Philip Porter writes:
Business is healthy!
Welcome to the latest issue. I’m overjoyed to report that business is - dare I say it - looking good and we are actually selling more books than at any other period. Clearly, our valued customers have more time to read and/or more people are discovering Porter Press.
Unlike other publishers, we very, very rarely discount our books (apart from charity offers). Frankly, I would feel pretty peeved if I bought a book and then saw it heavily discounted the following week. For me, it also devalues the book, not just literally.
Our new Cunningham book has arrived from the printers today. It is packed with superb period photos, as well as detail about the great man, and majors on his first competition E-type but covers much more.
At Gordon Murray’s request, we are working on a book on his amazing Rocket. An enthusiastic owner is one Jay Leno and it was nice to get a call from him last week. He is very kindly going to write an Afterword for the book.
 Quick reminder that our friends at The Classic Motor Hub published my egotistical blog, 'Confessions of a Motoring Writer' recently. Swift but very genuine thanks to our distinguished contributors: Richard Heseltine, Serge Vanbockryck, Mark Cole, Ian Wagstaff, and Michael Cole (no relative). Michael (until he retired, the world’s leading tennis photographer) has provided super period photos which have enabled us to create a very different, fun competition this month. We also have a new feature - Fast-Feed-Back - hope you enjoy it, and the whole issue. Thank you for your support.
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The Richard Heseltine Column - What's In A Name?
What’s in a name? Rather a lot as it happens. Automobile manufacturers blow millions on think tanks brimmed with chin-stroking thesaurus-wielders but to what end? All they do is raid the cliché cupboard or invent some spellcheck-bothering, typographically ‘witty’ name. Random capitalisation and the substitution of numerals for letters are deemed perfectly valid. It’s enough to make you very Kia cee’d off indeed.
Read more »
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Maverick the car thief, part 2
Mark Cole on actor/racer James Garner and the making of the the iconic motor racing move - Grand Prix
Frankenheimer’s filming at Monaco concluded with a spectacular set-piece crash between the BRM teammates, Stoddart hitting a cliff face and Aron ending up in the harbour. At that point, BRM fired him, and he was picked up by Japanese car owner Izo Yamura (played by Toshiro Mifune of Seven Samurai fame), to drive for his Honda lookalike team.
Read more »
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FAST-FEED-BACK!
From Alain de Cadenet
Dear Philip,
Good story by Chas Parker on Rodriguez in the wet Brands 1000Kms. Pedro gave a master class to one and all that afternoon. When the Sifferts, Redmans, Elfords and Ickxs are astounded by a driver’s performance - indeed so was every other driver in the race - you knew that something special was taking place.
At the end of the event, Pedro looked just as immaculate as he had looked at the start - not a hair out of place, his grin giving nothing away. As the late, much-missed RAF pilot, Ray Hannah, used to say, ‘There are those who can and those who can’t.’
But then it was still a sport…
Best
Alain
Read more »
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Première Night, part 2 - Monocoques and Wings
By Serge Vanbockryck
Defeated in 1952 by a lack of reliability, rather than Mercedes speed, Jaguar returned with a vengeance in 1953 and with the next big thing in auto racing: the three British Green C-types were now equipped with disc brakes, developed by Dunlop and tested earlier at the Mille Miglia. The Jaguars’ speed and reliability, combined with the new superior stopping power, secured a 1-2-victory for the Coventry make and sent drum brakes to the history books double quick. Confident about their technical prowess, the engineers at Jaguar prepared another novelty for the following year, when their new D-types were equipped with monocoque chassis...
Read more »
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BRP’s Indianapolis Swan Song, part 3
By Ian Wagstaff
 The two cars had already arrived in the US less the engines. On arrival at Indianapolis airport, they were towed by rope to the team’s garage at the track. Masten Gregory’s team found digs for George Woodward and Jim Chapman in the basement of a private house, about 300 to 400 yards from the track. George had taken a set of drawings with him but the pair had to be registered as official mechanics before they could gain access to ‘Gasoline Alley’. They were then taken to a restaurant where other mechanics were want to ‘hang out’, given a leather bill fold for $100 and told, ‘Don’t say Americans aren’t generous’...
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Name The Car
Photos by Michael Cole
As Monty Python used to say, 'And now for something completely different'!
Good friend Michael Cole, who is a world-renowned tennis photographer, has been sorting through a number of his old photos. He recently sent me the shots he took at the 1970 Earl’s Court London Motor Show. They are wonderfully period and I thought we could have some fun, seeing if our readers can name the cars - some easy, some harder. This is Part 1; Part 2 in the next issue. Hope you enjoy the challenge.
Answers to sales@porterpress.co.uk by May 29th 2020.
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Porter Press Books Update
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 As mentioned above, our latest book entitled The All American Hero and Jaguar’s Racing E-types which majors on Briggs Cunningham’s dream to win Le Mans is now out. Magneto makes mention in their latest superb edition (which pays tribute to Stirling) of, ‘the usual Porter Press high production values… ...the period photography is superb… ...an entertaining read rather than a dreary drudge through history. The 288-page hardback is well priced at £60.’
Buy Now
Please note: viewing the above PDF in your browser may result in single page display. For extra viewing pleasure please download the PDF to read as double-page spreads.
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 We’re really pleased with our latest Exceptional Cars book on a very special sports racer. Ferrari 857S is packed with terrific period shots and some stunning studio photography, and is written by one of our stars, Ian Wagstaff.
 As to the next book to go to our printers, the race is on between Living the Goode Life - at full throttle and ROFGO collection by Doug Nye.
All being well, they will be followed by a totally unique book called SuperFinds and the Rocket book mentioned above.
Ultimate McLaren F1 GTRs Update: Mark Hughes is well advanced with editing Vol 2 and Martin Port has completed designing Vol 1. It is very encouraging to hear that a good number of our customers are as excited as we are about this set of books.
We are still waiting for permission to launch our book on the world’s first production Land Rover. Written and designed by Martin Port, it is superb.
In the pipeline: Ferrari Breadvan, Alfa T33/3, Ultimate Ferrari 250 GTO, XK 120 Profile, Ferrari 250 GTE, JCB Scrapbook, Ultimate Works Porsche 962s and more we cannot talk about just yet.
We’re excited; hope you are.
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 Coronavirus is a challenge facing every individual and every country. Many of us are lucky enough to be able to indulge our passion for ‘proper’ motor cars, others are less fortunate. We are keen to harness our shared enthusiasm for historic cars to help others in a small way. Hence the Charity Collection.
On specific Porter Press books, we will be delighted to make a contribution to the WHO Covid 19 Fund of 25% and to encourage our customers to support this, they will receive a 25% discount. The Charity Collection includes about 15 of our favourite books. Over £1,000 raised so far.
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The books on offer range from titles on famous ‘50s racing cars to the highly-acclaimed Derek Bell Porsche book, from sexy Italian sports racers to the amazing three-volume Le Mans Model Car Collection set. Prices range from £30 to £200. Free copy of the XK Files (superb children’s book) with every purchase while stocks last.
Simply use the discount code CHARITY at checkout
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For your chance to win a copy of Great Cars book number 10: Lotus 18 - The autobiography of Stirling Moss's 912, please send the correct answer to the question below to sales@porterpress.co.uk by 29 May
What made the 1961 Monaco Grand Prix winning Lotus 18, driven by Stirling to one of his greatest victories, instantly recognisable?
A. It was painted bright orange.
B. The exhaust pipes exited vertically.
C. The sides of the bodywork were removed.
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Who doesn't love a quiz?
For those of you who like quizzes, we are running a weekly quiz on our Porter Press website and you will also be able to find a link to our latest quiz in all future newsletters. We hope you like them. We do appreciate feedback, so if you have any suggestions of how we could improve our quizzes or you would like to submit some questions, please feel free. We would like to build on our newsletters bringing like-minded people together and having fun at the same time.
Click on registration plate to take the latest quiz
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