An Emley historian has published a book on one of Britain’s most beloved racing cars.
Emley-based motoring historian and author Guy Loveridge is launching the book and DVD package on Aston Martin race cars from the early 1960s.
And it has extra special significance this year, bringing together Aston Martin in their centenary year and Cleckheaton-based Mintex who are establishing a presence in the historic car world.
Guy, who will be the next chairman of the prestigious Guild of Motoring Writers, has spent three years researching and developing this new project.
He said: “I wanted to give people a DVD of fantastic period colour footage, but package it with a book of entirely contemporary facts and stories.
“So what people get is over an hour of motor racing and testing footage which follows Aston Martin DBR1, DBR4 and DB4 GT and Zagato cars to Le Mans, Goodwood, Silverstone, Clermont-Ferrand and Monthlery, as well as undergoing rigorous testing in the UK, coupled with a written reference of what those involved and seen on the film thought.”
Mintex were official suppliers of both braking and clutch materials to Aston Martin for their road and racing cars from the birth of the company in 1923.
Guy’s 2001 book, Mintex Man, chronicled the career of former Mintex competition manager Lionel Clegg, who lived at Halifax Old Road in Huddersfield.
Lionel worked alongside many of the most famous names in motor racing – Ascari, Fangio, Moss and Collins.
That book showed what life was like behind the scenes of the world of motor racing at a time when European travel meant currency restrictions and facing up to the damage left after the Second World War.
Motor racing in this era represented a breath of fresh air and Lionel had the foresight and imagination to take a camera and colour film with him on his assignments.
Guy’s new book is called Aston Martin DB4 and DB4 GT – Rectification and Racing and is available from Douglas Loveridge Publications, 85 Warburton, Emley, HD8 9QP for £25 including postage.
Guy is happy to sign them as well.
He said: “We have limited the edition to 1,100 and 500 have already gone in pre-orders!”
