Overview

It was madness: Grand Prix drivers racing flat out from opposite ends of one long runway, only to turn away from each other at the last moment at corners improvised with hay bales. But such was the major part of the first Grand Prix course ever to be devised at Silverstone. Fortunately there were no head-on collisions, and the next year the organisers hit on a more sensible arrangement. But none of the many subsequent Grand Prix at Silverstone, for all the ever-increasing glamour and hype, have quite engendered the same excitement as that very first one in 1948, even though it was held on a long-disused airfield bereft of modern amenities. Silverstone’s First Grand Prix is a vivid recreation of that important day for British motor sport. But it is more than just the description of one historic race. We follow the various leading participants, both drivers and organisers, as fate draws them inexorably to Silverstone from different parts of the world and from very varied experiences, not least in the recent war. And after that one glorious day in early October is over and the RAC’s International Grand Prix of 1948 has become part of motor racing history, we learn what fate had further in store for them.

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9781398120662

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Reviews

'Superb archive pictures' -- Autosport 'All sorts of gems' -- Octane 'Hugely entertaining' -- Classic & Sports Car 'This is a comprehensive work and a good read, reflecting on an important date in the history of motor racing in Britain.' -- Best of British Magazine, October 2023

'Superb archive pictures' -- Autosport 'All sorts of gems' -- Octane 'Hugely entertaining' -- Classic & Sports Car

'Superb archive pictures' -- Autosport 'All sorts of gems' -- Octane 'Hugely entertaining' -- Classic & Sports Car 'This is a comprehensive work and a good read, reflecting on an important date in the history of motor racing in Britain.' -- Best of British Magazine, October 2023 'A charming book that perfectly captures a moment in time.' -- Track Kit Custom, November/ December 2023 'Silverstone’s First Grand Prix is a vivid recreation of that important day for British motor sport.' -- Car Mechanics Magazine, December 2023

Author Information

Anthony Meredith has written widely on music, the theatre, the arts, Silverstone and cricket. A long-time member of M.C.C., he was for several years a regular contributor to The Cricketer. Other interests include music (major biographies on composers Malcolm Arnold, Malcolm Williamson and Richard Rodney Bennett) and dance - he was involved in creating scores for Northern Ballet’s The Three Musketeers and The Great Gatsby. He lives in Buckingham. Gordon is a transport history author specialising in motor racing and Silverstone Circuit.

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