{"product_id":"bmc-competitions-department-secrets","title":"BMC Competitions Department Secrets HARDCOVER EDITION","description":"Features\n\nBe prepared! - much of this is sensational\nThe truth behind the Mini's Monte Carlo disqualification in 1966\nNever before published photos and internal memos and documents\nAn insight to the politics of BMC and its movers and shakers\nDetails of planned prototypes \n\nDescription\n\nFor the London to Sydney Marathon, team \ninstructions included the recommendation that a firearm be carried by the \ncrew of each car ... \"A small pistol which can conveniently be located \nunder cover in the car is what we have in mind\" ... \n\nSynopsis\n\nThe revealing and surprising inside story of the \nlegendary BMC Works Competitions Department told by the three Competition \nManagers of the highly successful BMC\/British Leyland race and rally teams \nbased at Abingdon. The book reveals the inner workings and machinations of \none of the most successful motor sport teams Britain has ever seen. Based \non previously unpublished internal memos and documents, and the \nrecollections of the prime movers, the book describes the ups and downs, \nand the politics of big time competition in an exciting era. An excellent \nand entertaining read and an important factual documentation, no motor \nsport enthusiast should be without this book. \n\nIndependent Reviews\n\nFrom Australian Classic Car, July 2006\n\nThe book is laden with hundreds of contemporary photos but reading the \ninter-departmental memos and letters are even more revealing, especially \nthe minutes of Departmental meetings. The lists of instructions to teams \ncompeting in the rallies of the day, even detailing their accommodation, \nare also intriguing.\nThis book will fascinate anyone interested in the halcyon days of the \nBMC Competitions Department.\n-\n\nREVIEW from BRITISH CAR MECHANIC, July 2006\n\n'BMC Competitions Department Secrets' is a very descriptive title of a \nbook written by the three men who knew what was involved to obtain the \nmemorable successes that such a small department at Abingdon achieved in \nMotorsport, even beyond Europe. Philip Young well deserves the credit for \npulling together the very interesting documentary evidence that makes this \nbook such a compulsive read. The three managers describe their \ninvolvement, satisfaction and frustrations in less than one third of the \nbook whilst the remainder comprises letters, internal memoranda and \nparticularly interesting and previously unseen photographs.\n\nStuart writes an excellent resume' of his period, the 'Middle Years' as \nhe calls them, from 1961 to 1967. He recounts how he drafted the agenda \nfor the annual Competitions Committee meetings and then had discussions \nwith fellow members John Cooper, Donald Healey and John Thornley to ensure \nthey were on his side when facing Chairman George Harriman and Alec \nIssigonis. He then wrote up the minutes over John Thornley's name and was \nleft to get on with the decisions. His development of comprehensive pace \nnotes is probably one of the most important actions taken during his \nperiod, alongside getting Board level agreement to use Scandinavian \ndrivers brought up amongst roads covered in snow and ice for long periods. \nUnlike an engineering mind Stuart claims \"Pace notes are like sheds in \nthat they should be cleared out every so often, otherwise they become \nunnecessarily complicated\".\n-\n\nFrom Motorsport, December 2005\n\nThis is a fun read, detailing the underbelly of BMC's competition \ndepartment. Written by a triumvirate of former managers, it gives an \ninsight into how they functioned within - and despite - BMC and Leyland. \nIncluding many never seen before documents, it paints a refreshingly \nhonest picture. It's especially interesting to learn how much the drivers \nwere paid and the terms of their contracts: some of them really couldn't \nnegotiate.\n\nThe images are wonderful, too. We particularly liked the one of Nancy \nMitchell door-handling an MG Magnette saloon. Entered in the 1956 Tulip \nRally, her event was over before it started after a scrutineer ran a \nmagnet over the, ahem, standard car and discovered the body panels were \nmade of aluminum. Excellent stuff.\n-\n\nReview from Classic Car Mart, January 2006\n\nFor fans of the various individual BMC marques and followers of the \nCorporation?s political ups and downs over the years, this latest volume \nfrom Veloce is an absolute must. Within its 192 pages can be found some of \nthe best stories, some of the most fascinating facts and some of the most \nintriguing images we have seen in recent times. And that?s no exaggeration.\n\nThis is the inside story of a legendary works Competition Department \ntold by the three competition managers of the highly successful \nBMC\/British Leyland race and rally teams, based at Abingdon. The book \nreveals the inner workings of one of the most successful motor sport teams \nBritain has ever seen, and makes full use of previously unpublished \ninternal factory memos, photographs, documents and the recollections of \nthe prime movers of the time. It describes the ups and downs, highs and \nlows, and the politics of big-time competition.\n\nChambers, Turner and Browning each took their turn as managers of the \nBMC\/British Leyland Competition Department between 1955 and 1970, and \nbetween them accumulated a vast collection of archives and memories. And \nthey can all be found here.\n\nAt almost £25, this book isn?t cheap. But never before has such a \ncomplete and fascinating version of the BMC Competitions Department story \nbeen told. It?s a story of human endeavour, engineering ingenuity and \npolitical upheaval. And we can?t recommend it too highly.\n-\n\nFrom Mini Cooper Register, December 2005\n\nThis book retells many of the familiar stories, but where it differs \nfrom previous books on the Department is that the original documents of \nthe period are reprinted in full.\n\nFor the serious student of all things Classic Mini this will be a \nvaluable addition to your sources of information. The Department's three \nCompetitions Managers, Marcus Chambers, Stuart Turner and Peter Browning \ntell it like it was; fascinating stuff!\n-\n\nReview by Basil Wales\n\nThe book is a mine of new information and a ?must? for every BMC \nenthusiast?s Christmas list. A few owners of cars bearing ex-works \nregistration numbers were known to be concerned that too much technical \ndetail of necessary marketing and ?carnet? changes might come to light in \nthis ?book of revelations? but I think they can rest their consciences for \na while longer. As more claims are made over allegedly ?original? cars, \nthe few who really know are concerned to see that subtle changes keep \nbeing made between presentations in a vain attempt to try to authenticate \na hybrid that has metamorphosed from a genuine sump-guard, chassis plate \nor similar scrap part ! The enthusiasm for this Classic era of British \nMotorsport will only be increased by this unique publication.\n\nBasil Wales knows the three authors well, having done a Liege-Rome-Liege \nRally with Marcus Chambers whilst still an apprentice in 1956, worked \nunder Stuart when appointed as Special Tuning Manager in 1964, and then \ncontinued alongside Peter Browning after Stuart left. When Comps was \nclosed Basil inherited a number of competition responsibilities until the \ndepartment was reformed as Leyland ST in 1973 when Basil left to join \nUnipart.\n-\n\nFrom MG Drivers Club\n\nThis is the revealing and surprising inside story of the legendary BMC \nWorks Competitions Department as told by three Competitions Managers of \nthe highly successful BMC\/BL race and rally teams based at Abingdon.\n\nTheir book reveals the inner workings and machination of one of the most \nsuccessful motorsports teams Britain has ever seen. Based on previously \nunpublished internal memos and documents and the recollections of the \nprime movers, the book describes the ups and downs, and the behind the \nscene politics of big time competition in what some call the most exciting \nera of British motorsport.\n\nEach of the author begins his section of the book with a personal \nhistory of his time with the Comps Department.\n\nFollowing the pages of personal reminiscences are reproductions of \ninternal company documents and photos (some never before published). The \nreal treasure trove of information for the enthusiast ''BMC Competitions \nDepartment Secrets'' is an excellent and entertaining read and an \nimportant factual documentation. No MG and British motor sport enthusiast \nshould be without this 192 page book.","brand":"Veloce Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31912091287623,"sku":"B03094","price":150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0057\/9813\/3831\/files\/2be42989-21f6-4d2b-98d1-87a033175971_2e042.jpg?v=1772290311","url":"https:\/\/www.midlifeclassiccars.com\/bs\/products\/bmc-competitions-department-secrets","provider":"MidlifeClassicCars.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}