Right before I left for Silverstone, your kindly Editor asked me to keep an eye out for any French oddities which might appear. At the auction, I found these two, both of which definitely fit the bill. Color photos by Roy Smith.
le mans
The Ten Best Years of Le Mans
Le Mans The Official History of the World’s Greatest Motor Race 1949-1959
Haynes Publishing, U.K. 2011 ISBN 978 1 84425 537 5
352 pages $69.95
Illustrations: 50+ color & 300 b/w ill
Size: 9.0 x 11.0 x 1.0
Weight: 4.063 lb.
Licensed by the Automobile Club de l’Quest (ACO)
By Quentin Spurring
Order from Qbookshop
Review by Pete Vack
All photos courtesy Haynes Publishing
Author Quentin Spurring believes that the first post war decade at L e Mans was significant because the race survived after not one but two tragedies, the first being World War II; the second ten years later after the 1955 accident which killed over 80 spectators. The tragedy shut down racing temporarily and forever in some countries (if you have even wondered why there in no F1 race in Switzerland, the Le Mans disaster is the reason). [Read more…] about The Ten Best Years of Le Mans
Three Books on French Etceterinis
Robert Bosvin: La 4CV Bosvin-Michel-Spéciale Pixel studio press 2008 Softbound, 84 pages, 142 photos,168 x 230 mm, ISBN 978-2-917038-04-8 21 Euros (27 USD)
Review by Michael Catsch
You’ve not heard of the Bosvin-Michel-Spéciale? You are forgiven. The Bosvin-Michel-Spéciale (BMS) is a very successful example of that rare breed of French etceterinis. These French etceterinis are mainly grouped in two main categories: the Panhard based (using at least Panhard motors) and the Renault 4CV-based cars. [Read more…] about Three Books on French Etceterinis
Legends at Le Mans
Sir Stirling Moss at the wheel of his own 1956 Osca FS 372
Photos and captions by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Colorful legends at Le Mans this year featured 79-year-old Sir Stirling Moss and his OSCA FS 372. Moss is no stranger to OSCAs; he won at Sebring with an OSCA MT4 in 1954.
[Read more…] about Legends at Le Mans
Peugeot at Le Mans 2009
Peugeot broke Audi’s grip at Le Mans this year with the 908 HDI FAP driven by Marc Gene/Alexander Wurz/David Brabham. Both Peugeot and Audi were running diesel-engined cars.
Photos and captions by Hugues Vanhoolandt
French cars win the iconic French event; our man at Le Mans, Hugues Vanhoolandt, focuses on the winning Peugeot team.
[Read more…] about Peugeot at Le Mans 2009