tongascrew's brief book reviews | Page 3 | FerrariChat

tongascrew's brief book reviews

Discussion in 'Vintage (thru 365 GTC4)' started by tongascrew, Jan 3, 2015.

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  1. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
    2,989
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    Full Name:
    george burgess
    "FERRARI GTO The Classic Experience" by Alan Lis, 144 pages, hard back with paper dust jacket,Foulis Motoring Book,Haynes Pub. 1991.This book left me breathless.The period photographs are excellent and the background of where the 250GTO came from and progressed into is very detailed.BUT: a group of thirty different drivers, owners and mechanics have written of their experiences with the 250GTO. To name a few, Carlo Chiti,Phil Hill,Oliver Gendebien, Innes Ireland,Ed Niles,David Piper,Roy Salvatore,Jacques Swaters, Nono Vaccarella and more. A few quotes:Innis Ireland"I used take 3505 home quite often and drive it to the races. I remember driving it to Brands Hatch, the mechanic put hot plugs in and changed the wheels and after the race I drove it home. My wife used it to go shopping." Roy Salvatore ;" I've never been keen on wet weather racing. The GTO was very good in the wet.....I found it made driving in the wet almost pleasant."There is a section for each year 1961-1964 with race experiences, results and details of the competition.Rarely does one find such a variety of detail in one volume. You want this one. tonga"s crew
     
  2. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
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    "FERRARI STORIES from those who lived the legend" by John Lamm;large format;hard back;dust jacket;Motorbooks 2007;288 pages.Even if one is new to Ferrari, there are better volumes out there to get you started. Lots of large beautiful photographs and text by an eclectic group of folks , a few well known ones and semi well known, a group I have never heard of. Some wealthy owners and other groupies.It starts with the 815 and goes up to thru the golden years to the Ferrari Enzo. F1 has it's share of the insignificant.I suppose some have heard of Partick Hoag,Roberto Vaglietti,Richard Lusce,Brenda Vernor, John Morton, Eddie Smith.These have been given equal billing to Phill Hill,John Surtees,Chinetti, and Carol Shelby.Oddly enough the car shown on the first page of the "Production Car" chapter is a nice picture of the Egg. No further comment. tonga's crew
     
  3. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
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    george burgess
    "FERRARI Fifty Years On The Track" by John Starkey,Christopher Renuick,Philippe Olczuk; Renwich & Starkey Ltd.1998;395 pages;hard back;dust jacket. The first 234 pages take Ferrari from 1947 to 1973 in nine chapters with many good period photographs and text which covers the basics of design , development and racing mostly from the factory point of view. There is some gossip and story telling which gives the reader some of the background of the Ferrari legend. Most of this can be found in many other volumes many of which, though, concentrate on a brief period of time and more specific models,in much more detail.So if the reader wants to know more there are many other volumes out there. 1974-1997 years are covered briefly in chapter 10 in 10 pages The next 115 pages are devoted to historic detail of almost all of the even serial numbered competition cars from 01C in 1947 to the 206 SP cars of 1967 and for some reason the 333SP cars of the mid 1990s. Finally pages 369 to 380 give selected details of the specifications of these various models followed by a 13 pages of index.Yes there are some statistical errors but a great deal of research has been done since 1999.Example, which car did Nuvolari really drive in the 1948 Mille Miglia? One will need to decide the necessity of owning this book. I have two copies, one full of added notes and falling apart and the other like new. Enjoy; tonga's crew
     
  4. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
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    " FERRARI 166-F50GT The Racing Berlinettas";by John Starkey,Christopher Renwick and Philippe Olczyk; Starkey and Renwich Ltd. San Diego Cal. 1999;hard back;paper dust jacket;365 pages. This is a good value for many but not for all. For the many it tries to cover the even numbered Ferraris of the period.For some it covers some of the road cars that never saw a competition speed event. I suppose that only one of the early Ghia bodied cars has a picture but is unidentified and the one Ghia chassis listed has no competition record. Of the cars listed from the 1980s and 1990s many of the chassis listed have no racing record.So why is #88525 listed that was sold to the Sultan of Brunei or #95449 or #99401 both sold to private collections? There is no mention of the hundreds of 250 PF series I II III cars but the 250 California, not a berlinetta, is shown.This is only my personal opinion which should not take away from the relative importance of the book. The book has its place, just doesn't fit very well.Enjoy if you can. Tonga's crew
     
  5. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
    2,989
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    george burgess
    "The Ferrari"; by Hans Tanner;published in at least 5 editions; This report is based on the first edition published by G T Foulis, London UK in early 1959 while Tanner was in Honolulu, Hawaii, 201 pages, yellow soft back.(All editions can be considered a form of "text book"). Hans Tanner: it's hard to find a more colorful, entertaining, and at times unscrupulous character.He could do it all well except drive a car due to a depth perception problem from an accident.There isn't space here to say more.Do your own research on him. You will be amazed.Now there is some discussion about the "first edition" which was expanded and reprinted several times. The first printing, copy righted by Hans Tanner,is published by G.T. Foulis in London and printed by Edison Printers, Watford, UK in early 1959. The text starts with E.F. in the 1930s with the Alfa Romeo years and goes up to 1958.A second printing of the first edition was done in 1960 and a revised, expanded edition was printed in 1964 ,316 pages, published by Robert Bentley, Cambridge, Mass. U S A adding in the next three years to 1963. This was followed by several more expanded editions over a number of years. I have only the first three editions/printings and this review covers only the very first 1960 edition. Following the Alfa years the text pick up again after WWII.The Formula cars get the most attention followed by the sports/touring cars. In their day the first three editions set a standard for automotive journalism based on a single manufacturer .The first 174 pages are devoted to the conception, design , building and racing of the formula cars and what is referred to as the Special and Experimental Ferraris. The Sports and Touring get the next 45 pages and the remaining pages are with specifics of each model and appendices.. The writing is very much in the text book format. Not much back room gossip. The reader may have to decide which periods of interest are of importance.If you want the whole picture then get the the final edition. The experts of today pride them selves in finding errors in the text. A lot of research has been done in the many years following these editions which is expected. But there is still no single volumes about Ferrari that compare with these. Once the reader absorbs any of these volumes, which will require numerous readings, and settles on one period of Ferrari history to concentrate on, other authors can be considered. My collection "Ferrari The Golden Years 1946-1966" includes over 2000 books,magazines, published articles and photographs, documents blueprints and more, is very much on going. I read Tanner's first edition in 1959. Enjoy. tonga's crew
     
  6. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
    2,989
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    george burgess
    "FERRARIS FOR THE ROAD" by Henry Rasmussen;Motorbooks Inc.,Oceola Wisconsin;160 unnumbered pages. The title says it all including how well each "may" preform on the track.There are a few pages devoted to the early days but the first model discussed in any detail is the 250 California and the 250 SWB Berlinetta.The last one discussed is the 308 GT. There are many photos of each model and some nice first hand stories about each. A "Mr X" tells how he tried several Ferraris before being finally satisfied when he found the 250 Lusso which at over 6 ft. tall he could be comfortable in.Stories continue about blue exhaust smoke and valve guides small rubber hoses to listen to unusual engine noises, old Ferraris stored in the barn of an ancient castle, Greg Garrison and Dean Martin on collecting fast European sports cars etc.etc. Not much info here on the actual Ferrari models of the period but some entertaining stories. You decide if you need this. Enjoy tonga's crew
     
  7. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
    2,989
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    george burgess
    "Rebel Rebel (Breadvan); by Marc Somers and Keith Blumel; 2010 Parker House Pub., Stillwater Minnesota; hard back, 160 pages.I really don't know what to say about this one.It's not what I expected. First of all it is about just one chassis, 250 SWB Berlinetta #2819GT which shortly became known as the"Breadvan". The first owner was Ecurie Francorchamps and was shortly sold to Count Volpi's ecurie in Venice Italy as part of his Scuderia SSS.After the "palace revolt" at Ferrari, Count Volpi became a major backer of the new ATS Company formed by a group including several major ex Ferrari fired personalities to build cars to beat Ferrari.Volpe already had the first two 250 GTOs built on order which E.F. promptly cancelled and a long lasting feud broke out.Giotto Bizzarrini, the designer of the 250 GTO and among the fired, was the hired by ATS to build a car to beat the 250 GTO. The result became the "Breadvan" for its unusual body work. This car over the years became both infamous and largely unsuccessful for its designed purpose.What we have in this book has little to do with the design and construction of the "Breadvan"and everything to do with a group of wealthy "tifosi" who spent much of the next 50 plus years owning, modifying trading/selling and having fun etc with the car leading to the legend. This is what the book is all about. There are countless stories of memorable experiences, many almost beyond belief, that these folks went thru and continue to.The text here is the almost non stop entertaining adventures told by those involved. Don't expect to learn much new about how this car came to be. Just enjoy the casual and entertaining story telling of these characters who did a lot of serious "overplaying" over the years with this car.You may come to wonder why the fame of the "Breadvan" even exists today. Its exceptional "sex" appeal did it all to those who got involved. Enjoy. tonga's crew
     
  8. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
    2,989
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    george burgess
    'FERRARI Brochures & Sales literature, A Source book 1946-1967" By Richard F Merritt, year 2000 reprint by Veloce Pub. of the original John W. Barnes publication, 286 pages, soft back. B & W reprint of the original (as is the original). of literature for 56 early Ferrari models from the 125 Sports & Grand Prix cars to the 330 GTC. These brochures include cutaways of chassis and engines, basic statistics and photographs and competition results.Early issues are in Italian but most of the others in English. These can today be considered research documents.Many originals are available but at very inflated prices. With all of these the reader should remember that no two sns. were ever exactly the same as most were built to order by the original owner. Restorations have also compromised originality. Enjoy tonga'screw
     
  9. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
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    "FERRARI Operating, Maintenance and Service Handbooks 1948-1963 Volume 1"by Richard F. Merritt' John W. Barnes Jr. pub 1975; paperback; 320 pages; Italian with English translations;B & W photos,designs and schematics, tables of statistics of individual parts and their maintenance and repair, lubricants, and fuels. Note carefully page 4;" WARNING", danger and disclaimer ......caution, every effort has been made to ensure the highest accuracy possible. But do NOT blindly follow every statement or specification if it contradicts good common sense......."; "STOP; put away that wrench.Throw down that screw driver; consider that surely more damage has been done to Ferraris in the garage than on the highway.Remember ignition and most electrical parts and more are not made by Ferrari but are only installed by Ferrari. Design statistics such as compression ratios, gear box and rear end ratios, brake pads and drums, steering ratios, anti roll bars, spring rates etc. can vary from one sn to another similar one. . Also don't forget almost all body work, exterior and interior, was done and installed by independent carrozzerias outside the Ferrari factory. Enjoy tonga's crew
     
  10. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
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    Want a good example of this. Read the article in the new issue of Forza #147 about the guy who bought the GTC/4 and used it on the road and track without doing the necessary homework. Z classic example of loom
     
  11. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
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    XSorry I hit the send button to soon. (.... Just how looks can be deceiving! tonga'screw
     
  12. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
    2,989
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    Full Name:
    george burgess
    #1"FERRARI 250 GT SWB, The definitive road-race car" by Ken Gross;Osprey Publishing Ltd, London 1985, hard back;135 pages. Few individual car designs of any manufacturer deserve their own biography. This in one.Also few cars have had each chassis (sn#) so well documented in so many formats. If one was to pick just one Ferraro model, the 250 SWB Berlinetta, is the one which more time, research,money,documentation and restoration etc has been thrown at. This book is the first to capitalize on this effort. Many who already have a fascination for this particular Ferrari may well have gotten their start with this book.This car did everything well and or even better. It's well to remember that no two of these machines were built the same, only different. It is safe to say that most of the original owners of each sn. had a hand in the fine points of their car which make it unique. This book in 135 pages gives just enough scope of the final product to give the reader a glimpse of how much more there is to know. No other single volume does this better.This is the place to start and or continue from to familliarize one with what may be the single greatest sports car ever built.Enjoy, tonga's crew
    #2 "FERRARI OWNER'S HANDBOOK" by Hans Tanner, published by Floyd Clymer , undated but probably 1959, 174 pages, small format, soft back(note there is a reprint from Veloce Press in 2005 for less $s). This won't fit in you back pocket but with Hans Tanner doing the writing has a lot going for it. The first eight pages are a quite entertaining tale of first hand experiences with several very early Ferraris. According to Tanner they were definitely not the perfect jewels as often depicted. The rest of the book is devoted to basic but detailed descriptions of the cars built at SEFAC in the first 10 years.Included are many good period photographs including the work shops of the factory.Then there are 60 pages of, now well known drawings, including the of many of the components going into into the Ferraris of the period including the tool kits..There is a lot to take in from these pages. Enjoy tonga's crew
     
  13. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
    2,989
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    george burgess
    "FERRARI THE ROAD FROM MARANELLO" by Dennis Adler; Random House NYC.;2006; 319 pages; hard back, dust cover. I kind of like this as one for the beginner covering the road cars from 1947-2006.Chapter one give credit to the Cisitalia & Piero Dusion for the first of the "new look". Then Chinetti shows up returning from his war years in America and encourages E.F. to go ahead with his dream of a V12. Chapter 2 briefly goes back to the Alfa Romeo pre war racing years in which E.F. was very involved . The issues with Wilfredo Ricart at Alfa are very entertaining.Then the description of Chinetti, with his complete family, first visit to Modena over Christmas finding Ferrari cold and depressed and then convinceing him to go ahead with his V12 dream is entertaining if not entirely true.According to Dick Merritt and Stirling Moss the order books were soon filled and so the saga goes on for 219 more pages.It is all an entertaining rendition of the Enzo Ferrari story. and a good read. Enjoy tong's crew.
    "MOTOR RACING AT NASSAU IN THE 1950s & 1960s"by Terry O'Neil; Veloce Books,2008;96 pages soft back; Each year is briefly discussed with a collection of interesting photographs and maps of the different track layouts. Entertaining renditions of behind the scenes of parties,movie stars, beaches etc are fun. It is clear that there were drivers in the racing events who were quite hung over. Enjoy tonga's crew
     
  14. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
    2,989
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    george burgess
    #1"GO LIKE HELL; Ford,Ferrari and Their Battle For Speed and Glory at Le Mans" by A.J.Baime; Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 2009; 304 pages. This is a page turner and if you are not familiar with Ken Miles you will be now. He is a Brit. who was one of the greats in U.s. road racing going back to the "shingle" in the 1950s. This book reads like a combination of Connan Doyle and Mickie Spilane. The last pages 257-282 give a good idea of the quality research done to help make this a "page turner" One of the protagonists never drove a race car. Another not since the late 1920s. There are many quotations by those involved with choice language used and some very interesting subject matter. If you think you have heard it all or know it all, spend some time with this book.One name is still out there and, is still to this day, " THE "great protagonist of World motor racing. Enjoy. tong's crew.
    #2 "FERRARI PININFARINA", 125 pages; text by Kerruccio Bernabo and Etienne Cornil; photography by Georgio Bellia; Style Auto Epitrice SNC, Torino pub; 1967, English translation;. This is more than a series of very nice studio and promotional, portrait style photographs in black and white. Many of these cars were not painted red so just concentrate on the design. There is brief supporting text with each group of photographs. There are 13 pages of text discussing details of the PininFarina designs and construction. Just remember, until the early 1950s, no automobile designs like these had ever been seen.Pages 112- 126 is a discussion of the developments at Ferrari from 1947 to 1966. No thing really new but pleasant and informative. A good, if brief,showing of the first 20 years the memorable relationship between Ferrari and Pinin Farina. Enjoy tonga's crew
     
  15. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
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    #1 "BY BROOKS TOO BROAD FOR LEAPING"; by Denise McCluggage; forward by Phil Hill; Falcon Press August 8 1994; soft back;284 pages. This is a selection of 53 articles by the author originally published by Auto Week magazine.Some of the featured subjects are Fangio, Harry Schell, MacKay Fraser, Maston Gregory, Miles Davis,Taffy,Briggs, Steve McQueen, the MG TC, the Rodriquez Bros. and many more.Denise had a personal relationship with all of those mentioned,their stories and describes them in an entertaining prose typical of the time.I quote Phil Hill, "....she was truly a pioneer recharging the waning inertia of such pre war women as Elizabeth Junek,and up to Janet Guthrie and Shirley Muldowney." She stumbled thru the indignation by LeMans officials who said" This is an invitational race and we chose not to invite women" At the time she had been selected by Luigi Chinetti as part of his team.Denise McCluggage was an intergral part of the "Golden Years" of American and European motor racing , had experiences with many of the greats, was an experienced racing driver and wrote a vast collection of entertaining and informative articles about all aspects of the sport. Enjoy; tonga's crew.
    #2" FERRARI THE FACTORY Maranello's Secrets 1950-1975"; introduction by Karl Ludvigsen; Ludvigsen Library Series; ICONOGRAFIX, Hudson, Wisconsin, pub 2002; 125 pages; soft back. Looking for good photographs of the early production lines at the Ferrari factory,then you want this one.Don't expect much text, three pages only.All the rest are mostly full page B & W photographs of how the Ferrari cars were built. The process is more than just bolting parts together until a complete rolling chassis is created before any body work installed (usually elsewhere).The famous V12 and other engines are the real subjects. The only thing better would be a video in motion and scenes of the foundry.However the milling and stockpiles of engine and chassis parts and the assembly process is impressive.Enjoy; tonga's crew
     
  16. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
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    george burgess
    #1" THE FERRARI LIBRARY"; Second Edition; by David Moe;copyright 1989;Miles Tone Motor Co. pub.;soft back;140 unnumbered pages. This book is definitely not for everyone.. I really don't know why I have this or why it is really for anyone except the collector who must" have it all".It is made up of three sections #1"Ferrari Books,"#2 "Literature Numbered 1965 ON",#3 "Magazines" are " listed by the year, starting in April of 1988 and going back to August of 1951". The author credits Ed Niles, Robert McLellan,Harold Angel, Craig Cole and others who helped creating this publication. According to the Introduction "over 1000 publications have been made about Ferrari since 1946 which are listed here". Each listing of "Ferrari Books" shows the author and publisher only. Section #2" Literature ....1965 ON" lists the type of car and the title of the publication, #3 "Magazines" lists the name of the publication, date of issue and the title of one featured article.. The only way can see of making use of this publication is to keep it by your computer and Google any title of interest. You will have to decide if you really need this and then try to find a copy.Enjoy??? tonga's crew.
    #2 "FERRARI THE ROAD FROM MARANELLO", by Dennis Adler, forward by Luigi Chinetti Jr.,Random House 2006,319 pages,hard back. One of the better "starter" books. It opens with a couple of good stories from the early days. Ted Mullee's 2;30 AM test drive and how Dick Merritt persuaded Henry Ford to sell him 0235EU. The road cars from the first 125 to the big V8s and V12s of the later years up to 2007 are the subject matter. There are many excellent period B & W and color photographs and basic text of the design and development of each model. The last chapter "Enzo"s Passion, Tales of the Cavallino Pamparte" is a well written synopsis of what makes Ferrari one of the great stories of the 20th Century and more than just the history of an automobile.Enjoy tonga's crew
     
  17. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
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    #1 "1/43 ALL THE WORLDS FERRARIS VOL 1,Sport Prototype 250 & GTO Models"; by Daniel and Jean -Marie Lastu;First edition 1992; New Cavandish Books; 366 pages; hard back.Just another unique volume which you may or may not need. Well, if you are into building very small 1/43 Ferrari models or just want to know what was and may still be available, (no open wheel machines), for just a about every sports/touring variation of Ferrari cars from 1947-1964 then you need this one. Each chapter,(there are 18 of them) deal with each year and feature kits and completed models of a variety of all the Ferraris of that year.Each model has a color photograph of the completed model and basic info on the model and manufacturer. I have built almost 200 of these model kits but nothing ever of this miniature size. The rest is all up to you. Enjoy tonga's crew #2 "V 65 L"EFFICIA DI UN IDEA":published by Ferrari SpA and Galleria Ferrari di Maranello 2001:soft back;44 pages; Italian language with translations in French, English and German; Subjects are the V6 and V12 engines with photographs and descriptions. This one is not for everyone, but for those who must have it all then try to find a copy.FYI, there is a wide variety of prices. Enjoy tonga's crew
     
  18. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
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    "SCUDERIA Passion in Red the, #6"; Printemps 2001: Direction General Thiery Clement & Henry Aeby;soft back; 156 pages. I only have one of these which covers the events of the year 2000. This issue covers 38 European historic Ferrari events plus the Mille Miglia, Monaco Historics, Targa Florio Revival,Goodwood,Silverstone, Castle Ashby, Raid Suisse[-Paris, Historic Formular 1 and in America, Pebble Beach,Monterey and the Cavallino Classic. I assume there are similar catalogs for other years. You can try AUTONET CAR BOOKS. One could plan a most wonderful, and expensice, tour just based on this volume. I suppose the iceing on the cake would be to bring your Ferrari over with you. I experienced several of these events during my four years of 328GTB ownership in Italy One was a spectacular vintage sports car rally lead by a nice lady who drove a new Ford TBird because she liked the trunk space. OK ! Modena Racing Days is one of the events and will allow for a visit to the Factory. Even if you never actually participate, this catalog will give you a taste for what goes on during a European summer. Enjoy tonga's crew
     
  19. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
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    THE FERRARI LEGEND THE ROAD CARS" by Antoine Prunet;W.W.Norton & Co, First American Edition 1981; hard back, paper dust cover; 446 pages. The accent here is the "road cars". It starts with the 125 Sport 1947 and finishes with the Boxer Berlinetta and the 365 GTB 4 thru 1976. Even though there is no space for the 250 TDF, the 250 SWB Berlinetta or the 250LM.The 250 California and the 250 Lusso are included. and the 275/365 competition GTB is given space. What makes this book important is the extensive use of chassis sns. This gives the reader a chance to go into the internet for the details of a particular car. There is also an extensive selection of photographs of each model and basic details of each design.This is one of the better "starter" books which the long time enthusiast will find handy. Enjoy tonga's crew.
     
  20. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
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    #1 " FERRARI The Sports Cars & Prototypes" ; by Geutio Schmidt; Motorbooks Intl. 1994;soft back; 93 pages; A minimal of text; nice photographs of the cars in relatively recent restored condition. A nice small coffee table book for the casual Ferrari enthusiast. Enjoy; tonga's crew #2 "FERRARI RACING A Pictorial History" by Colin Goodwin; Photographs from the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu; 1997; The Goodwood Press Ltd.; hard back; paper dust cover;128 pages;. If you want a book of photographs this is one of the best. The text is minimal with a brief nine page history of Ferrari.Then the photographs take over starting in the 1930s and going on up thru the 1940s. The balance is in ten year sections up thru the 1980s.The period photographs are more than just racing images. There are close ups of engines, pit work, chassis and suspensions and personalities..Many of these I have never seen before and are taken, developed and printed by real craftsmen of the trade. Enjoy; tonga's crew
     
  21. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
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    "MILLE MIGLIA 1927 - 1951 The Alfa and Ferrari Years";by Mike Lawrence and R.M. Clarke; 176 pages; soft back. This will give the reader a real taste for what is considered to be the greatest motor race of them all.Much of this is reprints from Mike lawrence's 1988 (now out of print) book "THE MILLE MIGLIA" and race reports from the Autocar.Autocross, Autosport, Motor Sport and Road & Track magazines. Enzo Ferrari's Scuderia was a major force in most of these events and takes an important place in these pages.The participation in the M.M. grew from 78 entries in 1927 to over 300 in 1951. Unlike major rally events which were completed in over several days at specified speeds.the M.M. of approximately 1000 miles was complete in 24 hours (or more) hours at unlimited speeds. No two courses were ever the same except all started and ended at Brescia and crossed the Appenines twice. The Italian drivers had a distinct advantage but drivers from many other countries had success. For those not familiar with the folklore of the M.M. this is a good place to start. If the reader wants more there are many other books out there though many are only in Italian. Enjoy, tonga's crew
     
  22. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
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    "MILLE MIGLIA 1927-1957"; no author or date of publication; Unique Motor Books, Essex, U K publisher. Don't be fooled by the title. The last M.M. of 1957 run as a full blown racing event is not covered.The death of Portago, his regular co driver,and spectators both killed and injured put a finish to any further M.M. racing events.Would you believe even the vatican sued Enzo Ferrari The M.M. still exists today annually as one of the great rally events and taken over three days. with two overnight stops.I have attended two of these in the late `1990s. The best viewing is at one of the checkpoints where all entrants must stop giving the spectator a real closeup of the cars and their drivers many dressed in period racing togs.Stay away from Brescia. It's a zoo.In my opinion there is no better collection of vintage sports racing machines anywhere. I was examining the front of a beautiful pre war Alfa with the Scuderia tag still on next to the four leaf clover, when the driver hit the horn button. I jumped, he laughed and we struck up a nice conversation Just smelling and listening to these machines up close really makes the day. I had left my wife at a table overlooking the square. Just getting up close to these machines, smelling and listening to them it what it is all about.I had left my wife at a table overlooking the whole scene By the time I got back, the establishment had closed and some nice person had picked up her tab. Welcome to Italy. This volume is written from an English point of view. Each article is taken from a selection of period magazines from Autocar,Brooklands Gazette, Motor Sport and Autocourse magazines.The experiences described could have happened to any of the entrants.Remember except for the start/finish at Brescia and Rome, and two crossings of the Appennines every event had its own unique course.Each event is written about by someone involved, with great stories which could be applied to any entrant. Don't miss this one. Enjoy; tonga's crew
     
  23. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
    2,989
    tewksbury
    Full Name:
    george burgess
    "THE ROARING RACES; The True Story of Enzo Ferrari Race Car Driver";by Guilo Schmidt; hard back,dust cover;Edizione della Liberia dell Automobile, Milan 1988;192 pages;. This is as much a history lesson of Italy in turmoil between between a corrupt establishment and the rise of Musollini and the Fasciti. There are many first hand stories. One of the best is on page 140. With Campari as the riding mechanic during practice for the 1928 Mille Miglia, Ferrari noticed the cockpit awash in liquid. A broken radiator hose? No Compari had just relieved himself.Compari's comment was "Well, you don't want me to stop during practice.We have to race and go in our pants".Then there was Elizabeth Janek a race car driver's widow from Czechoslovakia as part of the Bugatti team. She led the 1928 Targa Florio ahead of Campari. Divio and Conelli until engine failure. Enzo Ferrari took the English idea of milling a tread pattern into the tires.Ferrari and some mechanics went to work on the Alfa tires with hack saws and he won at Atlesandria. These are just a very few of the stories told in this book. 1929 brought the new Scuderia Ferrari into being.. Musollini came to power ending the long standing feud between Church and State and Vatican City was created. 1930 brought the first all out effort by the Scuderia and E.F. rejoined as a racing driver again.The battles between Nuvolari and Varzi became legendary. In 1931 the Scuderia came into its own, Ferrari continued to race on occasion and with considerable success.But his life was now more involved in running the Scuderia and on January 19, 1932 Dino (Alfredo) was born.This and some kind of mental disorder ended his racing career of twelve years of which only 1925 and 1926 was he not racing.There is so much to this book that anyone really interested in knowing more about Enzo Ferrari needs to read this. E.F. may never have become this legendary figure with out these twelve years.Don't miss this one. It's special. Enjoy; tonga's crew
     
  24. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
    2,989
    tewksbury
    Full Name:
    george burgess
    "FERRARI FORTY YEARS ON THE ROAD" by Stanley Nowak with Rob de la Rive Box; DaltonWatson pub.; London;1988; hard back; dust cover;272 pages plus 96 pages listing the "all" the road cars by serial Number ( all odd numbers)starting with 001S to 11183GT with original engine numbers, model type, body style, and coach builder for each sn..Pages 156-272 list "specifications" starting with the 250 SWB Berlinetta to the 288GTO in 20 chapters with such titles as "Compromised Performance","Family Luxury","For the Elite" just to name a few. The last 26 pages carry advertisements from major companies involved with the business of high end historic collector cars. One important feature of the book are the many photos of a wide selection of types of Ferrari cars each showing the sn. This is a benefit to any serious historian. Now the actual purpose of this book can only be explained by the authors whose reputations are exceptional.I would like consider it a form of dictionary with basic data on every Ferrari road car of the period. It undoubtedly has a place in any major collection collection of literature on the products coming out of the Scuderia Ferrari factory. Enjoy; tonga's crew
     
  25. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
    2,989
    tewksbury
    Full Name:
    george burgess
    "V 65 L'efficacia di un 'idea"; published by Ferrari SPA 2001;soft back; 45 pages.Don't worry when you open this and see the Italian text. Pages 37-45 translate everything into English,French and German.The subject is the sports and F1/F2 engines from 1956-2000. Lots of good pictures and text for those who want to know more about these engines. This book may not be for everyone but does help fill an important place in any major Ferrari literature collection. Just remember E.F's well used expression that the engine was the most important part of any great race car. Enjoy tonga's crew
     

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