Customer Reviews

BRM - The Saga of British Racing Motors Vol. 1: The Front Engined Cars 1945-60

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From the pre-WWII beginnings with ERA cars, Doug Nye traces the development of the enigmatic and sometimes successful BRM racing cars. Starting with the incredible 1.5 liter V-16 of the early 50's to the 2.5 liter 4 cylinder cars that followed, Mr. Nye produces an accurate and well refrenced account of the behind-the-scenes effort along with a detailed run-down of each competitive event that BRM entered during the "front-engine" period. We are treated to many first-hand accounts from Mr. Tony Rudd who joined the team during the early days as a develoment engineer. Of special interest are his descriptions of the many technical investigations into the failures of the early V-16 engine, and the theoritical and experimental efforts to understand handling and braking problems during a period when much of the engineering was "seat-of-the-pants". This book is very worthwhile for the avid BRM watcher, and I eagerly await the second volume. In fact, if anyone knows the publication date of the next volume, please let me know

I am about half way through reading this book. It is a masterpiece. This is one of the finest books ever written on a motor sport subject. From family backgrounds of the important characters in the story, through a description of comfortable, middle-class, life in Britain in the late 19th and early 20th century, the book goes on to describe Raymond Mays driving career, leading into the story of ERA cars. All this is, of course, just the background to the formation of BRM. The design, construction, development and competition career of the BRM V16 cars is described in great detail. All these aspects of this car were such troubled experiences, dealt with in an absorbing and entertaining way, the account interspersed at regular intervals with lighter moments which occured around the endless problem solving. I know the remainder of this book, dealing with the later front engined cars of the 1950's will continue at this high standard.
I am unable to say that this is the finest motor sport book ever written, as I also have, waiting on my bookshelves, Volumes 2 and 3 of the BRM story, which I know will give the same high level of reading pleasure. And I cannot wait for the [final] 4th volume to be published to complete this mammoth work.