Thought I'd provide an update - the book is almost done. Writing is complete, the assembly is getting there, but publishing is on hold until I get my (gulp) divorce resolved. Once done, book will hopefully go to print (I'm self funding this).
UPDATE - I may have secured a publisher (99%), just working out fine details. The good news? Ultra--high quality book as I intended. Bad news? Likely to cost an arm, leg, and your first born. But it appears a light is now shining at the end of the tunnel for those that would like the complete history. If anyone is still interested and has not registered, go to www.16cylinder.com and register for information on the book (if you registered previously, no need to do so again). I will be sending an email out to everyone who registered soon (probably next week) to keep those in the loop and updating those who are interested in knowing the final progress and when the book will be ready. Thanks again.
I remember seeing the car at the LA auto show when it was first launched. Don't recall if it actually debuted there. Talked to Claudio and photographed the car at the show. Still have the (very sparse) press kit somewhere. Kurt O.
We'll see how we can get Claudio to sign personal copies. Warning, the book will not only be really limited (because of the subject matter) but very costly as well. This is what the publisher needs to do in order to make the project economically viable. When the price announced, keep in mind I get nothing until all the costs are recouped.
Brian, do you have some idea on the price range? Keep up the excellent work, i've been following this story for ages
Just a quick update - well, a lengthy one, that I emailed all those that signed up for the book today: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for your interest in the Cizeta V16T history book. It's been over 5 years in the making, and I have a status update for those that signed up for the book. Some of it is good news, some of it is bad news, and the remainder is just news. I started this project over five years ago after I was able to peruse the archives of Cizeta V16T creator Claudio Zampolli. What I found, merely just as a picture research inquiry was so many materials that I could tell the Cizeta V16T story. I spent the next 5 years (on and off) going through photos, documents, and more in order to accurately (as best as possible) tell the Cizeta story. A pictorial history was what I was going for. Here we are, November 2009, and I had hoped the book would have been published nearly 2 years ago. Unfortunately I went through a messy divorce that deprived me of the funds to publish it myself. I spent the next year polishing the book up, and doing continued research in case anything new popped up that was relevant to the story. Additionally, I began to shop the project to book publishers. Finally in summer of 2009, I found a publisher that was interested in the project to publish the book in late 2010. The good news in waiting this long is the story became clearer, and I managed to get even more information and pictures to help round out the story. I secured an interview and private shoot with one Cizeta V16T owner in Japan. I made contact with Mandelli re: the Monza project (a car built off Cizeta V16T components, looks identical). I got in touch with Giorgio Moroder for his side of the story. Even Jay Leno, who wanted absolutely nothing to do with the book (because of Claudio) has lately changed his perception, and is encouraging me to move forward. The bad news is those that want their book signed by Claudio Zampolli, this will not happen. In the course of researching this book, Claudio and I had a falling out. Our relationship has been terminated, and he is unlikely to sign any book that is written by me. You are certainly willing to try on your own, but I sincerely doubt it. Why did we terminate our relationship? In a nutshell, Claudio wanted a glorified photo album published, one that showed him in the best possible light, with anything negative reflecting on him to be as a victim only. In my research, much of it recent discoveries, I uncovered events that paint Claudio in a very negative light. Lawsuits. Actions. Undelivered cars. Is it meanspirited to publish these sorts of events? No, because they are part of the reason that the company failed, and part of the reason many of Claudio's closest friends and allies no longer speak to him. Guys like Jay Leno, Sammy Hagar, Eddie Van Halen, Giorgio Moroder, and so on. This isn't a book that is supposed to read like a Hollywood drama. Unfortunately, it does, and mainly because of the actions of Claudio - not creative fiction writing. I will also know very shortly if the publisher I am working with will move forward. Claudio has threatend to sue them if they publish the book, and this has them worried. Nothing printed is a lie, it is all factual and many of the documents I have back this up. There is a strong potential that the publisher will not publish it because of legal concerns. I had considered collecting substantial deposits to fund self publishing, but even if I collected the full amount from everyone that signed up, it would not be enough. Therefore this is not an option. There are three (3) options at this point, and I'd like to hear from those who signed up what your preference is: 1) Traditional publisher. Right now, we have a publisher interested but there is a strong likelihood this will go away. There are no other publishers I have found interested in publishing the book because of how limited the subject is; 2) Photo book route. This is a viable, but far from cheap option. The book would be published using one of the photo book services, however I would need to do some test runs (not cheap) to ensure text is readable, photos are of high quality. Additionally, there are page limits (most have a 100 page limit). What would happen here is to publish the book across two (2) volumes. I am evaluting the costs, but again, here we're looking at potentially a $200-$400 book (pending size, quality, and if it could be done in 1 or 2 volumes). This is not inclusive of shipping. 3) I generate a PDF file, put it up for donations. You could download, read on your PC, and if you would like to make a financial donation, a Paypal link would be provided. That or there maybe a fee associated with download (a fraction of the cost for a photo book). You wouldn't be paying for my time or research, but all the costs I have put up for this book. I've paid for many of the pictures and other aspects out of my own pocket. I'm merely at this point trying to recoup these costs. Generating a profit is never likely to occur (and not why I wrote the book to begin with). Please let me know your thoughts and feelings on this, and should the publisher elect to cancel printing of the book, I will look into everyones response about the method they prefer. Those on a budget will surely want a PDF file, while those that can afford a printed book will surely want that. If I go the printed route, I will still include the DVD as promised. Thank you again for your support, it is very much appreciated.
You know, as a side note, I've thought of just publishing what I have here on FChat, turn the thread into a virtual book...Rob would have to approve it.
Well Brian - I am sorry to read of your falling out with Claudio. However, it is probably best that you were able to dig deeper into the story, as had you put your name on a one-sided version of events it would have reflected poorly on you as well. Personally I am not big on autographs so the lack of Claudio's on the book doesn't diminish my interest in it. I would still love to see the book go to print, but understand the circumstances which could prevent it quite clearly. Lawsuits are always costly, even when you are right to begin with. I think any online publishing in either .PDF or web form will fail to bring you the money to recoup your investment in time and effort. I also don't see how that alleviates the threat of a lawsuit which would now be directed squarely at you? >8^) ER
Agreed - and one reason why I dug as deep as I could, I couldn't put my name on a white-washed story. In any event, Claudio will sue me regardless I'm sure, it is America, and though he won't win (IMO), it'll still likely cost some money. Anyway, in the event the publisher does not follow through (I will know in the next week or two), I found another avenue that I will pursue, a print-on-demand service that looks to have a high quality product. Once I do a test run, if all goes well, people will be able to purchase a copy of this book as early as January 2010. Hell, maybe I'll launch it on my birthday! Won't be cheap, but at least I can bring closure to this project.
Im also sorry to hear of your falling out with Claudio, and always grateful for your introduction to him for my photoshoot, thanks again!. I hope to see your material in some format or other, a book would be preferable, but i would settle for a pdf rather than nothing.
There was a red one at last weekend's best of France and Italy show in Van Nuys. Interesting looking, the engine cover was up-it is an unbelievably long motor, esp. transverse mounted. Didn't sound like it was running quite right. PB
i am sorry to hear this... i hope to be able to buy the book sooner or later as for Zampolli: i met a guy here in Italy that knew him since they were just boys... he talks about him as a real genius, but somewhat with a difficult caracter... so it does not surprize me a lot your issue with him, neither that some of these famous guys do not speack him any more
Sorry to read that Brian. I'll personnaly prefer a big format book... Best. Philippe M S2 7987 www.lamborghinimiura.com
Quick update - still waiting to hear from the publisher, however I did look into alternatives. So far, Blurb is the route I'm going (print on demand book). I just literally spent 16 hours laying out the book with their software, and still need to do some clean up work. In the event (I'll know shortly) the publisher doesn't move forward, I can upload this and have it ready to order in a matter of days. I'm targeting January 2010 if not sooner, pending feedback I get. FYI - as I've laid the book out now, it clocks in at 260 pages. More details soon, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And it'll be 13x11 hardback.
Sorry, I haven't read through the entire thread, but have you tried Veloce Press as a publisher? http://www.velocepress.com/
Did you look into David Bull Publishing? He is another car book publisher. Here is a link to a company near me, might be worth a shot. http://www.mcnaughton-gunn.com/
Yeah, David turned it down years ago. As for the link above, that's a printer. Here's the issue: this is such an obscure subject, most don't want to touch it. Of course I could pay and print it up myself (like McNaughton), but that costs money. A lot of money, money of which I don't have. So if the existing publisher (who handles all the costs and distribution) I am talking to walks, then I'm just going to go the Blurb route and it'll be print on demand. The other issue which many of you might not be aware of, the publisher I am talking to is talking about an ultra-limited book. With that comes a price: try $500+ per copy. It'll be in line with the quality of the Driving Ambition book (the uber limited one, not the retail copy), and many may not pay that fee. I'm hopeful the publisher will come through, but in the even they do not, I have a back up plan. What this book will not be, self-published or through a regular publisher, is a $30 book like many of the Motorbooks series (the 8x8 sized softbound books). That may be a detriment to many that want this book. I appreciate all the links and help, but given the subject matter and the number of people ready to buy, the only economical way outside the traditional publisher is print-on-demand.
