We have been contacted by Tom Fryars about a great new book on the early days of motorsport which includes some interesting snippets of LAC history.
This is a n Edwardian motor sport book th
at tells a story, a book which is of particular interest to members of the Lancashire Automobile Club and how their events amongst others help to shape the history of British motorsport before the Great War.
This book for the first time explains the Rise of The Sidevalves to consign the Monster Edwardian cars to history, and the resulting emergence of the iconic Vauxhall 30-98 and 25 hp Talbots.
This untold story follows week by week the Crossley Motors works competition cars and their participation in period English hill climb and sprint events from 1910 to 1914 seen through period press reports. The reports describe how a Crossley 20hp competition touring car beat the two Sunbeam GP winning races cars of Louis Coatalen and Bird and dominated the British motorsport scene by securing an unprecedented 34 Fastest Times of the Day in a 3 year period.
Approximately fifty percent of all English hill climbs and sprints in the three years up to 1913 are covered in detailed event reports. Each report identifies the main motor manufacturers and competitors to give a flavour of what it was like to spectate at Edwardian hill climbs
The Lancashire Automobile Club events from 1909, 1912 are covered in detail and why the dramatic 1913 LAC Waddington Fell hill climb proved to be a watershed for both Crossley Motors and Vauxhall.
We are also taken through the application of many technical developments which happened in this period, including an explanation of the first use o
f dynamic balancing for engine parts, along with the origins and reasons for failure of Edwardian front wheel brakes on production cars. (picture right is Rivington Pike in 1912)
Short life stories of Bianchi and Woods, the two works drivers are chronicled, with their involvement in events such as the 1903 Paris Madrid race and the 1904 Blackpool Speed trials.
A final chapter with a few short period stories which feature the works drivers is also included.
All in all, a good read which chronicles the untold success story of a local car manufacturer which will lift the corvid blues.
More information https://www.facebook.com/EdwardianMotorSport
200 pages.
Many unseen images
Limited Edition Hardback
Price at £35, plus £5 carriage within the UK
Preferred Payment Method is PayPal via website: https://www.edwardianmotorsport.co.uk/
Overseas orders or payment by bank transfer & cheque.
Please contact Tom Fryars directly at: edwardianmotorsport@gmail.com