Le Mans - 24 Hours: Complete Story
RRP £35.00
Hardcover, 258 pages
Reviews
(Rated 5 out of 5)
They do not come much better!
(Rated 5 out of 5)
The ideal combination of good high qulity photos and free flowing text charaterise this book which achieves the difficult balance of relevance whilst not losing the more casual reader in the detail of the complex history of Le Mans. This book still manages to bring back forgotten detail in race I have attended and filled in details of both the great and mostly forgotten races at this annual festival of endurance motorsport. It also represents a good archive of the pre World War 2 years during which time Le Mans established itself as THE race to win for any car manufacturer.
A good book to read or to have on a coffee table to dip in to from time to time.
(Rated 5 out of 5)
I cannot recommend this book highly enough to anyone who has caught the 'Le Mans' bug, or indeed to any motor sport enthusiast. Contained within its 250+ pages are many stunning photographs dating back to the earliest 24-hour race of 1923, many in colour. Brian Laban's flowing prose is very well researched, and does full justice to this most famous of motor racing events.
Unlike many 'complete stories', sections devoted to the early years are given as much space as events that are more recent. However, do not expect long lists of entrants and results, though there are synopses of past victors in one section, mere statistics do not tell you why and how cars and drivers overcame punishing 24-hour marathons. This book is about conveying the drama colour and noise of "the most famous British race in France" as Sir Stirling Moss once said.
My only, minor, complaint is that 250 pages are not enough! Although on average each race is assigned three pages, this includes the glorious photographs; the total text works out at about a page per race.
In summary whether you are looking for a reference book or a damn good read, Le Mans 24 Hours: the complete story..... fits the bill.