Book Reviews, June 1953, June 1953

“Building and Racing My ‘750’,” by P. J. Stephens. 111 pp., (5 1/2in. by 7 3/4in., Foulis, 7, Milford Place, W.C.2. 12s.)

There are two ways of regarding this book. One school of thought asks if there is a dearth of experienced motor-authors for a well established publisher to accept a book about building a sportscar from someone who has only constructed one such car and with it has merely won one race, at under 53 m.p.h. The other school points out that this is the whole object of the book, which is an account of how an entirely inexperienced novice built a 750 Formula sports car for under £270 and won a race with it. Let us be objective and say that, without any intention of following in the author’s footsteps, we couldn’t set this book down until the last page had been turned. Had we the beginnings of a 750 Formula car in the home garage we should no doubt have ordered a second copy – one for the book-case, the other to refer to with carbonised fingers as we toiled in the garage.

Stephens is completely honest about what bits he was able to acquire “buckshee” and of his mistakes, including putting in the gudgeon-pins without end-pads and scoring the cylinder-bores. Ourselves, we were adequately entertained. – W.B.

“Car Racing-1953.” (48 pp. 8 in. by 12 in. County and Sporting Publications, Ltd., 184-5, Fleet Street, .E.C.4. 2s. 6d.)

This book contains some good pictures of the Sport in its many aspects and concise articles by well-known racing personalities. Many of the photographs are from MOTOR SPORT.

“Re-Trimming a Car,” by A. G. Saunders, M.I.B.C.M. (Craftsman Publications, Froebel House, Church Street, Warwick, 70 pp., 8 1/4in. by 5 1/2in.10s. 6d.).

We frequently receive requests for books relating to body-building, from readers who are not looking forward to building their own bodies on home-brewed chassis without having at hand a text book on the subject. But after the body has been built it has to be upholstered. “Re-Trimming a Car,” written by an author with over 30 years’ experience as a coach trimmer, should assist materially in this situation, besides being of value to those wishing to restore worn trimming and upholstery in normal vehicles. The book is published in clear type and is well illustrated. – W.B.