Donington Park : The Pioneers
Donington Park : The Pioneers
- 9781527229976
- Out Of Print (No Stock)
- 10/18
- Awaiting Review
This isn’t a book just about motor racing. It's about people. It’s about the pioneers who created Britain's first permanent true road racing circuit...firstly for motor cycles in 1931 and then also for cars from 1933.
It’s about the phenomenal success and dramatic progress that saw the circuit expand from loose-surfaced tracks created for horse-drawn carriages to hosting four pre-war Grands Prix, the first in 1935, the final two the "Silver Arrows" Grands Prix of 1937 and 1938. It's about how the Army took over during the war years and the many attempts that came very close to bringing racing back in the 1960s with innovative, state-of-the-art facilities...and it describes the Tom Wheatcroft era from 1977, son Kevin’s revival of the track in 2010 and the New Vision of MSV's first full season in 2018.
Researched, written and designed by John Bailie, the book includes many new photographs plus documents, maps and diagrams, unique then-and-now images, illustrations by the author, personal anecdotes and memories, together with extracts from on-the-spot race reports by Bill Boddy MBE, founding editor of Motor Sport magazine.
Donington Park : The Pioneers
“The most comprehensive, deeply researched and generously illustrated history of any circuit” Motor Sport
“Dramatically designed and superbly printed...A fine tribute to the great characters that made Donington Park” Classic and Sports Car
A selected finalist for the 2019 “Historic Motoring Awards” and "Royal Automobile Club Specialist Book of the Year”, this highly acclaimed, thoroughly researched and beautifully designed book, containing many previously unseen images, has been one of our best selling titles in recent times.
It tells the story of how the early pioneers, Fred Craner and John Gillies Shields, created Britain’s first road racing circuit in 1931, and how their commitment and enterprise ensured that it grew at a phenomenal rate to host four pre-war Grands Prix, including the legendary “Silver Arrows” events of 1937 and 1938. The story continues through the war years and includes the circuit’s remarkable revival under Tom Wheatcroft and takes the reader right up to date with Jonathan Palmer’s MSV organisation.
Copies are still available; the perfect Christmas gift!
Publisher: John Bailie
Status: Out of Print (No Stock)
Number of pages: 348
Binding: HBD