Doug Nye

If you're interested in the rise of British dominance in Formula 1 racing, you could do a lot worse than this in-depth accounting of Cooper. They were basically the first of the small British firms that Enzo Ferrari dismissed as "garagistes," and who turned inspiration, clever engineering, and sheer hard work, into something that looked like dominance in the 1960s and until the late 1970s. The less-than-hardcore may find that Nye gets lost in the weeds of accounting for each racing reason, show more but at least one can enjoy this book on the relative cheap (unlike Nye's books on BRM!). show less

This would have to be considered the definite work on the history of Cooper, as a constructor and also as a race team. It is a very sizable book and while it is well illustrated it also is quite detailed. Definitely not a coffee table book. Cooper Cars (the constructor) started off after world war 2 in a minor 500cc formula by welding together the wrecked rear ends of two Fiats, fabricating the bodywork and ended up with a superbly fast race car. From a small garage operation, Cooper show more expanded and by the late fifties was a major player in Formula 1 racing and also branched out into sports car and rallying. After the death of founder and owner Charles Cooper in 1964, son John struggled to manage the factory and the works team but eventually sold the business. In less than two decades Cooper had gone from a corner garage to one of the most revered marques in auto racing.

The author, Doug Nye, is one of the best automotive writers and this is one of his best works. The book touches upon the people and events, but also delves substantially into the design and construction of the cars. The photographs are excellent, including many candid shots of obscure but interesting events. The book not only deals in great depth with the grand prix and lesser formula race cars but also thoroughly explore's Cooper's other efforts, including several sports cars, some of which developed into successful race entries. Nye also relates the story of Cooper's entry into top rung of American motorsports, the Indy 500. Additionally there is a chapter devoted to Cooper's association with the British Motor Corporation's Mini, which turned a small economy sedan into an iconic symbol known all over the world.

Nye's writing style is informal and he obviously enjoys relating the small personal anecdotes he gathered over dozens of interviews. At times the relating of the events of each racing season become somewhat laborious, but Nye's intend is to give a thorough history of Cooper and so he includes all of the details of things Cooper.

Most heartily recommended for those with an interest in motor racing. Other may find the book a bit too challenging, but perhaps might be worth giving a try. show less

Driving Ambition almost brought me to tears. I couldn’t believe how good it was from the moment I started reading it. There was so much to tell, so much to experience from this book. What is this story about you ask? Driving Ambition tells the story behind the invention and creation of the greatest car in the world; the Mclaren F1.
I have always held the Mclaren F1 in highest esteem as my favorite automobile, one that exhibits incredible speed and perfect driving dynamics. Though, this show more 263 page book on the one car I love opened my eyes, and invited me into the world of Gordon Murray. Who is Gordon Murray? In the history of supercar building, he is the guru. He was involved in projects such as the Ferrari F40, Lotus Elise, and the first all-aluminum car, the Honda NSX. But this time, Gordon Murray wanted to shatter the boundaries of supercar performance while setting a new benchmark in design. He succeeded at both with flying colors. Of course, with such an ambitious undertaking, there was no shortage of setbacks. A lot of drama went down at the Mclaren facility in London, U.K. Tense competition for design started the fire that would heat up things in the factory. After they decided on the design, they needed someone to supply the power train. BMW was the worthy suitor, who supplied Mclaren with there finest engine, ever. It was a monstrous power plant, a six point two liter, twelve cylinder engine that produced 627 horse powers at the rear wheels.
I just can’t obsess enough over how amazing this car is; from the engine to the transmission, to the electronics and the centered driving position with two seats on either side. In short fact, this beast of a car could have been used every day. It was all part of the madness behind Gordon Murray, and this book couldn’t have shown this madness any better. Gordon Murray, who wrote and still writes automotive articles, made this story surprisingly well-written. If you are a hardcore car fanatic, you MUST read this book. show less

From the cover:
Charles Cooper and his son John would found the Cooper Car Company Ltd. to build a long and fast-developing series of racing and sports cars. The new concern grew rapidly, and by modern standards it was incredible efficient. Even during its most prolific years of worldwide sales and race success, its staff seldom exceeded 35 and was generally fewer than 30. Cooper cars were exported to all parts of the world. they were uses by all but on of that great Fifties crop of show more front-line British racing drivers in their formative years. Cooper Cars became the world's largest manufacturer of pure-bred racing cars, and in 1959-60 they achieved they ultimate success in twice becoming Formula 1 Champions of the World. show less