Competitive sports proved an irresistible attraction to motorists only a few years after the earliest autos had appeared on public roads. During the 1890s, reliability trials, sprints, hillclimbs, and intercity races all played a part in the evolution of what became a crowded calendar of international events. THE COLORFUL WORLD OF MOTORSPORT tells the story of three of the most exciting events - rallies, sportscar endurance races, and grand prix - and of the men and machines that made them great. The many different types of rally are represented by four famous events: the Monte Carlo, which dates back to 1911; the Alpine, a tour of Europe's most formidable mountain roads; the RAC, a modern rally based on rugged off-road stages; and the Safari, an exhausting marathon over the bush roads of Kenya. Sportscar endurance races are illustrated by the three classic events: the Targa Florio, routed over the narrow, serpentine mountain roads of central Sicily; the MIlle Miglia, taking in many of the trunk roads and major cities of the northern half of Italy; and the Le Mans 24-hours, which sees higher sustained speeds than any other circuit race in the world. The chapter on grand prix outlines the history of the most glamorous of motorsports from the inaugural French race of 1906 to the present day, spotlighting many of the most enthralling encounters down the years. THE COLORFUL WORLD OF MOTORSPORT ends with a portrait gallery of 14 of the greatest racing drivers of the past 70 years - their finest victories, their cars, and the special qualitie of skill and temperament that made them masters of their time. They are: , Georges Boillot, Tazio Nuvolari, Luigi Fagioli, Rudolph Caracciola, Achille Varzi, Juan Manuel Fangio, Alberto Ascari, Sir Jack Brabham, John Michael Hawthorn, Sterling Moss, Graham Hill, Jim Clark, and Jackie Stewart.
