Book Reviews, August 1952, August 1952

“The Riley Manual,” by J. A. Robson (Motor Racing Publications, 81a, Grays Inn Road, W.C.1. 92 pp., 8s. 6d.)

This manual should fill a long-awaited need amongst Riley Nine connoisseurs. It is a straight-forward instruction manual, with wiring diagram, enhanced by a chapter on identification of the different body-styles, most of which, from 1926 to 1935, are illustrated, a list of addresses of component makers, figures from the Motor road-test reports of 1932 and 1937 Monaco saloons, b.h.p. figures for different versions, and brief notes on tuning for speed. —W. B.

“The Classic Cord,” by Dan R. Post (Post Motor Books, Arcadia, California, 160 pp.)

There is a Cord cult in the United States and the marque is not unknown over here. This book seems to include just about everything in its 160 large pages that the most avid Cord addict could wish to know. There are tales by Eugene Jaderquist of the 1929-1937 L-29 and 810 models, as the hand-out says “pinning roses and calling spades . . .,” scores of beautiful illustrations, full reproductions of Autocar road-test reports, technical photographs, specifications, salesman’s data sheets, etc. Two editions, 3.50 dollars and 7.50 dollars in de luxe form, are available in the States and Vivian Gray of Haywards Heath is the agent here.

“Motor Racing,” by Phil Drackett (Foyles Handbooks Series, 119/125, Charing Cross Road, W.C.2. 87 pages, 2s. 6d.).

This is a really admirable introduction to motor racing, although you might not think so if you do not delve beyond the 14 introductory lines, which are rather lurid. The rest of the book is well-balanced, accurate and above all informative, without adopting a “handbook” technique. The chapters deal with the early days, record-breaking, Le Mans, Brooklands, Dick Seaman, M.G. and E.R.A., the 500s, Stirling Moss, famous drivers, the B.R.M. and, beneath the complimentary heading “Tomorrow May Be in Walton,” the H.W.M. If you have a spare half-crown, get this to read on a train-journey. A pity the proof-reader has let the author down—there are several spelling-errors.–W.B.

St. John C. Nixon has filled another gap in motoring history with his new book “The Story of the S.M.M.T.-1902-1952.” It is published privately by the S.M.M.T. itself. For those who want a history of the S.M.M.T., this is the book they will want.

The petrol companies are quite prolific in turning out free gifts, as if to offset the recent increase in the price of petrol!  Amongst the best of these that we have seen are the “Get to Know France” series of booklets, six to date covering Normandy, Provence-Cote d’Azur, Brittany, Landes-Beam-Basque Country, Ile-de-Franee and The Valley of the Loire. Illustrated and comprehensive, they are issued by Shell Francaise but are obtainable in English from Shell-Mex and B.P. Touring Dept., Shell-Mex House, London, W.C.2, on mentioning Motor Sport.

From a review in Time of Ken W. Purdy’s recent book “The Kings of the Road.”—”Author Purdy is a romantic, but all over the U.S. there is still a scattering of men whose hearts leap up when they behold a pre-World War I car, its brass shined to a dazzle, its headlamps staring proudly ahead, its exhaust pipes exposed for all admiring eyes to see. There are even some, as delicately geared as Author Purdy, who can close their eyes and ‘imagine a string-straight, poplar-lined Route Nationale in France on a summer’s day. That growing dot in the middle distance is a sky-blue Bugatti coupe, rasping down from Paris to Nice at 110 miles an hour . .’ “

Shelsley Walsh–August 30th

It will be recalled that earlier this year the Shelsley Walsh Speed Hill Climb had to be cancelled due to lack of entries. Another fixture is scheduled for August 30th, at 12.30 p.m., for which entries close at noon on August 8th, at £3 3s. per entry. On this occasion B.M.C.R.C. motor-cycle competitors will assay the hill, as well as racing and production cars. Details from: Midland A.C., 87/89, Edmund Street, Birmingham, 3.

Regent Oil Company’s New Road Atlas

A new and compact sectional Road Atlas in booklet form has been produced for the motoring public of this country, by Geographia Ltd., on behalf of the Regent Oil Company Ltd. It will shortly be on sale at Regent Garages throughout Great Britain.

An entirely new presentation has been used, which is a complete departure front the old method of large sheets. The Road Atlas is only 10 in. by 4 in. in size when folded, and has a spiral-hinge enabling the pages to be turned over easily, and an efficient numbered index. It can be easily put in the pocket, glove lockers or flaps of a car. This means that the motorist, while searching for his route, does not have continually to unfold the sheets in the confined space of the car, and can easily and quickly obtain the information he requires from the indexing system and key map in front of the atlas.

The whole atlas is in colour and illustrated with towns and places of interest, with brief descriptions of these, which are keyed on the maps. A map of central London is also included. The atlas shows first-class routes, giving official numbers and distances between towns, secondary and other roads, and many other interesting and necessary pieces of information to the motorist.

This road atlas will shortly be on sale and the price is 2s. 6d.