We are already into spring and exactly how that's happened, one cannot be sure. But we certainly aren't complaining because with the arrival of longer days and blossom comes the emergence of hobby cars that have relegated to sheds for months.
What better way for the CAR book club to come together in spring than with a book on the world's best-selling sports car...
The Book of the Mazda MX-5 Miata: The 'Mk3' NC-series 2005 to 2015
Brian Long
The Book of the Mazda MX-5 Miata: The 'Mk3' NC-series 2005 to 2015
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Also available at WHS Smith and Waterstones
Mr Long has visited the MX-5 before, covering the Mk1 and Mk2 versions. If you liked those previous versions, you'll like this one too because it's the same recipe.
For the unfamiliar, what Brian Long does is provide a very detailed account of the NC MX-5, from its development right through to its facelift and eventual replacement by the ND. This includes its use in motorsport and its various tweaked versions to suit different markets.
If you're an MX-5 fanatic or a nerd for facts, this book will certainly satisfy that appetite. But while Brian is long on detail, he is a bit short on opinion. Be in no doubt this is a narration of the NC, not a review.
The images are excellent. Those of the NC during its creation are particularly interesting, and an appendix with an accurate breakdown of production figures is always a treat.
More favourites from 2022
Drivers on Drivers: Motorsport Greats on Their Rivals, Teammates and Heroes
Book of the month January 2022
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Motor racing is a sport that revolves around cars but itu2019s the people that make it interesting, and itu2019s the drivers that the wider world is most fascinated by. What makes them tick? And what they think of each other?
Drivers on Drivers is exactly as described: 31 drivers, including those who made their name in every decade from the 1950s to today, are asked to name their fiercest rivals, closest friends and personal heroes.
David Coulthard tells of the time Damon Hill warned him he’d punch him in the face; Hill looks back on wheel-to-wheel battles with Schumacher and reflects that his on-track aggression ‘wasn’t that bad by today’s standards.’
Up-to-date drivers include Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, Jamie Chadwick and George Russell – although in today’s era of soundbite press conferences, their answers are sparse and minimal compared with longer, more reflective interviews elsewhere from retired heroes. There are quotes too, posthumously, from interviews with Sir Stirling Moss.
Some drivers, after rivalries have cooled and time has healed, speak with hindsight of once-bitter rivals; others reflect on great times with great friends.
Admittedly, some drivers are more interesting than others and there are forgettable quotes as well as fascinating ones. And some are more open than others. Many of the interviews are an insight into the person speaking as much as those they’re speaking about. Highlights include Damon Hill, eloquent and thoughtful, and Jody Scheckter, frank and direct.
If any of the 31 names (and the many more whose names comment on within) are among your own heroes, have a read. If bought directly from the publisher, Porter International Press, £11 from each copy sold goes to cancer charity Hope for Tomorrow. Most impressively of all, the book’s authors and contributors have all managed to get racing drivers to say nice things about each other. - James Taylor
Automotive Detailing in Detail: A Guide to Enhancing, Renovating and Maintaining Your Vehicle's Appearance
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If you're interested in learning how to properly detail your car, or want to do it as a job there are a couple of options you can try. A good starting point is here at CAR where we've been testing as many cleaning products as we can get our hands-on. There's also YouTube and various forums that offer cleaning advice.
However, if you want something that's written by professional detailers and will help you understand the business side of detailing as well as the techniques, this book is fantastic. I'll admit that in my quest to learn all there is to know about car cleaning, this book has been a treasure trove of good advice. Not only does it break down techniques and equipment, but it also offers insight from people who've been cleaning cars for decades.
CAR Magazine
Lovely stuff
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We can't talk about car literature without mentioning CAR magazine, can we? This month's edition is packed with a new Ferrari and the last petrol-powered Lotus, plus a special feature on the rivalry between the two.
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The Big Book of Tiny Cars: A Century of Diminutive Automotive Oddities
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What's the best small car ever made? The Mini, Smart car, maybe even the original Mercedes A-Class. Small cars become icons of city streets and at least one will have a place in most city-dwellers hearts. This book explores the history of small cars and is an eye-opening read for any car fan. Each page charts the development of small cars, from the earliest Austin Sevens and Fiat 500 Topolinos to the latest Citroen Ami and Toyota IQ via Kei car oddities and those terrifying microcars of the 1970s.
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