industry, with American carmakers spread throughout the land. Like, in Indiana, where the Cord Corporation was putting together their front-wheel-drive V8-powered Model 810. You can… Read More
Via Corsa Car Lover’s Guide to Northern California
Everyone knows that California is car heaven. And if you’ve ever thought about heading to the golden coast for a vacation on wheels pick up a copy of Via Corsa Car Lover’s Guide to Northern California. From author Ron Adams, you’ll get route tips; a rundown of car museums, wineries of course, popular hot rod shops, and race tracks. As well as strategies to… Read More
1967: Chris Amon, Scuderia Ferrari and a year of living dangerously
The times they were a-changin’ in 1967, and so was the international racing scene. Thanks to John Frankenheimer’s movie Grand Prix, released the year before, celebrity sightings were now a common thing in Formula One paddocks. Unfortunately death was becoming an ever more common one as well. It’s this clash of celebrity and fatality that is the backdrop to… Read More
Firehawk – Fiercest of the Firebirds
If you’re a long time MotorWeek viewer, you know that over the years we’ve tested a lot of SLP performance cars, and it all started with the Firehawk. We know that Mac Logan is a huge fan of that car, and he’s turned his passion into 200-plus pages, with the book SLP Firehawk – Fiercest of the Firebirds. It’s not only a complete history of how the Firehawk… Read More
Bentley: A Motoring Miscellany
If you’re looking for the complete history of Bentley Motors, well this book is not it. Bentley: A Motoring Miscellany is instead a volume full of trivial tidbits and water cooler fodder for anyone who is a fan of the famed British brand. From a background of W. O. Bentley’s first customer, to a listing of some of the more exotic custom pieces that have… Read More
Form Follows Function: The Art of the Supercar
While very few of us ever get to actually own a supercar, just about everyone can appreciate the often striking beauty of their design. Stuart Codling certainly does, and with the help of some exquisite photography by James Mann, he brings us the 20 supercars that he thinks are the finest ever, in his book Form Follows Function: The Art of the Supercar. … Read More