My uncle has just brought two books back from a jumble sale :
Competitive Driving
Edited by Peter Roberts
Motoraces Book Club : 1964
Competition Driving
Paul Frere
Motoraces Book Club : 1963
Wondered if anyone had heard of them? I have another really old book which I'll dig out. 1920's I think.
When I've read the above, I'll tell you what they're all about.
Graham, the Paul Frere is an absolute classic.
One of the very best expositions on how to go racing that has ever been published. And incidentally, if the dust jacket is in anything like good condition, I haven't seen it fetching anything less than £35 for a while.
Even if not mint, it's still a cracking read.
You've got yourself a top result there, my friend.
Cool.
The front cover (what's a dust jacket?) is sort of khaki, the text "Competition Driving" is in dark browny-khaki and there's a dotty pic of a bloke in a rear-engined GP car (No.20 I think it is).
The cover is in very good condition. Doesn't seem to have been read. No yellowing either. Probably an unwanted Xmas present chucked in a box under someone's bed.
Ah, I've just looked through an found the pic used on the cover. It's our boy Stirling at Monaco in the 1961 Monaco GP. Doesn't say what car - what was it? Lotus? Looks very much like wobbly webs on the wheels.
Ah, you haven't got the really, really, really collectible one then. That's got an overhead shot looking in at Monsieur Frere steering a Ferrari 250TR/61 on the cover.
You've got the really, really collectible one!
And as I say, it's a cracking read. It'll have you wanting to race-prep one of those Moggy Minors in no time.
The dust jacket, or dust wrapper (D/W) is the paper slipcase around the book. The better the D/W, basically, the more exalted the book amongst collectors.
I see. The pic is overhead but like I say it says in the book that it's Stirling Moss at Monaco. I notice there's a pic in the book of the author driving a Ferrari round somewhere. Never heard of him before.
The 'cover' I'm talking about comes right off. It's not actually attached to the actual hard cover of the book. Maybe it's a dust cover - dunno. Still khaki and still has Moss.
Ever heard of the other book?
Straight answer - nope!
I'll not spread the word about you not knowing Paul Frere...!
Grand Prix driver, winner of Le Mans 24 hours, esteemed and outspoken journalist for 40 years...
He knows what he's talking about, and he knows the words to express himself, too. That's why the book is such a classic.
