Description
Author: Paul Parker, Hardbound, 240 Pages, ISBN: 9780992876920 -Volume 2
1st Edition, September 2015 (Sister-volume to "Formula In Camera 1960-69" by the same author)
Through fascinating period photography, in both vivid colour and evocative black and white, this worthy addition to the acclaimed In Camera series takes a second look at Formula 1 in the 1960s. This was a decade of revolutions, when the last of the front-engined Grand Prix cars would be ousted in favour of technically superior rear-engined machines. Wider tyres, better brakes and the emergence of aerodynamic wings and spoilers would all contrive to improve cornering and straight-line speed, and finally safety would start to be taken seriously Legendary figures of the era, including Jack Brabham, Phil Hill, Graham Hilt Jim Clark, John Surtees, Denny Hulme and Jackie Stewart, feature throughout this visually stunning and highly nostalgic book, which is brought to life as usual through the author's renowned rich commentary.
This is a second look at surely the most exciting, perilous and ever varied period in Formula 1, from the end of the 2.5-litrc/750cc supercharged era (1954-1960), via the small, delicate and sometimes beautiful 1.5-litre machines of 1961-65 to the 3-litre racers in 1966.
It began with the ongoing supremacy of British cars via John Cooper's Coventry Climax-powered T51 and T53, Colin Chapman's answer, the Lotus 18, BRM's rather belt-and-braces P48 based upon the front-engined P25 and a trio of instantly obsolete front-engined devices and one hanger-on from the late 1950s.
These were the Ferrari Dino 246 (although they would soon join the back-to-front club), Aston Martin's carried-over DBR4/250 (its successor the 013K5 soon disappeared), Lance Reventlow's brave but ill-advised Scarab, which had fundamental engine problems but was dynamically superior to its equivalent Italian and British counterparts, and the lowered made-over Vanwall that was slower than it had been years before. There was to be one final front-engined Formula 1 contender, the Ferguson P99, hut this only contested one championship GP, in 1961 where it retired, although Moss drove it to victory at Oulton Park that year and it later had considerable success as a hill-climb car.
From 1964 onwards, tyres literally broadened their horizons, brakes became serious rather than mere 'stoppers' as the cornering speeds rose, with a concomitant increase in straight-line velocity between corners, and inevitably post 1967 'wings' and trim tabs et al sprouted and sought to keep the monsters on the road as the G-forces escalated and braking distances shrank.
Despite the exponential growth in performance the cars nevertheless continued to be fragile, temporary structures that were still, in most instances, potential death traps. Nevertheless the ethos that had carried motor sport through the worst of times during the 1950s and early 1960s remained intact, but ultimately something had to be done about the perils and somebody had to step forward to address it.
It is questionable how many racers owe their lives to Jackie Stewart's courageous, but at the time much A reviled, stance, but owe them they do. His 1966 Spa accident and the potential but happily unfulfilled consequences of it were a key factor in the future of the sport and ultimately the saved lives of future generations of drivers and spectators. Even so, tragedy was not always avoided and in America fatalities continued to dog track racing.
For latter-day aficionados, however, the very presence of tracksidc hazards, buildings, telegraph poles, trees, assorted pieces of scenery and not a harrier in sight is one of the undeniable aesthetic attractions of this and earlier eras. IIere are not just the obvious suspects like Spa Francorchamps or the Nfirburgring but also the narrow roads of Rouen les Essarts and even the grass verge and hank surrounds of Brands Hatch, where spectators were only a few yards from the action.
The survivors of this long-ago time are now sadly few, but here we can see them in their pomp together with their contemporaries whose motto seems to have been: 'we're here so we are going to race regardless.'
About the author
Paul Parker is the author of Formula 1 in Camera 1950-59, Formula I in Camera 1960-69 and Formula 1 in Camera 1970-79 (volumes 1 and 2), along with sister titles covering sports-car racing in the 1950s, '60s and '70s. Additionally he has written Sixties Motor Racing with Michael Cooper, Jaguar at Le Mans 1950-95, Races, Faces, Places and Klemantaski Master Moto rsports Photographer.
He is a freelance writer and a superb photo researcher, with work published in Octane, Motor Sport, Classic Cars, ForzaVaguar World Monthly and The Daily Telegraph. He also track tests historic cars and has raced a Lister Jaguar.
