OLIVER WINTERBOTTOM INTERVIEW VIDEO

Our latest author interview is live on the Veloce YouTube channel.



Oliver Winterbottom spent his whole career designing cars, and, for a short period, boats. He started his working life as an engineering apprentice at Jaguar Cars before spending a further five years there as a staff designer. In 1971 he joined Lotus Cars as the Design Manager. He was responsible for the styling, body engineering and aerodynamics of their vehicles until 1975 when he transferred to Colin Chapman's luxury boat company.

A short period of self employment saw the start of the TVR Tasmin range of sports cars. He then moved north to join the company through to the launch of the Tasmin Convertible and 2 + 2. In 1980 he returned to Lotus to lead the joint sports car project with Lotus and Toyota. After the completion of a prototype running vehicle he left for a short period in Detroit, USA.
Working for General Motors he was a project manager on two low volume vehicles for them. Returning to the UK he rejoined Lotus where he held a number of senior management positions in engineering and vehicle safety work. He resigned in 1998 and set up a consultancy, Norfolk Automotive Limited. His clients included a number of companies in China until he retired.
Throughout his career he maintained a "hands on" approach to both the design and the development of a wide range of products.

A Life in Car Design gives a unique insight into design and project work for a number of leading companies in the motor industry, including Jaguar, Lotus, TVR and General Motors.
The book recounts the author's experiences from within the industry, tracing the changes in the design process over a period of nearly 50 years, and follows his career at home and around the world. It shows how the change from imperial to metric measurements and the growing use of computers revolutionised the quality and accuracy of modern vehicles. It also covers the issues and challenges of meeting project targets, and some of the issues that can deflect those efforts. It features previously untold stories, and is thoughtfully illustrated with historical engineering drawings and photographs.
As well as informing automobile enthusiasts it is also hoped that this book will inspire upcoming generations to consider a career in the creative field.

Available March 2017! A Life in Car Design – Jaguar, Lotus, TVR. Click here for more information about the book.

VIDEO: PORSCHE – THE RACING 914S (TRAILER)

The remarkable little car that turned into a big hearted racer.

Coming soon! Porsche – the racing 914s by Roy Smith. There are still those who see the Porsche 914 model as a ‘funny little car,’ compared to the immortal 911. Granted, in its day, professional rally drivers were not keen on the 914: they were nervous driving it at the limit. Yet the records show that 914s were driven to at least 41 class wins, and at least 71 positions on the other two steps of the podium in Regional, National, and International Rallies.

Racing on the circuits of Europe, 914s came home first in their class, and even took overall victory many times. In the USA, in IMSA GTU championship, in nationals, and internationals, it was the same story – and that’s not counting the multitude of SCCA regional races. The 914 first raced in 1970 … the last? Who knows: even now they’re still used in the USA’s SCCA GT classes.
'Porsche – the Racing 914s' is a study in pictures, statistics, factory information, and interviews, that will show the Porsche 914 in a whole new light. This richly illustrated book is released as a limited edition of only 1500 copies - a must have for all Porsche 914 and racing enthusiasts. More info.

THIS ALFA ROMEO MONTREAL PLAYS WITH LIGHT

The new video from Petrolicious features a stunning Alfa Romeo Montreal.

Available from Veloce!
Alfa Romeo Montreal – The Essential Companion (Classic Reprint of 500 copies) by Bruce Taylor.

The first English-language book dedicated solely to Alfa’s fantastic Montreal. An incredibly comprehensive reference to buying, maintaining and improving the Montreal, this ‘Bible’ contains a wealth of technical information and practical tips for owners and potential owners, making it THE Essential Companion.
More info.

LAMBORGHINI MIURA 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Twenty brightly-coloured Lamborghini Miuras from all across the world came to Italy for a 500 km journey, taking in the cities of Bologna, Parma, Portovenere, Viareggio, Lucca and Florence.

– AVAILABLE FROM VELOCE –

The Lamborghini Miura Bible (eBook edition) by Joe Sackey.
Named after the Spanish ranch famed for its ferocious bulls, the Lamborghini Miura’s flamboyance and engineering wowed the public when it was unveiled in the mid-sixties. Yet despite its devoted following, there has been no authoritative publication on the car for over a quarter of a century ... until now. Written by a world-renowned authority on the subject – who has himself owned, maintained and restored five Miuras – this unique book features everything the enthusiast would want, from a specially commissioned studio shoot capturing the historic homologation prototype USA Miura SV, to production statistics, specification information, paint charts, and much more. With over 400 photographs and illustrations, this is the definitive guide to an iconic supercar.

VIDEO: LOTUS 18 – COLIN CHAPMAN'S U-TURN

The Lotus 18 was Colin Chapman’s first rear-engined single-seater, becoming a milestone in the history of the Grand Prix car.



Colin Chapman’s previous attempts at producing a Formula 1 car had been a complete disappointment. Despite being technically advanced, extreme lightness led to numerous structural failures.
In 1960, Chapman decided to start with a clean sheet of paper, assessing the basic requirements for a contemporary Formula 1 car, and identifying how to achieve them in the most straightforward, uncomplicated way. The result was one of Chapman’s greatest creations – the Lotus 18 – a trendsetting, rear-engined car that was to set new performance standards from the outset.
Driven by some of the top drivers of the era – including Innes Ireland, Jim Clark, and John Surtees – it was Stirling Moss who made the car’s name, winning four Grands Prix, including his sensational victories over Ferrari, against all odds, at Monaco and the Nürburgring in 1961.
This book describes the history of the Lotus 18 throughout its seven-year competition career, via season by season summaries, and provides detailed appendices charting the individual histories of all 28 chassis that were built. Full race results are also presented, along with driver achievements.

Lotus 18 – Colin Chapman's U-turn by Mark Whitelock is available now. Click here for more information about the book.

THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO DRIVING IN EUROPE

Check out the latest video on our YouTube channel ...



Whether you’re planning a long touring holiday in your own car, or hiring a car locally on a business trip or holiday, this guide will give you all the information you require. Whatever your destination in Europe, you’ll find everything need to prepare for your trip and to cope with the unfamiliar. There are sections on dealing with everything – from winter driving, to towing a caravan, from travelling with pets, to taking a classic car overseas. And – should the worst happen – there’s also clear guidance on what to do in the case of a breakdown or accident.
With chapters covering Western Europe (including France), Southern Europe, Northern Europe, and Central & Eastern Europe – 50 individual countries – all the information is based on extensive local research, and includes comprehensive details of speed limits, drink/driving rules, motorway tolls, mountain passes, and other local regulations. Extensive illustrations help you recognise and understand unfamiliar signs, whilst more than 25 port maps guide you safely to terminals in the UK and on the Continent.

JAGUAR V8 COFFEE TABLE – IN 4 MINUTES!

Gergely Bajzáth has made a good number of engine coffee tables, and constantly enjoys positive feedback and comments about his work. Now, in How to Build your own Engine Coffee Table, he has decided to share his methods and tips with you, so that you can make one of your very own!

Whether in your living room, workshop, den, man cave, or girl shed, an engine coffee table is a great talking point, and is almost guaranteed to become the main topic of conversation when friends visit.

This book shows you everything you need to know to create your very own furniture centrepiece. From the best choice of engine base, to instructions on design and fabrication for appearance and safety. Hand painted finishes are covered, and a dedicated section shows how to safely plan, prepare, and fit a glass top for a serviceable, and safe, end result.

You’ll know that you want one of these tables as soon as you see the examples in the book!

How to Build your own Engine Coffee Table by Gergely Bajzáth is available now!

RACING LINE – BRITISH MOTORCYCLE RACING IN THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE BIG SINGLE

Watch our new interview with Bob Guntrip, the author of new book on British motorcycle racing in the 1960s.



Racing Line is the story of big-bike racing in Britain during the 1960s – when the British racing single reached its peak; when exciting racing unfolded at circuits across the land every summer; and when Britain took its last great generation of riding talent and engineering skill to the world.

The decade between 1960 and 1970 saw British racing singles reach the peak of their development, a time in which exciting racing unfolded at circuits across the land every weekend, and the decade of Bob McIntyre, Derek Minter, Mike Hailwood, Phil Read, Bill Ivy and Peter Williams.
Racing Line documents the period from the introduction of the G50 Matchless, up to the advent of the Yamaha TR2, and the birth of the two-stroke era – a period of immense change. Britain during the 1960s wasn’t only a nation of pop music and fashion; it was a decade crammed with the most competitive racing in the history of motorcycle sport. Racing Line tells this story – the riders, the machines, the drama and the excitement.

The sight and sound of an MV-mounted John Surtees in action, at Silverstone in the late ’50s, set Bob Guntrip on course for a lifetime spent on and around motorcycles. A career in journalism led to stints on bike magazines in the UK and Australia, firing the passion still further, and, despite later wanderings into cricket, rugby and science writing, it seemed inevitable that Bob would one day return to his first love. The result is Racing Line, his first book, documenting the excitement of the 1960s, one of the most dramatic decades in the history of British motorcycle sport.

Racing Line – British motorcycle racing in the golden age of the big single by Bob Guntrip is available now. Click HERE for more information about the book.

TATRA – THE LEGACY OF HANS LEDWINKAIVAN MARGOLIUS INTERVIEW VIDEO

Hans Ledwinka’s innovative Tatra cars were models of design excellence: this book, at long last, places Ledwinka in his well-deserved place amongst the great car designers.



Tatra – The Legacy of Hans Ledwinka is the story of the Tatra company, which originated in the Central European country of Czechoslovakia. It is a tale of great innovation and avant-garde design in automobile engineering. It is also the story of one man – Hans Ledwinka – and his visionary concepts which have become highly influential, although often undervalued, contributions to the development of car technology.
Until now, Hans Ledwinka's talent has hardly been recognised; in retrospect, he can be judged equal to car designers such as Benz, Daimler and Porsche, whose endeavours have been fully recorded many times over. With his revolutionary Tatra cars Ledwinka consistently pushed back the frontiers of automobile construction, and it’s certain that without his inspiration, the Volkswagen in its air-cooled rear-engined form would perhaps never have been conceived. This book suggests that Ledwinka played a greater part in this development than has previously been appreciated.

The authors have covered the full history of the Tatra company, which is one of the oldest factories in continuous automobile manufacture, dating back to the 19th century. By doing this, they have placed both Ledwinka and the Czechoslovak Tatra company in their rightful place in the history of car design, and provided a fully comprehensive assessment of the influence of Tatra car designs and their inspired creator.
The text of this larger format 2nd edition has been fully revised and updated since the 1990 edition. This new edition also contains many additional illustrations. The book also has a new foreword, written by Norman Foster, the British architect, and proud owner of a Tatra T87, who pays tribute to the aesthetic qualities of this design classic and captures the fascination of both designers and motor historians with the development of Tatra.

Ivan Margolius is an author of memoirs and a number of books and articles on art, architecture, engineering, design and automobile history. Born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, where he studied architecture, he moved to London in 1966, where he practised at Foster and Partners, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, and Yorke Rosenberg Mardall. His interest in Czech politics, history, technology and design spurred on his publishing ventures. Ivan has been the owner of a 1949 Tatra T600 Tatraplan since 2000.

John G Henry was born in Northern Ireland and studied in England. He is a projects manager involved in several important building designs in the United Kingdom and in the Middle East. Since his studies, he has been researching innovative achievements in automobile history.

Tatra – The Legacy of Hans Ledwinka – Updated & Enlarged Collector’s Edition of 1500 copies by Ivan Margolius and John G Henry is available now! Click here for more information about the book.

VIDEO: THE TALE OF TATRA

Industrial Espionage, Nazis And Air-Cooled Engines: The Tale Of Tatra – a new video by XCAR, featuring the author of our forthcoming book on Tatra.

Coming soon from Veloce! Tatra – The Legacy of Hans Ledwinka by Ivan Margolius & John G Henry.

Hans Ledwinka’s innovative Tatra cars were models of design excellence, and, prior to the Second World War, were highly influential in shaping what was to become modern car design concepts and the development of Volkswagen. This book at long last places Ledwinka in his well-deserved place amongst the great car designers.
This enlarged 2nd edition contains updated material and additional illustration. More info.

Here is the MUST SEE Tatra advert, mentioned in the interview ...

THE BIRMINGHAM SUPERPIX TRAILER

Watch the official trailer for an exciting new project set to be released on the Superprix's 30th anniversary next year.



From 1986 to 1990, Birmingham City staged a street race every August Bank Holiday weekend.

It took over 20 years to develop, support and plan the event prior to the inaugural year in 1986, with involvement and backing from Bernie Ecclestone, Sir Jackie Stewart, Sir Stirling Moss, and Nigel Mansell, and with rising stars such as Damon Hill, Jean Alesi, Mika Hakkinen and Martin Brundle all charging around the city streets in their earlier, pre-formula one careers.

To this date, Birmingham is the only city in the UK to be able to stage such an event, having a government approved Road Race Bill passed especially for the Superprix.

80,000 spectators would arrive for the august bank holiday weekend in the heart of the city, gathering to see the action from formulas such as F3000, British Touring Car Championship, TVR Tuscan's, Formula Ford 1600 and many more.

This documentary will cover the intricate, vast details from the local sources that have fond memories of the event, right through to the organisation of the officials who made the Superprix a reality, in order to relay to a new generation what the city and its people achieved through what some saw as the impossible.

The Birmingham Superprix Film team are inviting donations of photos/films/memorablia or interest in being interviewed for the film.
Email here.

Available from Veloce! Superprix – The Story of Birmingham’s Motor Race
By SS Collins & David Page

The story of Superprix, Birmingham’s very own road race – the subject of much controversy amongst residents of the city, politicians' and race fans alike. More info.

THE LAMBORGHINI MIURA IS STILL UNTAMED

The latest video from Petrolicious features the Lamborghini Miura – considered by many to be the most beautiful road going post-war sports car.

Available from Veloce!
The Lamborghini Miura Bible
By Joe Sackey
The FIRST book on the Lamborghini Miura to be published in the past thirty years! Written by a world-renowned authority on the Miura, and featuring, among other things, a never-before-published factory chassis production register, plus technical illustrations, studio-images, and exclusive interviews with the designers of the car. More info.

ONE MILLION YOUTUBE VIEWS!

We're feeling chuffed to have passed the one million video views milestone on YouTube! With over 125 bespoke videos, the Veloce channel has featured contributions from Sir Stirling Moss OBE, Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, Adrian Newey OBE, Derek Bell MBE, Alain De Cadenet, Desiré Wilson and Tony Mason. Subscribe now!

NORMAN BURR VIDEO INTERVIEW

The names 'Keith Duckworth' and 'DFV' are practically synonymous, such is the reputation of the famous F1 racing engine which he designed.
Whilst there are books covering the technical aspects of the DFV engine, and other designs from Cosworth, the company which he founded with Mike Costin, there are many gaps in the story of Duckworth's career, before and after Cosworth. This book comprehensively fills those gaps, taking the reader into the world of Britain's finest 20th century engineers.
It was a world consisting of far more than motorsport, embracing an astonishing variety of mechnical devices, including aircraft, boats, and motorcycles – particularly Triumph, for whom he was a consultant during his retirement.
A man of strong convictions and high integrity, Keith Duckworth OBE cared passionately about his work, fitting almost every aspect of his life around it. His northern industrial roots, the ups and downs of his personal life, his health problems, and his generous support of charities and business start-ups, combine to create the story of one of motorsport's – and engineering's – most endearing and enduring characters. More info about the book.

STUNNING 360 DEGREE FILM UNVEILED AS SIR STIRLING MOSS REVISITS THE MILLE MIGLIA

Mercedes-Benz combines the old and the new with the creation of a cutting edge 360 degree film to mark a special anniversary of the Mille Miglia.

A little over 60 years ago, on 1st May 1955, Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson won the Mille Miglia in a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR – number 722. They drove flat out for 10 hours, 7 minutes and 48 seconds and averaged 98 miles per hour – all on public roads.

It was recognised as one of the greatest feats of driving ever – their record still stands today.

In 1955, the W 196 R racers were the most advanced cars in the world – they won every race they finished and used cutting edge materials.

At a time when road cars would struggle to hit 70 mph, the W 196 R could exceed 180 mph. Today only eight examples still exist, but now and again they’re let loose…

Sixty years on, Sir Stirling Moss has been reunited with the 300 SLR number 722, on the very same roads on which he won.

The new film allows you to control the camera and watch from nearly any angle as Sir Stirling Moss takes ‘722’ on the roads he and Denis Jenkinson set records on. Three dimensional sound makes the footage even more vivid.

In the coming weeks the film will be available to be downloaded via iTunes (for the iPhone and iPad) and the Android Store as well as being capable of being experienced on Oculus devices such as the Samsung Gear VR.

Our friends at Petrolicious have released a stunning new video of Sir Stirling Moss and the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR, possibly their best production yet!

DORSET FROM THE SEA AVAILABLE NOW

One man and his boat ... and his camera.



The visual feast that is Dorset is enjoyed by millions, visitors, locals, or through printed and virtual media. But few are lucky enough to enjoy the coastline 'from the outside looking in'.
This book has been photographed entirely from the sea by sailor and marine photographer Steve Belasco who has cruised the area in small boats for over 20 years.
His love of Dorset's waters, those who enjoy and the people and creatures that depend on them, comes shining through.

Steve has been a professional photographer since 1982, being awarded Associateships of both the Royal Photographic Society and British Institute of Professional Photography. He has Royal Yachting Association qualifications in sailing and powerboating.
For the past 26 years he has worked for Dorset’s daily and weekly newspapers and monthly magazines as both a photographer and journalist.
Steve has lived in South Dorset for 26 years and he and his wife Josie and sons Louis and Tristan have their own motorboat berthed in Portland Harbour.

Dorset from the sea – The Jurassic Coast from Lyme Regis to Old Harry Rocks photographed from its best viewpoint by Steve Belasco, with a foreword by Dame Ellen MacArthur is available now in large format and souvenir edition.

A proportion of proceeds will be donated to the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust.

PORSCHE 924 CARRERA FULL LENGTH INTERVIEW WITH ROY SMITH & DEREK BELL

New video added to the Veloce YouTube channel!

Available December 2014!
The Porsche 924 Carrera - evolution to excellence
By Roy Smith
Forewords by Norbert Singer, Jürgen Barth & Derek Bell.

The 924 Carrera was a homologation model built to qualify the 924 model to race in Group 4. One of the great supercars of the 1980s, the 924 Carrera was considered by many to have better handling characteristics than Porsche’s flagship 911. The book features interviews with many of those involved with the car at the time together with race stories, statistics, and a unique exposé of component failures during racing. More info.

PORSCHE 924 CARRERA BOOK TRAILER

New video with award winning motoring writer Roy Smith & Le Mans legend & Porsche 924 Carrera GTS owner Derek Bell.

Look out for the full interview coming soon to the Veloce YouTube channel!

Available December 2014!
The Porsche 924 Carrera - evolution to excellence
By Roy Smith
Forewords by Norbert Singer, Jürgen Barth & Derek Bell.

The 924 Carrera was a homologation model built to qualify the 924 model to race in Group 4. One of the great supercars of the 1980s, the 924 Carrera was considered by many to have better handling characteristics than Porsche’s flagship 911. The book features interviews with many of those involved with the car at the time together with race stories, statistics, and a unique exposé of component failures during racing. More info.

FERRARI 312PB ENDS AN ERA WITH A BANG

The lastest video from Petrolicious ...

Reprinted by Veloce!
Ferrari 312P & 312PB
By Peter Collins and Ed McDonough

The origin and subsequent history of the 3-litre Ferrari sports cars, which the famed Italian firm designed and built to contest the various versions of the World Sports Car Championship between 1969 and 1973. This series of cars started with the V12 engine and progressed to using the Flat 12 Ferrari engine from the then current Grand Prix car. Includes the developmental and race history, with a full list of all events and individual chassis numbers. More info.

THE HAPLESS BIKER IS BACK! KEVIN TURNER AUTHOR INTERVIEW VIDEO

The Hapless Biker is back! Check out this exclusive video interview with Kevin Turner, talking about his forthcoming book From Crystal Palace to Red Square – A Hapless Biker's Road to Russia (published later this month).



Kevin Turner is a freelance motorcycle journalist, and the author of the critically acclaimed Bonjour! Is this Italy – A Hapless Biker's Guide to Europe. Following the success of his first book, Turner decided to embark on another trip, this time heading into Northen Europe and Scandinavia. In typcially hapless fashion, planning and preparation were kept to a minimum, ensuring a journey of discovery, excitement, and occasional peril, in the grand tradition of foolhardy adventure. The resulting story blends Turner's eloquent and often hilarious writing with some truly inspirational locations, resulting in a unique adventure for bikers and non-bikers alike.

Coming soon!
From Crystal Palace to Red Square - A Hapless Biker's Road to Russia
By Kevin Turner.

Critically acclaimed author Kevin Turner (Bonjour! Is This Italy? A Hapless Biker's Guide to Europe) heads off on another ill-thought out adventure, aiming his heavily laden Kawasaki north towards the towering waterfalls of Norway, before heading east on a long and treacherous journey to Moscow. This fascinating adventure - part sprint, part marathon - charts the perils, pitfalls and thrills of a 6000 mile solo motorcycle journey across Europe, Scandinavia and into Asia. The author's observations and anecdotes transform this motorcycle guidebook into a laugh-a-minute page turner, which inspires and entertains in equal measure. More info.