'Essential' reading if you have an interest in motor sport
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Over the last year or so, I was aware that this book was being written by David Tremayne, with at least one delay to its publication date, clearly to ensure that it was as good as it could be. This book is well worth the wait.
Following three young British talents, from different family backgrounds, who took distinctly different routes to Formula 1. It covers not only their careers, but also paints a picture of British motor racing, and Formula 1, and the lifestyles of the people involved, in the late 1960's and 70's. The research which must have gone into this book can only be imagined, with references to press coverage of the time, the author's own account of many events, and the accounts and memories of people associated with Roger Williamson, Tony Brise and Tom Pryce. Also of note are the many, many press and family photographs on almost every page.
The tragic circumstances of their deaths are covered in detail, but in such a way that you also appreciate the relevant facts in the circumstances, and the levels of danger inherent in motor racing in those times, the lessons learnt and the evolution of the sport since.
This book, for me, is a fitting tribute to 3 talents which were never fully realised.
If you only read one book this year, then I would recommend this one.
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Fantastically moving
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I only got into motor racing as a fan in the early 90s, so have no first hand memories of these three drivers. But this book brings them to life in a way that few other books, and very few authors can. I was engrossed by it, and extremely moved by the vivid descriptions of their horrible deaths, and the emotional reminiscences of those who loved them.
The book is far more than purely a record of their racing careers, it really does show how good they were, how good they could have been, what they were like as people, what motivated them, and details their lives off-track as well as on.
It's extremely well written, by an author who clearly loves his subject, and has the talent to do them justice. It's very easy to see why the author named his son after Tom Pryce, you couldn't ask for a better role model.
I'm an avid reader, on a variety of subjects, and this book is one of the best I have ever read. And certainly the most moving. It's wonderful that these three little-known heroes have been immortalised in this way. But what a tragic, tragic waste that this book should ever have had to be written. All 3 of these guys should have had the opportunity to be household names like James Hunt and Nigel Mansell.
A fantastic book, and one I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone, whether they are fans of the sport or not.
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Emotional
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I got interested in this subject after seeing the statue to Roger Williamson. I agree with most of what's written above but I've got less of a problem with the closeness of the writer. This is a book about three highly talented drivers who - between them - could have produced victories and possibly more. None got remotely close to fulfilling his potential, all died tragically young in preventable and pathetic accidents. Each death was totally needless. If that's not a cause for getting emotional I'm not sure what is. In another reality at least one of these men, comfortable in middle age, would be trotted out to comment on whether Jenson Button would ever equal his achievements. As it is they're hardly known. It's a great idea to put the three careers in one book, making clear just what this country lost in the mid-seventies.
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Powerful Stuff
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David Tremayne tells the story of three British F1 drivers who sadly perished in tragic accidents in the 1970's. It's harrowing stuff and in some instances pretty damning of the circumstances, Graham Hill gets a well deserved panning.
A great book for F1 historians that is slightly marred by the author having an inability to step back from his subject and getting far too emotionally involved.
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