Valve Bounce

Steve McQueen ISDT photographs

Steve

Francois Gragnon

La Galerie De L'Instant 2008

During our stay in Paris recently we were wondering around the Marais area when we came across a photography gallery with an  exhibition of excellent Steve McQueen photos. They were all taken in 1964 during McQueen's ride in the 39th International Six Days Trial (ISDT) held in Erfurt, East Germany.

They feature McQueen riding in the trials and relaxing between rides. Most of the pictures are available as prints alongside Francois' other work which mostly features French film-stars. The book is of 28 A4 size prints on very high quality paper in a cloth binding, it's a limited edition of 1000 with an additional signed colour print and is numbered and signed by the photographer.

Francois Gragnon was a photographer for Paris Match in the 1960s and covered the ISDT for the magazine. The gallery is run by his daughter who has produced these book herself. I hadn't seen this available anywhere else and couldn't resist. 

This is a great supplement to the superb book 40 Summers Ago...  by Rin Tamaka and Sean Kelly which tells the story of McQueens ISDT in great detail. I don't think any of Gragnon's photos feature in this book so it's nice to get another perspective and the quality of the photographs is outstanding.

Portraits

Photographs by Jesse Alexander

David Bull Publishing 2008

I've been a big fan of Jesse Alexanders photographs for quite a while and his new book lives up to his reputation as one of the great motorsport photographers. This book covers many subjects  from Fangio in 1958 through to Jackie Stewart in 1971 and even Dennis Jenkinson in 1987.

It's slim but in a large format with high quality paper and binding. The standard of photography is fabulous and the layout, with large photos makes them very striking. My only criticism would be that the layout is slightly random with no real narrative, but even so a great companion to Driven his previous title.

Another hit from David Bull publishing and Horton Books have some signed copies if you're quick.

Heuer Chronographen

Fascination Of Timekeepers And Motor Sports 1960s 1970s

Arno Michael Haslinger

Callwey Munich 2008

I slightly niche interest I'll grant you; but a fabulous book nontheless. It was launched at Techno Classica Essen this year and is a real treat. A catalogue of Heuer watches from the 60s and 70s which might sound a little dry but this is a beautifully produced book that also relays the story behind the Heuer company and how it has became synonymous with motorsport.

Of course all the great watches are featured but there are also many many pictures of the drivers of the times wearing the different models and these really give a great period feel. I'd highly recommended this even if you are just slightly interested in the watches and of course there are a few pictures of the Heuer Monaco as worn in the film Le Mans by a certain film star. The book web site is here.  

Spyders & Silhouettes

- The World Manufacturers and Sports Car Championships in Photographs, 1972 -1981

Janos Wimpffen

David Bull Publishing

The latest in the series from Janos Wimpffen is another fantastic book. This is the third in a series of four photograph books that accompany  'Time and Two Seats'  which chronicled sports car racing statistics so completely over 50 years.

It was my Christmas present this year, and it was made even better since it is signed by the author, Derek Bell, Vic Elford and Howden Ganley (thanks to Horton Books) .

The book covers the period 1972 - 1981 and includes pictures from all the major road races. It features the last running of the Targa Florio, several 1000km races from the time, as well as the usual Le Mans and Nurbugring.

The book is beautifully produced and is very evocative of the era. 911s dominate, of course, but there are plenty of interesting shots here of BMWs, Ford and even Datsun Zs... Just one more edition to go! 

Classic Motorsport Routes

- 30 Legendary Routes You Can Drive Today

Richard Meaden

AA Publishing

If you love driving, and have even the slightest interest in Motorsport, this is a must-have purchase. It's just great for cold dark winter nights and planning summer trips. The idea is similar to a number of articles in Motorsport a few years ago (not sure if this is the same author).

The author has picked 30 motorsport routes from a number of different disciplines - road races/circuits, Rallies, GP circuits, Hillclimbs and record breaking.  The routes all are public roads that can be driven for free (except 'Rest and Be Thankful' but that is a special case! see later). All routes are illustrated with a mix of period and new photos plus maps.  All have a description of the history of the route and a description of driving the route so you know what to expect when you get there. There are some great little stories and insights. I loved the story about Juha Kankkunnen on Rally Finland.

"Rally photographers were comparing shots from the same corner, they noticed that Kankkunnen's car was at a totally different angle and much closer to the side than his rivals...Kankkunnen revealed that he had been tipped off that although the owner left his post box in place on the apex for the recce he removed it on the day of the rally. This allowed him to take huge liberties and steal some time."

I have been to about half the routes over the years but I've still been drawing up a list for a few new trips. This is my current wish list...

• Isle of Man Rally and TT course (must go to Isle of Man some time soon)
• Rest and Be Thankful hillclimb (with bottle of best malt in hand to get access!)
• Mille Miglia
• Targa Florio
• Grossglockner Pass
• Klausen Pass

I'm already planning the drive down to Sicilyto drive the Targa Florio route!

It's large format, 224 pages in full colour and it's brilliant value at £13.75 from Amazon. But don't just take my word for it, I've just noticed it's book of the month in Classic and Sports Car this month.

McQueen's Machines

- The Cars and Bikes of a Hollywood Icon

Matt Stone

(Motorbooks)

Another in the many McQueen books that have appeared recently. There's a lot of stuff in here from new interviews with the present and previous owners of his cars. It's a real insight into his huge interest in cars and speed in general. I was particularly struck by his insistence on favourite colour schemes and changing details in the seats and interior; a mark of a true petrol head! "Racing is life - and rest was just waiting..." as he used to say.

The Ferrari 250 Lusso features quite heavily. I've seen many pictures of it before but this book shows what a beautiful thing it is. He had a love of a particular shade of brown and had a few cars painted the same shade, the brown paintwork on the Lusso sounds odd (and is a very strange colour choice for a Ferrari at any time!) but it does work very well. The workshop that he used said...

" He spends 15k on this fabulous new Ferrari, and the first thing he wants to do is tear it apart and change it. But that was McQueen. He knew what he wanted. He’d listen to what other people suggested consider all their advice, and then do it his way. And he was usually right.”

It seems very true. The details recalled by the workshops he used are interesting, like the electric ariel that they installed on the Ferrari 275 GTS/4 NART Spyder; when it was down it was flush with the body work to keep the uncluttered SoCal look. It warms the heart to think he was so keen on the details.

As well as various 356 and 911 Porsche's, he had matching his and hers Mercs, a 300SEL 6.3 and 3.5 Cabriolet, both in black (the 3.5 for the lady obviously). Chad reports a conversation he had with his farther about the 6.3

" Dad what are you doing with that?” Chad said, “This thing is fast, you wouldn’t believe it. Last month I was I Germany, I was in a 911S doing about 130 on the Autobahn, and I saw something coming up behind flashing it’s lights. It must have been doing 150 mph. I moved over and there was this 60 year old guy in a cap smoking a pipe, and he went blowing by like I was standing still. So I decided there and then to buy me one of those” Chad said “it was one of his favourite cars he drove it everywhere.”

He put together a really great collection of cars. My favourites have got to be the 6.3 Benz, 356 Speedster, blue 1958 GMC pickup, Lusso, and Jaguar XK-SS all of them really outstanding cars, and all were given a tasteful Steve McQueen make over which show just how interested he was in the styling and driver comfort. A real hot rodder at heart. Overall this book is a great value, well organised, an entertaining read with lots of new insider interviews and pictures. An essential purchase for the casual - as well as more obsessive - McQueen fan.

Billy Graham once asked Steve what his religion was he said “It’s the desert, the grass, the sun in the sky-and my wheels”

Amen to that...