Miscellany, January 2003

Haynes the prolific publishers from Sparkford, Yeovil, have two catalogues of their 2003 books and servicing manuals. The motorsport section has 84 thumbnail colour pictures of the book covers; collectors will find some earlier titles still available, such as My Life Full of Cars, by my friend Paul Frere, described as ‘the world’s top motoring journalist’, Stuart Turner’s Twice Lucky and Tony Rudd’s It Was Fun!, etc, but my Brooklands Aero-Engined Racing Cars and Brooklands Giants, which Haynes produced so commendably, appear to be out of print after a short run. General car titles get the same catalogue treatment, with brief reviews. Call 01963 442080 to learn more. There is also a new Museum catalogue (£12) with all the Yeovil exhibits, from Bajuj rickshaw to V16 Cadillac.

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The Brooklands Museum Trust is arranging torchlight 90-minute tours of the track from January 14 with the ghostly sound of pre-war racing engines over a glass of wine. Very different from pre-war winters when all was quiet except for track repairs.

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A long time ago the late Harry Charnock, who was a prominent BDC member with two vintage 4.5-litre Bentleys, as well as a Talbot 105, a special Alvis Silver Eagle and a Rover Speed 14, wrote his book of Motoring Verse, obviously with a strong vintage and Bentley flavour. With the help of his son Tony Charnock and family this has been republished in enlarged form, featuring pen-and-ink pictures by ‘Red’ Daniels, by Drumhouse of Kington (ISBN 1 899743 02 2, £7.50), with 116 verses by the poet whom Roger Collings, a past VSCC president, calls “The motoring man’s Poet Laureate”.