The Cruel Sport: Grand Prix Racing 1959-1967 [Hardcover]

Robert Daley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 23, 2005

Robert Daley. It was an era of daring, dashing drivers piloting incredibly powerful race cars around fast and legendary circuits with only primitive safety equipment to spare them disaster. The book includes sections covering the drivers, cars, factories, practice sessions, race day races and, inevitably, accidents. The text is incredibly compelling, as would be expected from a world-class writer. The design and photo presentation remain true to the original edition, published in 1963, and are supplemented by a new introduction and epilogue and revised captions. A rare period piece certain to delight racing fans.

Editorial Reviews

Review

SpeedTV.com, May 2007
“In The Cruel Sport Robert Daley gives the reader a double-dose of his remarkable talent. [It] offers unique glimpses into the glorious bygone era of Grand Prix racing. The photographs ... are unique portraits that have hung in some of the world’s finest art galleries. The text complements the photographs and vice versa. The portraits are spectacular, but the text may be even better. The book is full of great quotes, tidbits of trivia and interesting facts. The Cruel Sport deserves a place of honor on every Formula One fan’s bookcase. I give it four out of five lug nuts.” 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Australian Classic Car, September 2006

“[Daley’s] writing style is a delight to read and the photos are excellent … It captures the feeling of those more carefree if dangerous days and for that alone it’s worth adding to your bookshelves … it’s our book of the month.”

Automobile Magazine
“ Daley captures life of the edge of the Grand Prix circuit."

About the Author

Robert Daley began his career as motor racing photographer but is perheps better know as a novelist including the best-selling Prince of the City, Year of the Dragon, Wall of Brass.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Motorbooks; 1st edition (April 23, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760321000
• ISBN-13: 978-0760321003
• Product Dimensions: 12.4 x 9.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #950,886 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A (Slightly) Revised Re-issue of an Auto Racing Classic, April 22, 2005

By 

Stephen Triesch (Shoreline/Seattle USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Cruel Sport: Grand Prix Racing 1959-1967 (Hardcover)

This review will have two parts: (1) for those who are familiar with the original book, and (2) for those who are not.

(1) Despite the claim of the title (1959 - 1967), there is little in this book that was not in the original version 40 years ago. This still very much a book about the years 1959-1962. Here is what is new: bios of Jimmy Clark and Jackie Stewart; new Forward and Afterword written by Daley, explaining how he got into motor racing journalism, and why he got out; color photos of Bandini on inside of front and back covers; a few new photos (about half a dozen), replacing a few that were dropped; and a glossy page format which gives much better definition to the black-and-white photos. And that's it. There's nothing here of Rindt or Amon or Courage or Pedro Rodriguez or Siffert or Hulme. If you already have the original book, it's (possibly) a matter of your personal budget whether you'll spring for the new version; I did, and I don't regret it. I enjoyed the new Forward and Afterword because they told me something about Daley himself. I was very surprised to learn that at the time of the original publication of "The Cruel Sport," he was in his early 30s; I had always assumed he was a much older man. And his story of his struggle to establish himself as a writer was fascinating.

(2) If you are a tekkie, this book is not for you. But if you are a romantic - even perhaps a bit of a mystic - about motor racing in the glory days of the early 60s, this book will become a fast favorite. It is basically a photo book supported by text, text which is sparse and almost poetic at times - expressionistic and anecdotal. Daley covers Grand Prix racing thematically: there are sections on the drivers, the factories, practice, accidents, and so forth. There are brief bios of most of the drivers of that era, the longest of which - about 5 pages - is about Stirling Moss. Other drivers who feature prominently are Phil Hill, Count Wolfgang von Trips, and Graham Hill. The photos are wonderful, and are all in black-and-white (except for the inside cover pics, both of Bandini - one of him talking to reporters, the other of his fatal crash at Monaco). Daley is above all preoccupied with the danger of the sport and the qualities of the men who pursue it. The early 60s was an era of great names, great faces, and - all too often - tragedy. This book captures the spirit of the times, and stands alongside the annual F1 reviews of Louis Stanley as the most fascinating glimpses into the pre-commercialized world of Grand Prix racing, an era rapidly receding into the mists of time.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars When even the spectators were brave, October 1, 2005

By 

Dan Moreland - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cruel Sport: Grand Prix Racing 1959-1967 (Hardcover)

A fascinating snapshot of a bygone age, most of "Cruel Sport" is Robert Daley's poetic accounts of 1950s and 60s Grand Prix racing, actually captions to his incredible photos.

Interspersed between photo sections are biographies. Most striking are bios of the great Stirling Moss, the crash prone but likeable Wolfgang von Trips, and the sullen Phil Hill.

Most shocking is that of Formula One kingpin Enzo Ferarri, sending reckless driver after driver to their deaths in a ruthless quest to prove his namesake car to be the fastest in the world- all the while grieving the death of his son Dino at the hands of a crippling disease.

What makes the writing great is the way Daley gives the reader an inside glimpse of the personal lives, thoughts and fears of the drivers. From the chateau of the upper crust wine connoisseur Olivier Gendeblien, to a before and after snapshot of Dan Gurney showing the strains of stress on his face after three years on the circuit, this is a rare look into not only the glories of the racing lifestyle, but the bitter price often paid for that glory.

The copy I read was an original from 1963, and perhaps the idea of picking up a "picture book" about race car drivers may seem juvenile. But this is clearly much more than another picture book, and a true treasure for not only racing fans, but any reader with a casual interest in motorsport.

Unlike today where safety has almost sanitized racing to the point where the human, dangerous element has all been eliminated, the Grand Prix racing covered here is from a truly terrifying era. This is a fine tribute to the heroes of what must seem to race fans of today to be a barbaric age.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for GP fans, April 17, 2005

By 

James E. Schrager "jimschrager" (Mishawaka, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Cruel Sport: Grand Prix Racing 1959-1967 (Hardcover)

A dramatic, superbly written historical review of Grand Prix auto racing when it was very different than it is today. For anyone who lived through this period of automotive history, or who wants to learn about the history of the GP circuit before it became a circus, this is the book. The photos are great as well. I am delighted to see it back in print as I won't have to loan my cherished original copy out anymore, but can buy copies to send as presents. If you like GP racing, this is the best investment you can make for your bookshelf.