Alan Clark - "Back Fire"

[Irish]

My word, I had no idea what a car nut Alan Clark was. Norman Lamont called him "the most politically incorrect, outspoken, iconoclastic and reckless politician of our times" - he left out the bit about being a passionate fan of all things automotive.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Back-Fire-Passion-Cars-Mot...

He had some of the most historically relevant motors, a real eye for pure class - from a D-type to a 2CV.

Anyone who has not read this should put it in the Christmas list.

[mad4amanda]

an excellent choice sir!

[v8250]

splendid...every man needs these on their christmas list if not already. what to get a man who has everything? these two books. you may also like to consider;

genesis of the jet - sir frank whittle
shunt - james hunt
all arms and elbows - innes ireland
archie & the listers - archie scott-brown
touch wood - duncan hamilton
the bugatti queen - helene delangle
beyond the limit - professor sid watkins
hurricane r4118 - peter vacher

all to be read after your respective boxing day to new year classic car meets

[XJ13]

Clearly a man of taste. I have read the Duncan Hamilton, Innes Ireland & Archie Scott-Brown books - all excellent reads. If the other books on your list are up to the same standard I will certainly look them out.

Thanks for posting the list!

[Irish]

v8250 said:

splendid...every man needs these on their christmas list if not already. what to get a man who has everything? these two books. you may also like to consider;

genesis of the jet - sir frank whittle
shunt - james hunt
all arms and elbows - innes ireland
archie & the listers - archie scott-brown
touch wood - duncan hamilton
the bugatti queen - helene delangle
beyond the limit - professor sid watkins
hurricane r4118 - peter vacher

all to be read after your respective boxing day to new year classic car meets

"all arms and elbows - innes ireland"

Next on the list!

[lowdrag]

A wonderful story of Stirling's racing mechanic: "Alf Francis Racing Mechanic" by Peter Lewis

A novel that reads so true: "The last open road" by BS Levy. he wrote a couple more such as "Montezuma's Ferrari but they aren't as good.

Both are available on Amazon at around £40 for the first book and £14 for the latter. Both highly recommended if your roots are in 1950's racing.

[benjj]

Irish said:

My word, I had no idea what a car nut Alan Clark was. Norman Lamont called him "the most politically incorrect, outspoken, iconoclastic and reckless politician of our times" - he left out the bit about being a passionate fan of all things automotive.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Back-Fire-Passion-Cars-Mot...

He had some of the most historically relevant motors, a real eye for pure class - from a D-type to a 2CV.

Anyone who has not read this should put it in the Christmas list.

I got this on v8250/Andrew's recommendation - it really is a super book.

[mikey77]

Alan Clark's diaries are brilliant reading, too, if you are into that sort of thing.
I saw his Bentley R Type Continental a few years ago, parked in the street at Angouleme. It really is (was?) 'patinated through use' in the way you would expect his cars to be.

[barchetta_boy]

Back Fire is one of my favourite books, I know it practically word for word.. as with the Diaries...

a few favourite moments..

- overtaking a Swiss banker in a 250GTO in the snow, Clark driving his 2CV

- description of the Bentley Continental T, using its full 400bhp to "join" motorways, sideways

- a mention of the Porsche 928 (my favourite car) "it ought to have been wonderful... an Aston Martin, but with reliability...but somehow doesn't appeal..."

- "BMW have a high opinion of themselves as an engine builder, not shared by me I must say. I prefer Mercedes for strength and Lexus for sophistication."

I particularly like that last one, particularly to quote on here!

Joel

[v8250]

barchetta_boy said:

Back Fire is one of my favourite books, I know it practically word for word.. as with the Diaries...

- "BMW have a high opinion of themselves as an engine builder, not shared by me I must say. I prefer Mercedes for strength and Lexus for sophistication."

I particularly like that last one, particularly to quote on here! Joel

And if we think carefully as to Clark's words, he's absolutely right. BMW have for many years had far too high an opinion of themselves. The period of Mercedes he's refering to are the 70's to 90's and he's right, no if's or but's; he's just right...cars genuinely built to last for the customer who wants bullet-proof mechanicals and bodywork. When I see the big-Merc-Mountain rally guys who are in the 'know' and choose an overly large saloon to compete and often win the ice & snow bound winter historic rallies it all makes sense. As for Lexus, I've never owned one but have only ever heard good things said about them. Remembering the glass of water test on the engine...perhaps one day.

[ClaphamGT3]

The Clarks have been quietly disposing of many of Al's cars over the last few years.

The Continental R has gone, as has the C Type and, I think, the Alpine Eagle Ghost

Someone mentioned 'patina' earlier; whilst his cars were always on the money mechanically, the looked like a bag of spanners. Patina is one thing; not even cleaning them is just lazy!

[MontyC]

This is me about 20 years ago with Alans citroen 2cv which my dad brought back to life again for him after many years of neglect. I have been in many of his cars including the C type which has sadly now been sold as have many of the other cars. But last time I spoke to his wife Jane the ghost was still there.

Edited by MontyC on Friday 23 November 11:54

[goodwoodweirdo]

The picture of the two rottweilers sitting on the bonnet of the C type !!

Would never happen again in todays world ….

[alsaautomotive]

Couldn't agree more with all of the above with just one exception...........
Shunt has to have been the most frustratingly badly written books I have ever read. Such wonderful subject matter destroyed by a seemingly overawed author attempting to explain a great & full life to a primarily Transatlantic readership.
I can also highly recommend Mon Ami Mate by Chris Nixon & Full Throttle by Tim Birkin.
& yes it's worth getting all of the Alan Clark diaries........they're littered with great stories & references to his motoring passion.

Just my opinion all of this of course.
Cheers, Al.

Edited by alsaautomotive on Friday 23 November 17:44

[barchetta_boy]

To you chaps on this thread who might know Jane Clark, and their sons, I would love to buy one of Al's old cars, it would mean something very special to me whether it was a Bentley, 911, XK120 (PFC999) or just the old Mehari...

Please feel free to PM me if you think that might be of interest to the Clark family.

Best regards,

Joel

[iSore]

Also ordered, albeit used.....

But no way did Mercedes ever build better engines than BMW. Post war stuff was worthy but dull and not as reliable or long lasting as they'd have you believe. They also needed Cosworth to help them with the 190E-16 engine.
However, a Man as eloquent as Clark needs to be read - after all, he did once describe Michael Heseltine as 'the sort of chap who had to buy his own furniture'.

[barchetta_boy]

He didn't actually, he was quoting Michael Jopling. With approval, admittedly, but the phrase was not Clark's.

[stype]

My own very well read copy has the sort of patination that Alan would approve of. Contains a nice range of photos of his various vehicles and makes a nice companion to the 'diaries' Get the hardback if poss, the inner covers have a montage of various old documents of his including le mans press passes, the buff log book of his xk 120 and the endorsements on his driving licence!

[Simes205]

I read and lost this a few years back. Bought a copy for one pound recently. An excellent read......sold his D type to nick mason.
Loved his approach, cars everywhere all "used".

[iSore]

barchetta_boy said:

He didn't actually, he was quoting Michael Jopling. With approval, admittedly, but the phrase was not Clark's.

Okay.

Still wrong though.