In the Mind’s Eye
by Kevin Hodgkinson
This softback, landscape-format, 117-pager has more useful information for the motor sport historian and potential single-seater purchaser than many books four times the size and price.
The fact that it is devoted only to Chevrons doesn’t actually matter, because if you are reading Vintage Racecar you must also be interested in the truth behind all the world’s vintage racecars, and this book supplies it in spades. In fact, it is definitive on these attractive Lancastrian racers.
The author has based this fascinating volume on the notes he made in period when he was employed by Chevron constructing their single-seaters. He covers the period from the beginning in 1967 with the B7—inspired by the idea of a scaled-down F1 Eagle—up to 1970 and every single-seater to emerge, and even some that didn’t during that period are detailed. So there should never be any argument about any of these cars’ histories again. In microcosm this is “Time and One Seat,” and it is hoped a second volume on subsequent years will be written.
Despite the fact that the late Derek Bennett’s business was uniquely British, there is much of interest to U.S. and Canadian readers, for instance, as these were two markets that Chevron was keen to crack with a variety of Formula B and C cars. Mike Eyerley, where are you now?
The book is profusely illustrated and the research has produced such rarities as a photo of ex-Fiat, Lancia, and Alfa Romeo competition manager Giorgio Pianta in a Jolly Club B9 F3 car at Brands Hatch in 1969, as well as Peter Broeker’s FB car at St Jovite in 1970, among many others. It is self-published by the author Kevin Hodgkinson and available directly from www.ebygumproductions.com for £21.95 plus delivery.
