About the Book
Around Europe lie a number of long forgotten monuments, windswept and abandoned, the derelict buildings and crumbling tarmac are all that remain of once great motor racing circuits. From the great speed-bowls of Monza and Brooklands, to the parkland of Crystal Palace, this evocative book features both historical pictures, as well as stunning contemporary photography of the circuits as they are now.
Gavin Ireland’s photographs, commissioned especially for this book, have received critical acclaim, and since the book’s original publication he has received the Renault/MSA Young Photographer of the Year award.
About the Author :
SS Collins grew up in South London within sight of the Crystal Palace Race Circuit, and at the age of 16, started work experience at Williams F1. He has been heavily involved in the sport ever since. After studying automotive and motorsport engineering, he decided to write his first book ‘How to Get Started in Motorsport’.
Since then, he has written for Motorsport News, Autosport, Racecar Engineering, Auto Sport Japan, Racing On!, F1 Sokuho amongst others.
His other books include ‘Autodrome – The lost race circuits of Europe’, ‘Unraced ...’, and, a homage to where it all began for him, ‘Motor Racing at Crystal Palace – London's own circuit’.
Currently, he works as a freelance motorsport journalist and technology consultant, a position that gives him unique access to the inner workings of international motorsport. He also competes in sprints, hillclimbs, races, rallies and trials. He lives in St Ippolyts near Hitchin, in Hertfordshire.
Review :
The idea was splendid - a tour of disused European racing circuits - and the execution benefited from the decision to blend the obvious stuff (Monza's banking, Reims, Crystal Palace) with venues that might be slightly less familiar (Keimola in Finland - source of some of the most poignant photography).- Motor Sport. The idea behind it is simple - describe the history of circuits well known at the time but are no longer used, revisit them today, and take spectacular photographs. The book covers AVUS, Brookline, Crystal Palace, Keimola, Masarykring (Brno), Montlhery, Monza, Nurburgring Sudschleife and Reims. There are of course period photographs showing the circuits from the time there were used, but what makes the book stand out are Gavin Ireland's contemporary photo's, dripping with atmosphere and ghosts of time past. It was an enjoyable read which unearthed stories and facts not covered elsewhere. - www.silhouet.com. Beginning on a high note with Brooklands, this book takes you around some of the Continent's lost and forgotten circuits. Each entry talks you through the track's history and corners, and finishes with some pictures of the venue in its current state and in its glory days. Detailed, well written and beautifully photographed.- Auto Express. At first glance, it might seem to be a bit of a hotpotch, but take time to delve into the book, and it is an Aladdins cave of little jewels. In fact, I found myself going back to it time and again. S.S. Collins is an accomplished journalist and writer, while his words have been amplified by the beautiful photographs taken by Gavin Ireland. At the same time there are plenty of period photographs of when the circuits- or autodromes- were being used. It is a book that makes you want to visit all the venues covered- Brooklands, Monza, reims, Nurburgring Sudschleiffe, Crystal Palace, Keimola, Masarykring, Avus and Linas Montlhery- with this in hand. It is worth the price for those who want to know more about the history of motor racing than just the cars and drivers.- Historic Racing Technology. This much sought after book is available again after many years out of print. It's an absorbing, evocative and stunningly photographed look at some of Europe's most famous 'lost' circuits including Brooklands, the banking at Monza, Nurburgring Sudschliefe, Crystal Palace and Rheims. Superb original photography captures them both in their heyday and as they are today. There's also lots of wonderfully nostalgic and often poignant stories plus numerous period photographs and memorabilia including track diagrams, race programmes and posters. A beautiful book, beautifully produced. - Club Lotus News.
