LM24 Le Mans books -- what are your fav's

vandijk · 14 Sep 2004, 09:03 (Ref:1096041)

I will be travelling/backpacking for over a month trough South-East Asia in a couple of weeks. I will likely spend days in planes, boats and buses so I would like to carry some books with me. Vin and Frank gave me the book 'Le Mans' from Koen Vergeer (in Dutch) for my birthday but since I will leave the DSLR back a home (saves me 5Kg) I have room for another one.

So what (Le Mans/sportscar related-)book would you bring and why?!

Fab · 14 Sep 2004, 15:58 (Ref:1096425)

Sander, try this page ; even if the bookshop is french, I assume you'll get the titles, and most are in english... if needed, I'll translate.

"les rétrospectives" means (more or less !) "tales of the past"

"les récits" means "stories"

"Disponibilité occasionnelle ... nous consulter" means "second hand : ask for availability"

**FIRE** · 14 Sep 2004, 16:48 (Ref:1096457)

I like Brian Laban's Le Mans 24 Hours, but the size and weight of this book is not ideal for a backpakking trip.

Maybe Le Mans – A Pocket History by David Blumlein? (didn't read this book myself)

Is the book of Koen Vergeer a good book?

mikmx · 15 Sep 2004, 06:20 (Ref:1096973)

Koen vergeer's book is an excellent choice. His book f1 fan is an f1 book but mostly about historic f1 racing, so quite good too. Brian Laban's book is very very good but indeed not practical. I would take a french kiss with death about the making of the Steve McQueen movie, it's great.

**Aysedasi** · 15 Sep 2004, 17:52 (Ref:1097490)

Laban's book is my fave really, thanks largely to the great photography. "AFKWD" is also a terrific read as mikmx says.

**FIRE** · 15 Sep 2004, 18:58 (Ref:1097535)

Today I got Porsche In Motorsport (Fifty Years On Track) by Peter Morgan delivered. This books has also nice photo's.

paul-collins · 15 Sep 2004, 21:02 (Ref:1097646)

I just got Scarlet Passion: Ferrari's Famed Sports Prototype and Competition Sports Cars by Anthony Pritchard, but again, not much of a backpacking book.

Have you considered Burt Levy's "The Last Open Road?" Not Le Mans, but fun stuff about sportscar racing in the US immediately post-war, told from a 20-year-old's perspective.

thebear · 15 Sep 2004, 23:12 (Ref:1097752)

Quote:

Originally posted by mikmx
I would take a french kiss with death about the making of the Steve McQueen movie, it's great.

But that is another 5kg book in very large format. :confused: Not exactly `backpack friendly'

**Aysedasi** · 17 Sep 2004, 12:13 (Ref:1099217)

No, but you can always lose that extra pair of socks and underpants........

thebear · 17 Sep 2004, 16:24 (Ref:1099500)

Quote:

Originally posted by Aysedasi
No, but you can always lose that extra pair of socks and underpants........

He may only be taking the ones he wearing and tuning them inside out each day!

**FIRE** · 17 Sep 2004, 16:59 (Ref:1099533)

Or wear no socks and underpants...

djb · 17 Sep 2004, 17:13 (Ref:1099541)

Vandijk, don't know, but from my backpacking memories, do you really want to be lugging along books, especially ones that you wouldn't want to get roughed up or risk getting wet if "whatever" happens?

As much as the reads would be fun, why don't you just take expendable paperbacks and enjoy your trip without having the weight and worry of an perhaps expensive book (or at least ones you'd like to keep on your bookshelf afterwards)?

Just my opinion from someone who has often had too much weight in a backpack and regretted it afterwards.

enjoy your trip in any case and don't come back with any intestinal friends that overdo their stay.

vandijk · 17 Sep 2004, 18:14 (Ref:1099597)

Quote:

Originally posted by djb
Vandijk, don't know, but from my backpacking memories, do you really want to be lugging along books, especially ones that you wouldn't want to get roughed up or risk getting wet if "whatever" happens?

As much as the reads would be fun, why don't you just take expendable paperbacks and enjoy your trip without having the weight and worry of an perhaps expensive book (or at least ones you'd like to keep on your bookshelf afterwards)?

Just my opinion from someone who has often had too much weight in a backpack and regretted it afterwards.

enjoy your trip in any case and don't come back with any intestinal friends that overdo their stay.

Good point! Last year I travelled for a month to Thailand and Malaysia and took the Digital SLR, two lenses and a tripod with me... Although the pictures are awesome sometimes I did not feel comfortable with such expensive gear (where do you leave it whilst diving?). Also when hiking in the northern Thai highlands, when you need to take a lot of -clean- water with you it was not always easy.

So, the book Vin and Frank gave me is a paperback and not too heavy I guess I will bring that one along with my Lonely Planet guide. Again big chance that the bag will be put on the roof while I will be sitting between the goats and chickens

. On the other hand 300 pages is not enough for over a month traveling -- perhaps I will look into some other (non-Le Mans) paperbacks. Last year in Thailand I've seen plenty of shops were you can easily trade your books.

I have seen some great books in your responses though -- perhaps something for christmas... Thanks!

thebear · 17 Sep 2004, 19:34 (Ref:1099663)

Quote:

Originally posted by vandijk
I have seen some great books in your responses though -- perhaps something for christmas... Thanks!

Have a good trip and don't forget to write!

**PascaLM** · 17 Sep 2004, 19:57 (Ref:1099677)

I would bring the book relating the story of Jean Rondeau's team and its victory in 1980. The story of passion.

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