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.