Bugatti – A Racing History
By David Venables
David Venables has developed a considered and thoughtful format which makes his recent work eminently readable and a useful reference work, and his “Bugatti: A Racing History” follows in the mode of his excellent overview of the Alfa Romeo Grand Prix car. The Venables approach is to provide a “detailed overview” and again it works with Bugatti as it did with Napier and Alfa Romeo. What it misses in specific detail, which one guesses the deeply devoted Bugatti enthusiasts will note, it gains in providing a thoroughly informed picture of Bugatti the man, the family, the times, as well as the individual models.
Inevitably, it will be compared with H.G. Conway’s 1964 “masterwork,” and it does seem to bear up well under comparative scrutiny. However, Conway feels somewhat dated now, though there is a kind of period charm in Conway which is missing in Venables book. Venables’ however, takes a more ordered approach and his chronology is easier to follow. in General the two books would sit well together as a reference source for a serious Bugatti student. The photography is somewhat similar in both, interesting without being particularly inspired. The later book leans heavily on the John Maitland Collection, though many photos are uncredited. Sadly, there are no color photographs, at all. The hand of historian David Sewell is evident in Venables’ careful scrutiny of the Bugatti story and the accuracy of reporting seems to be consistent through-out.
The question remains, however, as to what makes a perfect Bugatti book, and the argument is that it has not yet been written, in that there needs to be a more colorful approach to the story, and it’s time for an accounting as to where most of the cars are now. This is of course a big order but it would be nice to see someone of Venable’s capability trying to do it. Available from Classic Motorbooks (800) 826-6600 for $59.95
