As we mentioned last month, Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason has put down his drumsticks and picked up his pen yet again, contributing to the forthcoming "Goodwood Festival of Speed" book by Richard Sutton, which is published by Harper Collins very soon.

The book, originally due on October 4th 2004, has suffered a slight delay. The publishers have told us that due to a problem with the quality of the printing, the books are all being redone from scratch. With a book promising to be a lavish look at the history of the event, of which Nick has only missed one year, being on tour at the time, they wanted to make sure that the book was as good as they could make it.

As yet, we don't know the extent of Nick's contribution to the book, but as soon as we have our copy, we will be reporting back on its contents for you.

In the meantime, here's what the book promises:

      A celebration in words and pictures of the world's biggest and most diverse classic motor sports event. Endorsed by the Goodwood Estate, edited by a leading authority on both classic and modern cars and featuring contributions from celebrities ranging from Jeremy Clarkson to Nick Mason, this is a must-have book for all motor racing devotees.

      Each year over a hundred thousand visitors from around the world gather in the grounds of Goodwood House near Chichester to celebrate their passion for motor cars and motor sport. It is the only meeting in the world where fans can see some of the greatest cars in the history of motor sport together with the drivers who drove them.

      Goodwood Festival of Speed is the official book on this unique occasion in the sporting calendar. Starting from informal beginnings in 1993 through to the record-breaking 11th anniversary meeting televised throughout Europe and America, the story captures the nostalgia and thrill of a much-loved extravaganza - where beautiful Alfa Romeos, thirties' American Streamliners and outrageous fifties' Cadillacs stand alongside World Championship winning Ferraris, fabulous racing bikes, and the latest expensive F1 machines. And where stars of the sport like Stirling Moss, John Surtees and David Coulthard chat with punters in the paddock and re-live the glories of a bygone era.

      Topics covered in the book include the history and growth of the event; famous marques such as Jaguar, Mercedes, Porsche and Ferrari; great drivers - on two wheels and four - from Le Mans and Dragsters to F1 and classic bikes; commissioned articles from celebrity fans; and a comprehensive record of all meetings since 1993.

      Featuring over 600 photographs - many exclusive to the Goodwood collection - and with contributions from a host of leading motor sport writers, fans from all over the world can indulge themselves in this key book on this most cherished occasion in sport.

Our thanks to Sarah at the publishers, Harper Collins, for her help. Watch for our review of this book soon; in the meantime advance orders are being taken at Amazon and other retailers.