Tales from the Toolbox

THE GRAND PRIX MECHANICS HAVE THEIR SAY

Tales from the Toolbox – A collection of behind-the-scenes tales from Grand Prix mechanics
By Michael Oliver
Foreword by SIr Jackie Stewart OBE

Tales from the Toolbox, a new book by motorsport writer and historian Michael Oliver is a unique collection of behind-the-scenes stories and anecdotes as told, in their own words, by former Grand Prix mechanics who have worked at the top level of the sport during the past 50 years.

Published by Veloce at £12.99, containing 50 pictures, the majority of which are rare and intimate snapshots handpicked from the mechanics' own collections, this book is the result of many years of Michael's own research to meet the mechanics and compile their wealth of previously unpublished tales.

Mixing with drivers and team bosses, denizens of pit, paddock and workshop, these mechanics experienced a side of Grand Prix racing that few others got to see and is rarely heard about: this book tells their stories. Chapters are themed around a particular aspects of a mechanic’s life, ranging from what they consider the highs and lows of their career, to their opinions on drivers and team bosses, the all-nighters, letting off steam, the ‘Mechanic’s Gallon,’ nightmare journeys and customs capers. Surprisingly, the book reveals a camaraderie between teams and individual mechanics which is hard to imagine in today’s highly competitive and commercial Formula One environment.

Michael Oliver commented: "Mechanics are the real 'unsung heroes' of motor sport. Without them, we wouldn't have a sport. Even today, drivers rely on mechanics time and time again to get things right. Their lives are literally in the mechanics' hands and so it has always been, which is a tremendous pressure to have on your shoulders. Also, I literally couldn't have written the features and books that I have over the past decade or so without the assistance of mechanics, so it is great to be able to give something back. I'm delighted that some of the proceeds from Tales from the Toolbox are going to benefit the Grand Prix Mechanics Trust, which plays a vital role in ensuring that the welfare of mechanics is not forgotten, even if they are no longer involved in the sport. I'd like to thank the Trust's founder, Sir Jackie Stewart, for his support with this project and particularly for providing the foreword. Let's hope that we can raise a good sum of money for the Trust, it is a very deserving cause."

The 176-page paperback book is available now from bookshops or from www.veloce.co.uk.