motorweek, Author at MotorWeek

“LeMans” with Steve McQueen on DVD

The wait is over -- 33 years after its theatrical release, Steve McQueen's racing masterpiece, "LeMans" is finally available on DVD. Considered by many to be the best racing film ever made, "LeMans" was Steve McQueen's tribute to his personal passion for cars and competition. Presented on wide-screen letterbox format and digitally re-mastered from a pristine film print, this DVD captures all of the excitement of the original release. Here's a DVD that begs to play on a wide-screen TV with surround sound. Crank up the volume, sit back and you can practically smell the racing gas. While the motion picture was made with a supporting cast of 45 professional racers, Steve McQueen did all of his own high speed driving for the film. McQueen was a well-respected racer in his own right and so his intimate knowledge of the professional racing community gives "LeMans" a gritty realism missing from so many previous racing films. The racing sequences account for 90% of the film footage, leaving the viewer breathless. Never has the average film fan been so close to the racing action. Three decades after its initial release, "LeMans" is still the film by which all other racing films are measured.

Suzuki GSX-R: A Legacy of Performance

In the world of high performance motorcycles, the letters GSX-R are synonymous with speed. Few motorcycles have ever matched the Suzuki GSX-R's dominance of both street and racetrack. And now the entire history of this legendary motorcycle is available in Suzuki GSX-R: A Legacy of Performance by Marc Cook, an experienced and respected motor journalist. Mr. Cook delivers a chronological guide to the GSX-R's development, from its conventional GS series predecessors through the groundbreaking, lightweight design of the first GSX-R, to today's all-conquering GSX-R1000. It's packed with excellent photos and tons of technical data. The copy does sometimes read like a Suzuki sales brochure, but that doesn't stop this from being a book that every fan of this mighty motorcycle can enjoy.

Cars of the Fantastic ’50s

Automotive history took a pivotal turn during the 1950s. In Cars of the Fantastic '50s, writer and photographer Dan Lyons takes us back in time to explore America's new appreciation for head-turning motoring. The book covers a wide variety of icon vehicles, from the Cadillac Eldorado to the Kaiser Darrin. See how America expressed its post-war euphoria with vibrant tail-fin styling that turned even lowly pickup trucks into glamorous works of art. Each page is filled with brilliant photos of these colorful cruisers, along with detailed explanations of their design and significance. So for anyone who enjoys classic American cars, polish your chrome, drop your top, and get ready for a journey through the truly fantastic '50s.

Hot Rod Milestones

America is the home of the hot rod. And in Hot Rod Milestones, authors Ken Gross and Robert Genat bring us 25 of the coolest cars to ever be chopped or channeled. From rockin' roadsters to speed record coupes, every one of these ground-breaking machines gets its own chapter with a complete history and a wealth of detailed photographs. It's great reading, with plenty of technical detail for the hard core motorheads, and some very entertaining anecdotes for the history buffs. One of the best hot rod books that you can buy.

Up in Flames: The Art of Flame Painting

Nothing makes a cool car look hot like a flame paint job. And no where will you find more information on the history and heroes of this unique style of auto adornment than in Up in Flames: The Art of Flame Painting. Author Tim Phelps examines the origins of the flame job and introduces readers to 18 of the greatest artists to ever apply this fantastic fire to a hot car. The photos are superb and there's even a do-it-yourself section.

’32 Ford Deuce

If one were to draw up a short list of automotive icons, then the 1932 Ford Deuce would definitely be on it. And thanks to author Tony Thacker, we now have '32 Ford Deuce, the definitive history of an American automotive achievement almost as significant as the Model T. This massive volume chronicles the origins, developments, history and even the society that produced this most memorable car. It goes on to chronicle its second life as the basis for America's ultimate hot rods, presenting 75 astounding examples of the coolest '32 Fords ever to be chopped, channeled, hopped-up, or high-boyed. It's well-written, extremely informative and superbly illustrated. You'd be hard-pressed to find a cooler car or a better book about it.

Chevy SS: 50 Years of Super Sport

Every real Chevrolet fan knows what the initials SS stand for. And every Chevy fan will surely want a copy of Chevy SS: 50 Years of Super Sport. This very large format 348 page book by Robert Genat traces the Super Sport blood line from it's origins in the 1950s, to the NASCAR-inspired SS models of the 21st century. And all along the way, photographer David Newhardt delivers gorgeous photographs of some of the hottest cars ever to wear that big bow tie. It's a quick read but one you'll come back to on a regular basis. There are more detailed books available on many of these cars, but few find such a nice balance between history and hardware. Bow-tie groupies will surely want this plus size volume out on their coffee table. Just make sure that it's a super strong table.

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