Description

This book chronicles a decade in the history of motor racing when Juan Manuel Fangio, known affectionately in Argentina as “bandy legs”, won the World Championship five times, and when British drivers like Mike Hawthorn, Stirling Moss, Peter Collins and Tony Brooks emerged to challenge the Italians and Argentinians who had dominated the Grand Prix scene since the end of World War 2.

Their skill, courage and dogged determination brought incalculable prestige to Britain, and when Hawthorn beat Fangio by one second in the French G.P. of 1953 it was the first time an Englishman had won this classic since Sir Henry Segrave in 1923. The 1953 Italian G.P. at Monza was not only the last championship race of the season but a warning shot across the bows of the Italians when Hawthorn (Ferrari) finished fourth in the championship table.
The 24-Hour Race at Le Mans in 1955 was the setting for a duel between Hawthorn’s D-Type Jaguar and Fangio’s Mercedes that will go down in the record books as the most intense and exciting in the history of the race.

A fascinating book. First edition hardback in very good condition throughout.