A Brief Review of Robert Daley's "The Cruel Sport"

A 2005 edition published by Motorbooks

I hit upon this book after reading Ken Purdy's comments in The Matadors, wondering what Purdy was so excited about. Well, Daley's book, covering a period in Grand Prix history between the late 1950s and early 1960s, may well be the best book on auto racing that I have ever read. And yet it has very few words, since it is really a coffee table book with some of the best photographs ever taken at European Grand Prix races.  How did I fail to know about this book for so long?

The organization of the book is linear, starting with the drivers and their portraits:  Jim Clark; Graham Hill;Jo Bonnier;Oliver Gendebien; Jack Brabham; Ricardo Rodriquez; Maurice Trintignant; Bruce McLaren;Worlfgang von Trips; Giancarlo Baghetti; John Surtees; Willy Mairesse; Harry Schell; Richie Ginther; Dan Gurney; Tony Brooks; Innes Ireland; Phil Hill; Stirling Moss.  

Factories are next, including a very unflattering characterization of Enzo Ferrari.  The narrative and images then build up to qualifying, pits and paddock,  and the races moment by moment. Accidents, fatal and otherwise, are a major focus of Daley's story as well as an exploration as to why drivers risk their lives in such a deadly sport (at least then). The photographs invite careful study, as they often prove to serve as priceless historical vignettes of humanity at speed.

Even though you may have never gone to a GP race, this book takes you there in the context of the times.

More thoughts about this important book will follow.  I need to further examine this complex book and its images.