Montlhery – The Story of the Paris Autodrome
By William “Bill” Boddy
Constructed in 1924 on the outskirts of Paris, France, Monthléry was a banked oval with as much as seven miles of road racing circuit, which could be added in various configurations. Over the course of its 50 years of active use, Montlhéry has played host to virtually every type of motor racing including Grand Prix, sports cars, motorcycles and even record breaking events.
While its heyday was in the pre- and early postwar period, by the 1950s, a series of tragic fatalities resulted in the gradual diminution of Montlhéry as a venue for world-class professional motorsport and, by 2000, all speed events had ceased.
In “Montlhéry—The Story of the Paris Autodrome,” Veloce Press has re-released Boddy’s 1961 treatise on the history of this very historic French race-track. For those looking for a reference work on the history of Monthléry, this will prove a valuable addition to your collection, as all 200 pages are jammed with history and details. However, being a 40-year work, the writing reads a bit “stodgy” by today’s standards and the author has a tendency to dwell on particular events and drivers in a given period, perhaps at the expense of others. With that said, this is a well-researched, comprehensive look at this very historic, but sadly lost, track.
Available for US$35.95 (£17.99) directly from the publisher at www.velocebooks.com or at www.motorbooks.com
