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Nick Mason - Into The Red: 22 Cars
That Shaped A Century Of Motor Sport |
Published by Virgin Books, 2004
First off, if you have the first
edition of this book, the second won't give you a huge amount extra.
Updated to include one of the latest Mason acquisitions, the McLaren F1
GTR, the book is identical until you find the extra chapter covering
this (admittedly fantastic) supercar.
The CD, stuck inside the front
cover, has been upgraded to include this car too. For those who missed
out on the CD in the first edition, it contains recordings of many of
the cars, being put through their paces around Silverstone motor racing
circuit, and is produced by Nick himself. There is a note on the CD
sleeve: "Suggested volume setting = loud".
The book (and CD) brings together
two of Nick's big loves in life - cars and music. Although, for music,
read the sweet sounds the engines make when used in anger, racing
around an old airfield in Northamptonshire.
Nick and Mark Hales, who co-wrote
the book, set out to discuss the history of each car - how they were
acquired, what they are like to drive - and to compare the performance
of each car. And most of all to enjoy doing it!
This enjoyment comes out of the page clearly - with the thoughts and recollections easily tumbling onto the paper.
It's worth pointing out that
there is scant mention of his musical career - focusing on his motoring
history, with a liberal dousing of anecdote in Nick's superbly dry,
acerbic style. Anyone who has read his "Inside Out" book will know what
fun this is to read. After all, who else would write: "I like to think
of it as the mechanical equivalent of a golden retriever" and reveal a
potential name change to Aaron Aardvark!
There are the occasion mentions
of his musical career, but these seem to be more showing how his "day
job" exists to provide convenient driving or car collection
opportunities!
There are some good cautionary
tales of the various car dealers who sold him cars, in assorted states
of (dis)repair. Luckily Nick seems to know good people for restoring
his cars, and each of them look magnificent in the book.
One of the joys of the book is
the quality of the photography, showing both Nick and Mark putting the
vehicles through their paces, together with various bits of motor
racing memorabilia from over the decades, including Nick's FIA driver
photo ID (from a few years ago!).
Mark Hales is the perfect foil to
Nick's prose - talking in detail of the experience of driving each car,
and how each measures up.
So, a beautiful book, well
written and absorbing. As mentioned before, with the exception of a few
brief mentions, Nick's drumming career doesn't really get a look in, so
fans of the band who have no interest in cars will find this book hard
going. For those with petrol in their veins, though, an essential
addition to the bookshelf...
The book can be ordered through the following links: Canada/US/etc, UK/Elsewhere, Germany, or France.
However, for a short time, Amazon have secured a number of copies
signed by Nick himself - and is available from these Amazon branches: UK/Elsewhere, Germany, or France. Be quick if you want one of these, though.
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