Jaguar 1985 - 1988 - Roaring to victory

Video: produced by Sahara Productions. 60 minutes. (K-tel International Ltd, 620 Western Avenue, London W3 OTU. £9.99).

And still they come! Six months after Jaguar’s famous Le Mans triumph, the tide of commemorative books and videos shows no sign of abating, which can only be good for consumer-choice.

Although it starts and ends with the emotional rendition of our national anthem at the Sarthe, this particular film takes the Great British racing sports-car story back to its resurrection-pangs at Mosport Park in 1985. The tale it tells is both informative and action-packed, including race footage, interviews with all the leading players at Tom Walkinshaw Racing and an all-too-brief foray into the Kidlington factory.

Unfortunately, with almost three years of racing to cram into one hour’s viewing, there is just not enough time to analyse. As is the case with far too many videos, the commentary is delivered in an increasingly annoying jackanory tone, never pausing yet seldom adding significantly to the viewer’s entertainment. Its most lively moment is Derek Bell’s expletive accusation that Porsche’s PDK development programme is about to cost hirn the 1986 World Championship! Even so, this is the best and fullest visual record of the Jaguar renaissance you could hope to acquire for less than a tenner . . . GT

Among the recent titles from GT Foulis of Yeovil, under the Haynes imprint, are Henry Rasmussen’s Aston Martin — The Postwar Road Cars at £24.95, and Great American Convertibles by Richard M Langworth at £12.95. Both are large-format hardback books in which almost all the illustrations are in colour.

Langworth’s Triumph Cars, co-written with Graham Robson and published by Motor Racing Publications, has now become available as a superb leather-bound limited edition. The 100 copies are numbered and signed by both authors and are obtainable exclusively from Menoshire Limited, 49 Churchfield Road, Acton, London W3 6AY for £39.95 plus postage. WPK

From Haynes Publishing comes a big study of the MGB, in the form of an illustrated history in which Jonathon Wood and Lionel Burrell have packed all manner of fascinating colour and black-and-white pictures of the never-to-be-forgotten B. The foreword is by John Thornley (who else?) and the price is £14.95, but we are sorry to note that the bibliography gives the impression that Motor Sport neglected the MGB, which we most certainly did not. This book is complemented by the same publisher’s Improve And Modify MGB, by Lindsay Porter and Dave Pollard, whose title is self-explanatory. This 240-page, 800 illustration, 270mm x 210mm book has 16 pages in colour, and is priced at £12.95. WB

Newest Haynes/Foulis DIY Guide we have seen is about how to restore, and how to buy, Triumph Spitfire, GT6, Vitesse and Herald cars, by ex-teacher Lindsay Porter and scientist Peter Williams. They take the reader step-by-step through the required processes, using nearly 1000 photographs and seven line-drawings in 312 pages, for a cost of £14.95. The same publisher has brought out a new edition of Graham Robson’s Rallying — The Four-Wheel-Drive Revolution, which first surfaced two years ago, at £16. 95. WB

A little book of 167 clearly reproduced pictures depicting Scottish motoring scenes from veteran days to the 1950s has been published by bus driver Robert Grieves. It is more attractive than many similar books and the author clearly knows his cars; captioning the makes individually in many hundreds of cases, in only three of the pictures could his quoting of makes be queried. The postcard-size pictures cover pioneer days (many Scottish cars and the famous Argyll factory included), rallies, camping and the ferries. I congratulate Mr Roberts on a highly “browseworthy” book, whose last picture is of the bullnose Morris tourer he has restored. Motoring Memories is available from XS Publications, 9 Pearson Drive, Rehfrew PA4 OBE, forE5.25 post-free. WB

Jowett Car Club has published a magazine size illustrated book The Pirelli Classic Marathon — A Challenge By Jowett. The two Jupiters and a Javelin all finished the marathon— the latter coming first in its class. Copies are available from Mike Smailes, 2 Talgarth Road, Norton, Stockton-on-Tees TS20 1LF , for £2.50 including postage. WB

For those confused by the complexity of modern engine-management systems, Foulis has brought out Tuning New Generation Engines For Power And Efficiency by A Graham Bell, a 235-page book which also covers chassis-tuning, pollution control and the law, for £14.95. WB

A useful stocking-filler for many a motorist will be the 1989 Collins Road Atlas of Britain. All the information within its 136 pages of large-scale maps has been revised and updated to include golf courses, airports, roads under construction, gardens, museums and theme parks. Full colour plans of central London and 57 other towns and cities, with the major roads and streets named, are useful items. Good value at £4.95. WPK