TONY MASON'S MOTORING MAYHEM VIDEO

In the video spotlight this month, we have Tony Mason talking about his exciting new book Mason's Motoring Mayhem – Tony Mason's hectic life in motorsport and television. Published by Veloce later this month!



Few people achieve success and notoriety in more than one field, but Tony Mason has managed it! He joined a local car club before he even had a car, eventually climbing to the top with rally wins in his native Lake District, before joining the prestigious Ford works team and co-driving Britain’s biggest rally star, Roger Clark, to win outright the RAC Rally – Britain’s toughest event of its kind. He started a successful car accessory business then ventured onto the stage for a short while, before being signed by the BBC to appear on its popular Top Gear programme, on which he was a main presenter for 15 years. His cheery presence became a popular part of the programme, and he moved from rallying to driving all manner of vehicles, from vintage Rolls-Royces, Reliant Robins, tanks, fire engines and Eddie Stobart trucks. After he was famously bombarded with snowballs during a report on the Monte Carlo Rally, he became even better known, with the famous out-take being shown on programmes around the the world.
Tony Mason’s light-hearted, jovial persona transfers from television to page in this autobiography, taking readers on a trip from his early life in the seaside town of Morecambe through almost 100 countries, with thrills, spills, ups-and-downs all vividly remembered and often shown in photographs.More info.

TOP GEAR SENDS BEAULIEU ITS P45

Awesome first episode in new series of Top Gear

For the first instalment of the 19th series, Jeremy returned to our screens in possibly the strangest mode of motoring transport viewers have yet seen. Following the mass popularity of his video demonstrating the many benefits of the world’s smallest car, the Peel P50, the big man was set a new challenge. His mission? To create and drive a car even smaller than the Peel P50. The result? The brilliant yet bonkers P45 micro car.

A team of talented students from Coventry University’s Automotive Design course were commissioned to work on styling, whilst the aluminium bodywork was hand crafted by the people who make the fabulous Petersen Bentley. Showing extraordinary attention to detail, the P45 was painted with blue twin stripes, paying homage to legendary AC Cobra creator, Carroll Shelby. Fortunately for Shelby, that was where the similarities between the two cars ended.

Ever the professional, Jeremy embarked on an extensive road test of the vehicle, which saw him driving at top speeds of around 30mph on the A3, taking the vehicle onboard a coach to London... to demonstrate how easy it is to get onboard a train, and then driving it through Westfield Shopping Centre and the British Library. Despite its many, many shortcomings, including a microscopic fuel tank, high risk of nose-smashing and inability to get through a car wash without jamming the machinery and soaking the driver’s suit, Jeremy then entered the Dragon’s Den, seeking investment from the dragons for mass production – their verdict was a unanimous and resounding “I’m out”.

Throughout the test drive, Jeremy was singing its praises, describing the car simply as “completely excellent”. Richard and James, however, were a little less enthusiastic, preferring to call it “utterly ridiculous” and “a complete death trap”. The P45 is now on display at Beaulieu’s World of Top Gear exhibition, where visitors can make a thorough inspection of the car and decide for themselves whether it is ingenious... or just plain insane.

The unique motor joins a whole host of cars at Beaulieu created by the Top Gear presenters for some of their most ambitious challenges. Another recent addition is the budget Bond Lotus Excel submarine car from the 50 Years of Bond Cars special and the collection is awaiting the arrival of another new creation from Series 19, due to be unveiled shortly.

The ‘Enormodrome’ recreates the feel of the Top Gear studio with regular features from the programme, including the Cool Wall and the Celebrity ‘Lap Times’ board, kept up to date in line with the show. Visitors can also watch behind-the-scenes footage of the Top Gear production zone and clips of some of the best Top Gear moments.

World of Top Gear can be seen as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction which also includes the National Motor Museum, BOND IN MOTION, Palace House and Beaulieu Abbey.

Source: Beaulieu

Available from Veloce!
the little book of microcars
By Adam Quellin
During the middle of the twentieth century, a plethora of small economy cars – often quirky and bizarre – emerged to meet the needs of the cash-strapped motorist. This book charts the history and development of these microcars, from the lean period after the Second World War right up to the present day.
More info.

McQUEEN’S LE MANS CELEBRATED AT TOP GEAR LIVE VIP GALA

To mark the launch of the all new event at London ExCeL Top Gear Live is celebrating 40 years of the legendary racing film Le Mans at the exclusive Top Gear Live London Gala on 24 November 2011.

In celebration of the film’s 40th anniversary, which starred Hollywood legend Steve McQueen, guests will gain an unforgettable insight into Le Mans as they watch original clips, view stills and marvel at behind-the-scenes footage while sharing the memories of those who were there.

VIP guests will also be joined by Chad McQueen, son of the late Steve Mc Queen, and racing legends Derek Bell and David Piper, as they reminisce on the making of the film – where both risked their lives as they brought to life McQueen’s dream: to create the best, most realistic film about motorsport ever.

Le Mans, which used cutting-edge techniques and filmed largely live, featured the Porsche 917 and the Ferrari 512 and is remembered for its breathtaking footage from the actual 1970 race.

This iconic piece of cinematography, which featured 26 high performance cars, 41 stunt drivers and some 350,000 French speaking extras, uniquely captures the exhilarating atmosphere of arguably the greatest race on earth.

Guests will also have an exclusive opportunity to get up close to David Piper’s original 1969 Porsche 917 which will be on display at the gala event.

Tickets for the Top Gear Live London Gala are £425 + VAT per person, for further information or to make a booking contact the VIP Team on 0207 370 8341.

Coming soon from Veloce!
Le Mans Panoramic
By Gavin Ireland.
The Le Mans 24 Hours is the ultimate endurance race, and a classic feature of the motorsport calendar. This book captures the sheer scale and drama of this legendary race as never before, using specialist panoramic photography to give an unprecedented wide angle view of how the race is entered, watched, won, and lost. It is a timeless tribute to the Le Mans 24 Hours. More info.

NISSAN TO GIVE LINCOLN A PUBLIC PLUG

Nissan is to fund the installation of Lincoln’s first public electric vehicle charging point, following the recent Top Gear feature which highlighted the lack of charging infrastructure in the East Midlands city.

In the television programme, presenters Jeremy Clarkson and James May drove a pair of electric vehicles, including the Nissan LEAF, into the centre of Lincoln in an attempt to find somewhere to charge their cars.

Having failed to find any public infrastructure the pair were forced to charge at the University in the centre of the city, dangling cables through an open window.

Should the presenters choose to attempt the journey again in future, they will discover a newly-installed PodPoint charging unit dedicated to them. With two sockets, it would allow both Jeremy and James to recharge their batteries at the same time.

Charging will be free of charge to electric vehicle owners.

Councillor Fay Smith, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services and Public Protection at the City of Lincoln Council, said: "The Top Gear programme highlighted the fact that Lincoln does not currently provide for electric cars and we're really pleased that Nissan is now funding a charging point. We're committed to reducing the city's carbon footprint, but know that we can't do it alone, so it's great that private businesses like Nissan are getting behind this and putting in the infrastructure."

The PodPoint charging unit is due to be installed before the end of the month and the presenters will be invited to return to Lincoln and be the first to plug in to the new charger.

Top Gear Executive Producer Andy Wilman said: "This is excellent news for the electric car community of Lincoln. If the charging point had existed when Top Gear were there, James wouldn't now be walking around with Jeremy's name tattooed on his bottom. Still, better late than never."

Nissan’s Executive Vice President Andy Palmer said: “Research tells us that most LEAF owners will charge their car at home or at their place of work, but drivers like having the ability to ‘top up’ their charge when they are out and about, especially if they are making longer journeys. With its new charging points and the fame generated by Top Gear, Lincoln could find itself becoming a tourist destination for Nissan LEAF owners.”

Source: Nissan

Electric Cars – The Future is Now!
By Arvid Linde
Written by Arvid Linde, winner of the headlineauto 2010 award for ‘Rising Star of Year.'

What if we all had to say goodbye to petrol cars tomorrow? Would you be ready? This book will help you find out. With a concise catalogue covering the best production models and the most promising prototypes, this book is the definitive guide to the future of motoring.

Click here for more info about the book.

TOP GEAR'S STIG REVEALED AS BEN COLLINS

The BBC has lost a legal fight to stop publication of a book which reveals the identity of Top Gear's driver The Stig.


The High Court in London refused to grant the BBC an injunction blocking the publication by HarperCollins of an autobiography of former Formula Three driver Ben Collins.

The book, called The Man In The White Suit, claims Mr Collins is the mystery driver on the BBC Two show.

The Stig is famous for his racing overalls and dark-visored helmet. His identity has long been a closely-guarded secret on Top Gear - one of the BBC's most popular shows in the UK and around the world.

Last week, HarperCollins said it would "vigorously defend" its right to publish the book, adding it was "disappointed that the BBC has chosen to spend licence fee payers' money to suppress this book".

However Top Gear executive producer Andy Wilman attacked the publisher, writing on the Top Gear website that the BBC had a right to protect Stig's anonymity "from a bunch of chancers" who were "hoping to cash in on it".

Source: BBC

ALFA 8C SPIDER: MOST BEAUTIFUL CAR OF THE YEAR

Alfa Romeo’s stunning Alfa 8C Spider supercar has been officially named as the Most Beautiful Car of the Year by Top Gear magazine.

Judged by a Top Gear panel consisting of TV, magazine and online teams – spanning 24 international editions - the awards recognise the most innovative and exciting cars to be launched over the past 12 months.

Described as ‘perfection’ by Top Gear, the 8C Spider’s good looks are more than skin deep. A responsive 4.7litre V8 engine produces an awesome 450BHP which is channelled through a sophisticated 6-speed F1-style paddle shift gearbox to the rear wheels, producing enough power to launch its occupants from 0-62mph in just 4.5 seconds, and on to a top speed of 181mph.

UK Brand Communications Manager, Damien Dally, said: “There’s no doubt that the 8C Spider is a sensational supercar but to have the recognition of the Top Gear panel is a perfect way to end the year.”

Limited to a production run of just 500 examples, 35 Alfa 8C Spiders are destined for the UK, with most of them sold before you could say “bellissima”. Valued at around £174,000 the chance of owning an example remains ultra exclusive, however the latest models in Alfa Romeo’s line up have taken inspiration from the Alfa 8C Competizione and Spider – such as the sporty compact Alfa MiTo and 2010’s Alfa Giulietta.

Press release & image source www.alfaromeo.co.uk.

THE 571G

Top Gear fan Rick Fusari won the race to buy THE 571G during the climax of DVLA Personalised Registrations’ three-day auction at the Haycock Hotel in Wansford, Cambridgeshire. Over a dozen people were bidding for the THE 571G registration due to its obvious link to the mystery race-ace and hugely popular figure from the Top Gear TV show. The winning bid reached £10,690 for the unique plate (more than 26 times its £400 reserve!).

LICENSED TO THRILL IN OCTANE

Fantastic feature in Octane Magazine's latest issue! the largest number of genuine 007 cars ever photographed in one location! The classic and performance motoring magazine, dedicates 19 pages of its November issue (on sale September 24) to feature nine of the actual cars that have helped to define Bond over his 46 years of cinematography.
Quantum of Solace, set for release in cinemas on October 31, is the 22nd film in the 007 series and sees the return of Daniel Craig as the spy with a licence to kill in his Aston Martin DBS.

The full list of bond cars in the magazine feature are as follows:

Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger (1964), Thunderball (1965)
Toyota 2000GT from You Only Live twice (1967)
Aston DBS (1960s) from On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
Lotus Esprit S1 from The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
Lotus Esprit Turbo from For Your Eyes Only (1981)
Citroën 2CV from For Your Eyes Only (1981)
Aston Martin V8 from The Living Daylights (1987)
Aston Martin Vanquish from Die Another Day (2002)
Aston DBS from Quantum of Solace (2008) and Casino Royale (2006)

It doesn't get much better than cool cars in the movies..

Heres what Octane said about the Veloce book Motor Movies – The Posters! By Paul Veysey.
"This book will most definitely liven up a coffee table but it will also fill a niche for those who love obscure trivia or those late night movies". Review from Octane, October 2007
ALSO! BOOK OF THE MONTH - Top Gear magazine Nov '07 ... AND No.6 Channel4's 4Car Top 10: car books for Christmas 2007




click here for more info about the book

TOP GEAR LIVE!

MPH 08 presents long awaited world premiere of Top Gear Live!

Top Gear Live brings the popular TV format to life and offers fans the opportunity to get closer to their favourite TV presenters; Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond & James May.
For eight days at two venues - [30 October - 2 November] at London’s Earls Court and [13-16 November] at Birmingham’s NEC - Jezza, Hamster and Captain Slow will host Top Gear Live at the MPH The Prestige and Performance Motor Show.

During 10 separate performances at each venue more than 95,000 car fans can watch the team unleash automotive mayhem during each 75-minute live action show. Even The STIG will be putting in an appearance.

This year’s MPH event is scheduled to feature an A-Z of automotive supercars from the likes of Alfa Romeo, Ariel, Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Caparo, Farbio, Ferrari, Gumpert, Jaguar, Koenigsegg, Lamborghini, Lotus, Maserati, McLaren, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Pagani, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Shelby, Spyker, and TVR.

Book of the Month in TopGear Magazine!

Forza Minardi! by Simon Vigar is making a big impact in automotive circles. It has been reviewed in this month's top gear magazine and awarded Book Of The Month! see the review below...



Forza Minardi! by Simon Vigar published by Veloce Publishing



Features

- THE inside story!
- Exclusive interviews with Alonso, Ecclestone, Minardi, Stoddart, Martini, Nannini, Fisichella, Webber, and many more
- How Minardi became F1's best-loved survivor
- Why Ferrari was determined to kill Minardi
- Why Minardi failed to capitalise on success
- Minardi's skill as a talent-spotter

Description

If you want to know what it's like to negotiate with Enzo Ferrari, chase Ron Dennis with a hammer, score points when everyone knows you shouldn't, and bring a Grand Prix promoter to his knees, read this book! In an increasingly grey, corporate paddock, where people were scared of their own shadows, Minardi harked back to a better time. Minardi, Stoddart, Ecclestone, Walker, Martini, Nannini, Campos, Fittipaldi, Mansell, Badoer, Fisichella, Gene, Alonso, Webber, Yoong, Wilson, Bruni and Albers are among the contributors, and that's before we get to fascinating insights from engineers and mechanics. This is the one and only inside account, with exclusive, comprehensive interviews with bosses, drivers and engineers. 145 unique photos complete this revelationary tale.

click here for more info about the book

Book of the Month in TopGear Magazine!

Motor Movies – The Posters!
BOOK OF THE MONTH - Top Gear magazine Nov '07 ... AND No.6 Channel4's 4Car Top 10: car books for Christmas 2007

By Paul Veysey


Features

• The first book ever devoted to movie posters featuring cars
• Posters from worldwide cinema
• Star rating system for rarity of poster
• NO tedious and opinionated plot dissection!
• Many posters not even enthusiasts will have seen
• Simple explanation of poster terminology
• All illustrations are of originals, not reproduction posters
• Star rating serves as investment guide
• Wonderfully nostalgic – a real feel-good book
• Movie posters bring colour, beauty, memories, and serious investment potential - this is THE guide
• Never before has the car in cinema been so vividly brought to life
Description

From the late 19th century the progress of the movies has paralleled that of the motor car. Now, for the first time, these developments are chronicled through the medium of the movie poster. This book celebrates the progression from the simple and crude, through the functional, the ambitious, and the barking mad, right up to today’s high-tech, computer-generated, often soulless examples of both cinema and automobile. By charting the poster art of the movies chronologically, the book takes you on a journey through the 20th Century in black and white, sepia, hand-colouring, stone-litho, and glorious technicolour, and shows the obsessively accurate, the artist’s impression, the photographic and the wildly imaginative depictions of the automobile. With 250 pictures of rare originals, and a star rating system for rarity, this is a beautiful book to browse, as well as valuable investment guide.

Click here for more info