Stirling Moss - The Authorised Biography - Robert Edwards

In my experience, most biographies of racing drivers do not offer much in the way of searching insight into personalities, motivations and foibles. They tend to barely scratch the surface in this respect. A notable exception to these rules is Robert Edwards' authorised biography of Stirling Moss.

This book devotes unusual space and attention to examining Moss's family background, his time at school, the role of his parents and his upbringing. At various stages an effort is made to put Stirling's experiences and achievements in some kind of sociological context; again, not something one usually finds in a racing biography.  In some ways I suppose that he was a transitional figure, combining many "pre-war" values with the ethos of the more commercial age which was just beginning.

So often in books, the prowess and drive of high achievers almost appears to come out of nowhere, but Edwards lays plenty of pipework here, allowing us to gain an idea of how the subject's character took shape, and how his psyche and outlook evolved over time.

I would contend that many of the author's observations and conclusions about Moss would surprise the general observer, in that they tend to be less straightforwardly in line with the public perception. The popular image of racing drivers, especially from the era covered here, does not always tally with reality.  Behind the "heroic" facade, they all had their weaknesses, quirks and needs.

Another aspect of this biography which impressed me was that Edwards was not afraid to leave chronological "gaps" in the narrative, instead preferring to concentrate on context and an evocative and representative portrayal of the subject.  The author goes into great detail about the areas which he thinks are instructive and important, but he doesn't feel pressured to document every race of every season. In this way, one gets a more rounded and humanistic sense of Stirling's progress, as well as a richer perspective on events.

It is pleasing to see that as much attention is given to Stirling's exploits in sports cars and certain "niche" spheres as is allocated to his Grand Prix endeavours. The sport was not so "F1-centric" in the 1950s, and all of this also serves to convey the mastery and sheer versatility of Moss. 

Technical matters are also gone into, mostly as a way of illustrating which way the racing wind was blowing, and to place some of Stirling's career moves into greater historical context.  The passages concerning Maserati, Mercedes and Vanwall in particular are thoughtful and penetrating, again dispelling one or two "myths" along the way, and painting a more nuanced picture than is often painted.

A prominent feature of the latter stages of this biography is the concentration on the aftermath of the accident at Goodwood in 1962, and its physical and psychological effects on the driver. Like many areas of the book, it benefits from being "authorised", and is therefore based on good, sometimes rare source material. Again, this all goes well beyond the simplistic, cliched version which was moulded by the popular press.

I also enjoyed the chapters which looked at Stirling's life following his decision to retire from racing, and how he adapted to his new circumstances. The book is written in a pleasingly erudite but economical and accessible style.  If the test of a good biography is whether the reader emerges with an enhanced understanding of the subject, and actually learns a few things in the process, then I would suggest that this fine effort comes through with flying colours. 

Jim Clark - Tribute to A Champion - Eric Dymock

Jim Clark is possibly the most gifted racing driver ever to emerge from British shores, yet his public profile was never as high as several of his contemporaries or near-contemporaries. Graham Hill was a charismatic extrovert who enjoyed the limelight and public affection, whilst Stirling Moss and Jackie Stewart survived their racing careers to achieve a high media profile in the ensuing decades.

Clark's comparatively low level of recognition with the general public may be put down to his reserve and reticence, and these and other elements of his make-up are examined in Eric Dymock's book, first published in 1997. The common perceptions about him may have clouded a more complicated and nebulous picture. The book devotes much space to assessing Clark's character traits and psyche, in addition to his feats on the racetrack.

Much emphasis is placed on his upbringing in the Scottish Borders farming community, as well as his education, and all this provides a more rounded portrait of the man than is often projected by superficial and condensed television documentaries and internet "screenbites".  This once again reinforces my conviction that if you want to acquire a nuanced understanding of a subject, don't rely purely on "audio-visual" media;read books, too.

Dymock's book has a quirky flavour and structure to it which I found quite appealing, eschewing a dry chronological story, and occasionally going off on tangents to explore sub-texts. Don't expect an exhaustive documentation of race results and chassis numbers. There is some input from people who knew Clark well, and their observations merely serve to strengthen the enigma. 

What emerged for me was a sometimes melancholy tale, not a smooth and seamless fairytale. The contradictions inherent in motor racing come through;people were entranced by aspects of the sport, but also had to reconcile themselves to its more unsavoury realities, especially the dangers and risks. Also, the true nature of the sport in the Sixties was perhaps not as idyllic and wholesome as is sometimes made out.  Some of that era's most revered exponents were not as perfect and heroic as some might like to hope, and Dymock does not flinch from highlighting some of the flaws. 

An illuminating and intriguing read...

Behind The Scenes of Motor Racing - Ken Gregory

In today's world, it is always comforting and entertaining to read of "the way things used to be".  Ken Gregory's book "Behind The Scenes of Motor Racing", originally published in 1960, not only offers a window on a particular field of endeavour during a certain era. It also evokes a period of history generally.

Ken Gregory, who sadly died last year, served in various administrative and management positions in motor sport and motoring, and also managed Stirling Moss, and later Peter Collins.

The book contains a wealth of amusing and charming anecdotes. Many of them illustrate the enthusiasm, optimism and parsimony of post-war Europe. The state and atmosphere of motor sport at any given time is often reflective of broader society and culture, and this certainly held true in the 1950s. There was a new freedom, and a new breed of personnel involved, less hamstrung by pre-war conventions.

Although the sport was becoming more "professional" and commercialized, these pages also convey the improvisation, camararderie and informality which still prevailed. Simpler times, but strong hints of trends which would grow stronger.  A "work hard, play hard" ethos is what emerges from Gregory's own recollections of those days.

One of the strengths of Gregory's account is the light which it sheds on some of the pivotal moments in Stirling Moss's career, and 1950s motor sport generally, many of which have assumed mythic proportions over the years, or have become distorted and/or embellished.  These include the various offers which Moss received from Ferrari, his dealings with Maserati and the process by which he came to join the Mercedes outfit for 1955.

To my surprise, the author is quite candid in his assessment of some of the key personalities of the time, both drivers and team owners/managers. He also supplies his own first-hand perspective on numerous contentious episodes, both relating to technical issues and human relationships. Gregory also ruminates on the changing face of the sport.

Curiously, the book does not betray any great sense of euphoria as Stirling Moss enjoyed greater and greater success. Also, it is striking how "laissez faire" Stirling was in some aspects of his career progression, leaving many key discussions and negotiations to Gregory and others. The driver's legendary sense of loyalty and integrity is also clear.

I found this to be a most absorbing read, a welcome and entertaining antidote to the more clinical and regimented landscape of later times.