Chasing Elites

Few are likely to retire on the proceeds from a motoring book, but Michael Hipperson is particularly unusual in that he won’t benefit at all, with the profits from this and his earlier efforts going to children’s charities (and £20k raised so far). That – and the affordable price – seems like reason enough to buy it, but this is also an enjoyable read. Hipperson himself points out that it is a ‘Light-hearted homage’ to the Lotus Type 14 rather than an exhaustive history, and so it proves, but it kicks off in fairly traditional fashion with a brief introduction to the car and the key players involved in its creation. There follows a look at its Earls Court launch, then some fantastic period images of Elite monocoques under construction at Bristol Aeroplane Plastics.

After that things take a turn for the personal, with recollections of Hipperson’s formative Elite experiences then the story of how he helped former FIA supremo Max Mosley reacquire and restore his old car. Mosley provides an enthusiastic foreword in return, and it’s all rounded out with Hipperson picking his favourite Elite racers. AC £10 Michael Hipperson, istudio21 Publishing. ISBN 9780957501645