Light up your desk with a brake disc lamp: latest racing collectibles

Let’s get back to books for this month, specifically titles that go that extra mile. There are some wonderful examples of books that offer something different and make great collector items.

First up, what I would call the ultimate work on Ayrton Senna, Memories and Mementoes of a Life Lived at Full Speed. This was published by Haynes in 2009 and as well as being a lovely book with family archive content and photos, it comes complete with a range of its own collectibles such as replicas of his race licence, letters, contracts, stickers and even his birth and baptism certificates.

Every item is done right; stickers have been replicated perfectly, everything is the correct size and shape and every material just feels right. This was reissued in 2018 but if you can find one of the original run it’ll be worth twice the value of the reprint. A copy should be on every F1 fan’s bookshelf.

Another great example is Doug Nye’s book on the McLaren F1 road car, Driving Ambition. It came in tiers of exclusivity (and price!) but all had an A1 poster of the F1. Copies typically go for a few hundred pounds – significantly more if they’re signed – but if the poster is lost, values will automatically take a hit of around 30%.

A more bizarre modern example is Ferrari by Taschen. If you opt for the top-tier publication you’ll receive an aluminium display case designed to look like a Ferrari V12 engine cover, and an exhaust manifold table stand to put it on!

There are some bargains too, such as Into the Red and Passion For Speed, both by Mark Hales & Nick Mason (of Pink Floyd fame). Both featured a CD of engine sounds from Mason’s collection, which is great if you’re into that sort of thing. Equally Sir Jackie Stewart’s autobiography Winning Is Not Enough had an edition that came with a DVD of footage and interviews. You may never watch it, but it’s a nice accompaniment to a good read.

Andrew Francis is director at The Signature Store. thesignaturestore.co.uk

Motor racing icons books

The Signature Store’s tie-up with Photo-Finish brings two exclusive titles dedicated to Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell. Each is a pocket-sized 21c x 21cm and 48 pages, and features stunning photos helping chart their respective careers.
£39.95, thesignaturestore.co.uk

Brake Disc lamp

With these winter nights you’ll need something suitable to light your way as you peruse Motor Sport. Look no further than this brake disc lamp, glowing as if it’s being heated by a GT3 car in the Spa 24 Hours. Available with either BMW M or AMG branding.
£79.99, spoilershelf.co.uk

Autocourse 2025-2026 Annual

Autocourse is the oldest and most-respected F1 annual in print, having been published each year since 1951. This year it celebrates its 75th edition and running additional editorial to its normal range of reports, stats, tech and personality features.
£75, iconpublishinglimited.com

Hot Wheels x Formula 1

Hot Wheels first launched its F1 range at the start of 2025, and its success has now dragged all the grid in to play. You can now collect the entire field – including both Ferrari and Aston Martin for the first time – fully liveried in glorious 1:64 desk-topping goodness.
Five-pack £10, mattel.com

Indy Light-Up Chain

America loves a bit of mad merch, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has knocked it out of the park with this ’90s rap-style oversized light-up-chain featuring the famous winged-wheel logo. Expensive for a gimmick? Yes. Do you still want one though? Also yes.
£70, shop.ims.com

Ayrton Senna Artwork

When the artwork is so good, why not also include the frame? That’s part of what artist Ian Salmon offers with his reimagining of Ayrton Senna’s legendary McLaren MP4/4. Allowing the colour to spill out over the frame makes this super dramatic.
From £499, iansalmonart.com