Hillclimbing and Sprinting - The essential manual; A Review

[BSR]

Although with no doubt I'll incur wrath of either Moderators or Authors, here's my attempt at an objective review to help people decide whether to part with their money at Amazon...


The 'essential manual' would be almost encyclopedic for someone who's never touched speed events, but if you've spectated a few times or are member of an automotive club already, it's certainly less 'essential'.

It is without doubt beautifully produced with plenty of full page slides and colour illustrations of venues. The diagrams of the venues would be immensely useful for someone that's never been to that particular venue before, with the ones of Harewood, Prescott and 3 Sisters being particularly good, Harewood especially.
The narrative that accompanies these diagrams is excellently compiled and although the critic could level that they're very emotive rather than a simple 'how to' of driving a course, motor sport is all about emotion so I felt they read well.

The photos, although plentiful, miss out on an opportunity to show how diverse some of the Hillclimb venues are. For example, a photo showing entry to Oak Tree at Doune, Ettore's at Prescott, start line at Wiscombe or Gurston and the view from Crossing to Bottom Ess at Shelsley would be well used. Similarly this would work with the Sprint venues.

Whilst on the subject of photos, one photo (that I spotted) of the most historic hillclimb in the world, and that's of the Marshall's post at Crossing. Any "essential" manual where Hillclimbing is concerned, especially it's section devoted to the history of the sport, can surely not avoid having at least one hedonistic photo of Shelsley? Unfortunately, this one does.


A few surprises on the way through; Surprised there's no descriptions of the Channel Isles venues and no mention of MIRA, North Weald, Abingdon, or Knockhill which I'd have thought are bread and butter events for new starters. They were in 'my day', with North Weald being the first non-hill speed event i drove.
I suppose it boils down to how many venues you include and which you don't.

The section on trailers is inspired and something I only realised after my car was built and ready to go was how much of an expense transport can be. It's so easily overlooked, but something you can't do without.

Perhaps the most 'essential' part of this book, is in fact the appendices.
For anyone, even if they're quite a seasoned campaigner, having all the contact details of clubs, venues and major parts suppliers in one place is invaluable. Fair enough, many of us have our own 'Teaboy' who we get to just find the info for us, but for those that don't the appendices are sublime.

In conclusion, it adds to the ever growing collection i guess.
Fine for the money, but more photo's needed of those venues further north of Yorkshire and of those further south of Yorkshire!

Oh one parting shot; anyone who reads the book and doesn't want to get in a car and go racing or at least get to a venue and go Marshalling after seeing the beautiful photo of GWJ in the Predator on page 93, then they simply have no soul and don't deserve to be able to feast their eyes upon it.

[Fireblade]

Thanks for taking the time to do the review, Dunc. Very interesting.
I shall no doubt add the book to my collection as there are so few dedicated to our branch of motor sport.

[BSR]

Originally Posted by Fireblade

there are so few dedicated to our branch of motor sport.

Tell you what I'd like to see; Simon Taylor's take on this book.
After reading (and viewing) his Shelsley book, i'm sure he could produce a massivley good book on Hillclimbing as a whole. Mix his photography and style with some of the text and fact-based narrative from Phil Short and Sprinty's book and that would be one hell of a read.

Surely with your influence Al, you could get them to produce it?