Help me find a 60s motoring book about driving fast on the road

[jonny69]

I'm looking for a 60s motoring book for my dad. He couldn't remember the exact title or the author but it was something along the lines of 'How to drive at high speed on the road' and he remembers the author had a Lotus Elan that he talked about driving in the book. The author also didn't like roundabouts. Would have been a mid to late 60s book, I guess. Searching the net just seems to bring up modern stuff about driving your POS in an irresponsible manner, track day training or Lotus Elan books. It's not specifically about driving Elans, it's just the author's car was one. Motor Books isn't returning much but I don't know how much dog-eared nicotine stained old toot they keep. Any ideas?

[HMC]

One that springs to mind Is Paul Frere's Competition and sportscar driving, right in that period, discusses road races IIRC but is maybe too track focussed, also can't recall much Elan content.

[eddyramrod]

Try searching by Author?  I remember Ian Wearing, once editor of Hot Car magazine, had an Elan in the early 70s, and liked to exercise it.  He may well have written such a book.

[Christine]

I might have read that too .. and practiced it in a Herald and Vitesse  ..which is maybe why i had 5 big ones before i was 20   

[Richard]

If it's this I've got it.

 

http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=17913809627&searchurl=yrh%3D1975%26yrl%3D1960%26bi%3D0%26ds%3D30%26sts%3Dt%26bx%3Doff%26sortby%3D17%26an%3Da%2520tom%2520topper%26recentlyadded%3Dall

 

If it's not you should be able to find it with some advanced searching on there.

[Richard]

The back of that book has a picture of the author in his Lotus Elan.

 

[jonny69]

I might get a copy of that one anyway

 

Cheers for the author tips. Something to get started with.

[KruJoe]

 

Quantity Available: 1

 

Quick, grab that one, I think we all want it now!

[Richard]

I found this on there too. RWD Ford with No69 on it? Been done.

 

 

The book you're after will definitely be on Abe Books, it's just a matter of finding it. You can specify years too, to eliminate all the Max Power toss.

[Richard]

Quick, grab that one, I think we all want it now!

 

That's just that particular seller's stock, there are loads of other copies.

[Vantman]

I used to have a copy of 'Roadcraft The Police Drivers Handbook' which was quite popular.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

In the 60's John Lyon wrote a few books, I think. He was the instructor at BSM's advanced HPC school , which used amongst others, Elans and +2s.

He still does driver training today, as does another Lotus ( well, Caterham ) loving advanced driver trainer Paul Ripley.

Could be one of them.

[inconsistant]

Your original post made me think of the middle book below. It's not the one you're after but it reminded me that there are a load of (old) books out there that discuss driving/riding as a craft/skill to be refined & mastered.

 

[Ghosty]

I used to have a copy of 'Roadcraft The Police Drivers Handbook' which was quite popular.

 

Think I actually have a late '70s copy of that somewhere!

[barefoot]

I've got Tom Toppers book too.

 

Not read it for a bit, I remember it being a little odd.

[Eddie Honda]

If it's this I've got it.

 

http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=17913809627&searchurl=yrh%3D1975%26yrl%3D1960%26bi%3D0%26ds%3D30%26sts%3Dt%26bx%3Doff%26sortby%3D17%26an%3Da%20tom%20topper%26recentlyadded%3Dall

 

If it's not you should be able to find it with some advanced searching on there.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Very-Advanced-Driving-Right-Way/dp/0716021277/

 

I think it is too. I seem to remember an orangey-covered 1970s print version I borrowed from the local library years back. Particularly remember the Lotus connection and the references to "Fastards".

[Junkman]

 

Help me find a 60s motoring book about driving fast on the road

 

Any travel guide to Germany would do.

[Landy Mann]

I used to have a copy of 'Roadcraft The Police Drivers Handbook' which was quite popular.

I don't have a copy of that, I have just added "Plan for safer roads" by E Lamberto my library, I'm only 50pages in so far but he spends most of it slating lots of the content in Roadcraft. Interestingly he also references J.E. Leeming's "Road accidents prevent or punish?" which I highly rate, essentially it sums up most road accidents as being caused by human error aided and abetted by road conditions, weather, road design & car design, with hind sight I've found it to be true; I also have a 'The motor manual' from 1942 including wartime modifications.

 

 

I'm still looking for a copy on "unsafe at any speed" if anyone has a spare copy.

 

[Alusilber]

Think I actually have a late '70s copy of that somewhere!

 

I've got the 1997 edition. Not the most thrilling of reads, has to be said.

[Alusilber]

apparently the 60s and 70s editions of roadcraft included far more aobut reponse driving unlike the 90s onwards editiosn which  make very little if any  reference to exemptions or  response techniques 

Yes, there's very little about actual police driving in my one, mostly fairly basic stuff about going round corners, braking, overtaking, controlling skids, that kind of thing. 

[jonny69]

Forgot I needed to look for this

 

There are some gems here. I'm glad I asked now!

[Richard]

I still think it's the A Tom Topper book, it's got to be worth £2.40 to find out.

[Pete-M]

I've got a 1962 copy of "Roadcraft".