Book reviews, December 1989, December 1989

Grand Prix Greats by Nigel Roebuck. 192 pp. 101/2″ x 71/2″. Thorson Publishing Group, Wellingborough, Northants, NN8 2HQ. £7.99.

We have long thought that a book about racing drivers, as distinct from the cars they race, should be written, and in recent times there have been some of these. In Grand Prix Greats, Roebuck covers 25 famous GP drivers. This is a paperback edition of his book that appeared in 1986 but it has been brought up to 1988. The author covers the “greats” of recent times, going back in history by including his views of Alberto Ascari, Rosemeyer and Varzi. He looks at the characters of these drivers, what made them what they were and are. A bit “journalese” maybe, some of the opinions no doubt gathered from interviews at today’s post-race Press briefings. But gripping stuff! WB 

I am not supposed to talk about aeroplanes these days in these pages, but in case any readers served in Sunderland flying boats during the war, or have an affinity for them, I feel compelled to recommend the marvellously complete coverage of the subject by Chaz Bowyer in The Short Sunderland, published by Aston Publications Ltd, for £16.95.  WB