This book was originally my Grandfather’s, and it ended up with me. A lot of these books are great for me to flip through and look at the photos and illustrations, but the dense historical year-by-year details about particular races and drivers is a bit outside of my wheelhouse. I appreciate it, but I don’t dive into it too deep.
I really like the dust jacket of this book, and I’d like to believe that the actual title is RACING CARS RACING CARS RACING CARS RACING CARS – as this is also how the title appears on the spine of the book.
If you take the dust cover off, you are treated to a really cool illustration printed onto the cloth cover. This duo-tone design is what I was going for on Salem flat track poster I recently created.
A few race faces, equipped with helmets that would get you a ticket if worn today:
Wow! I was so pleased to find another lover of “RCRCRCRC”! I bought mine back when it was new (maybe right as your grandfather was buying his), and spent many thrilling hours poring over it. Alas, I became separated from my library (including my RCRCRCRC) along the way and have been completely unable to find a particular photo in that book.
It’s GRAHAM HILL standing with his LOTUS 49 on the grid of (I think) WATKINS GLEN. The car is still in its original green-and-yellow livery, so if it WAS Watkins, it would have been 1967 (Come to think of it, it could only be 1967; by South Africa ’68, livery was GLTL). Your eye will have noted Hill’s gloves, which he may have been holding or putting on, and also his shoes, which look a lot less like nomex driver’s boots than some snazzy Italian loafers. The REAL thrill, though, is the right-rear angle on the car — while the elegant sleek simplicity reminds you it’s the most gorgeous race car ever, the ever-so-slightly-raised haunches of the rear suspension give away the fact that there’s a beast inside this beautiful package itching to just run like hell.
‘Tis a memorable shot indeed. Can anyone help me find one? Thanks so much….
Harry
Hi Harry!
I’m on it. Next time I am scanning I will scan this book and leave a comment here with a link to the picture. I’m trying to get better about scanning entire, out of print books. This one is on my list.
Thanks Robert!
I’m particularly interested whether YOU find the 49 as fetching as I do in this shot. It’s always beautiful, but in this shot it’s breathtaking. Thanks again!