BRM V16: How Britain's auto makers built a Grand Prix car to beat the world
BRM V16: How Britain's auto makers built a Grand Prix car to beat the world
Overview
Road & Track, November 2007-USmagazineHere is an in-depth, fascinating account of the fabled BRM V16, the first post-war Grand Prix car conceived and created in Great Britain. Criticized for being overambitious and under-financed, the BRM V16 was the product of an effort led by Raymond Mays to harness the technical strength of British industry and bring to Grand Prix racing a car on par with the world-dominating Silver Arrows from Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union of the late 1930s.Author Karl Ludvigsen, renowned automotive journalist, introduces all the key players in the saga, providing quotes that give contemporary insights to the challenges of financing the enterprise and the determination to keep such a daunting undertaking moving forward. Detailed mechanical drawings and an assortment of photos help the narrative.As you read about this Herculean effort to produce a car to represent British post-war prestige, it is easy to get caught up in the story, hoping that in some way the car would fight on equal terms with the Alfettas that were dominating the modern Grand Prix era. But as history plays out, you can see why the fantastic BRM V16 ultimately arrived too late to prove its potential and attain its goals.Sports Car Market, 2008USmagazineCirc: 20,000World War II ended in Europe in 1945, but the effects lingered in Britain long after. As motor racing returned, British Racing Motors audaciously attempted to create a world-beating car built around a 16-cylinder supercharged engine, and with it excite a nation. Led by Raymond Mays, the BRM project was funded by donations from the British public, including the boy who became author Karl Ludvigsen. While winning its first two exhibition races, the car only competed in four Grands Prix before the engine formula changed in 1954. In between, the story was of high expectations and lofty goals rarely met. Ludvigsen details the project from idea to collapse, filling the book with photos from his own library to support a well-told tale of plucky enthusiasm meeting hard racing reality.Provenance: ****Ludvigsen's attention to detail is on every page. Densely written and exhaustively researched, 'BRM V16' includes engine drawings, images, and a lively sense of the time and people who took on the daunting challenge.Fit and finish: ***Nicely reproduced photography is supported by clean design.Drivability: ****Not just an important bit of history, this is also a readable story filled with larger-than-life characters.VSCC Bulletin, Summer 2008The magazine for the Vintage Sports CarClub,UK This book was published about 18 months ago and initially evaded a Bulletin review. Karl Ludvigsen has written a most readable and detailed account of the story of the legendary and perhaps notorious V-16 BRM. It is evident that its chances of success were very slim. From its inception it was "managed by committee" with wholly inadequate resources. Most of the components came from outside sources who were more interested in the need for post-war survival than the BRM project. The great Alfred Neubauer inspected in its early stages at the primitive Bourne works and told Raymond Mays that such a complex car would never succeed with the inadequate resources available. Some of the responsibility for the over-complexity may rest with Laurence Pomeroy, a past President of the Club who postulated a 1500cc V-16 design in "The Motor" in 1938. Pomeroy's views and his authoritative technical explosion influenced Peter Berthon who designed the car, which like its predecessor, the E-type EPA had many inherent design faults. By the time it appeared, the World had moved on so the car only ran in one F1 Championship race before a formula change made it obsolete. The trials and tribulations of the design, development and the racing career are recounted by Ludvigsen who recognizes the remarkable dedication of the BRM mechanics and the enthusiasm of Raymond Mays. Without that enthusiasm the project would have died in the early stages, but Mays kept BRM alive, eventually leading to the F1 Constructors' Championship in 1962. This is not a long book, but is a detailed and authoritative account of an important venture in British motor racing history. Recommended.Description
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- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
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Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
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If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
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You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
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Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
Overview
Road & Track, November 2007-USmagazineHere is an in-depth, fascinating account of the fabled BRM V16, the first post-war Grand Prix car conceived and created in Great Britain. Criticized for being overambitious and under-financed, the BRM V16 was the product of an effort led by Raymond Mays to harness the technical strength of British industry and bring to Grand Prix racing a car on par with the world-dominating Silver Arrows from Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union of the late 1930s.Author Karl Ludvigsen, renowned automotive journalist, introduces all the key players in the saga, providing quotes that give contemporary insights to the challenges of financing the enterprise and the determination to keep such a daunting undertaking moving forward. Detailed mechanical drawings and an assortment of photos help the narrative.As you read about this Herculean effort to produce a car to represent British post-war prestige, it is easy to get caught up in the story, hoping that in some way the car would fight on equal terms with the Alfettas that were dominating the modern Grand Prix era. But as history plays out, you can see why the fantastic BRM V16 ultimately arrived too late to prove its potential and attain its goals.Sports Car Market, 2008USmagazineCirc: 20,000World War II ended in Europe in 1945, but the effects lingered in Britain long after. As motor racing returned, British Racing Motors audaciously attempted to create a world-beating car built around a 16-cylinder supercharged engine, and with it excite a nation. Led by Raymond Mays, the BRM project was funded by donations from the British public, including the boy who became author Karl Ludvigsen. While winning its first two exhibition races, the car only competed in four Grands Prix before the engine formula changed in 1954. In between, the story was of high expectations and lofty goals rarely met. Ludvigsen details the project from idea to collapse, filling the book with photos from his own library to support a well-told tale of plucky enthusiasm meeting hard racing reality.Provenance: ****Ludvigsen's attention to detail is on every page. Densely written and exhaustively researched, 'BRM V16' includes engine drawings, images, and a lively sense of the time and people who took on the daunting challenge.Fit and finish: ***Nicely reproduced photography is supported by clean design.Drivability: ****Not just an important bit of history, this is also a readable story filled with larger-than-life characters.VSCC Bulletin, Summer 2008The magazine for the Vintage Sports CarClub,UK This book was published about 18 months ago and initially evaded a Bulletin review. Karl Ludvigsen has written a most readable and detailed account of the story of the legendary and perhaps notorious V-16 BRM. It is evident that its chances of success were very slim. From its inception it was "managed by committee" with wholly inadequate resources. Most of the components came from outside sources who were more interested in the need for post-war survival than the BRM project. The great Alfred Neubauer inspected in its early stages at the primitive Bourne works and told Raymond Mays that such a complex car would never succeed with the inadequate resources available. Some of the responsibility for the over-complexity may rest with Laurence Pomeroy, a past President of the Club who postulated a 1500cc V-16 design in "The Motor" in 1938. Pomeroy's views and his authoritative technical explosion influenced Peter Berthon who designed the car, which like its predecessor, the E-type EPA had many inherent design faults. By the time it appeared, the World had moved on so the car only ran in one F1 Championship race before a formula change made it obsolete. The trials and tribulations of the design, development and the racing career are recounted by Ludvigsen who recognizes the remarkable dedication of the BRM mechanics and the enthusiasm of Raymond Mays. Without that enthusiasm the project would have died in the early stages, but Mays kept BRM alive, eventually leading to the F1 Constructors' Championship in 1962. This is not a long book, but is a detailed and authoritative account of an important venture in British motor racing history. Recommended.Description
Condition Guidelines
Books - New and Used
The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
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