A Passion for Speed – the life and times of George Abecassis is a new and important biography of one of England’s most famous racing drivers. George Abecassis was one of the last of the amateur drivers whose experience and dedication to the sport made him a semi-professional, and whose successes and efforts both before and after World War II made him a household name. In later years everything was becoming more professional, including the drivers, and George Abecassis played a part in that development, through his co-ownership (with John Heath) of HWM (which gave Stirling Moss and Peter Collins their first paid team drives in Formula Two) and by joining the Aston Martin team.

George Abecassis and John Heath began to restore British pride and prestige in Continental eyes with their HWM racing cars in the early 1950s and this story is told in considerable detail, as are George’s many successes with Aston Martin. Lavishly illustrated over its 412 pages with some 550 photographs by the finest photographers of the day, including of course Louis Klemantaski, and from George’s personal albums, this fascinating book brings to life the story of an accomplished and courageous driver’s struggle for success which involved cooperation, friendship and rivalry with the leading figures of the time in British motor racing.

Married to Angela Brown, daughter of Aston Martin’s then owner David Brown, George Abecassis drove various marques including Alta, Aston Martin, Bugatti, HWM and Maserati. His one drive for Donald Healey in an Austin-Healey 100S resulting in his being the first British car home in the 1955 Mille Miglia after an incident-filled race. This is a fabulous story.

The Klemantaski Edition of A Passion for Speed, which measures a generous 9 x 12 inches, is supplied in a lovely matching slipcase and has been signed by author David Abecassis, son of George Abecassis. There are only 100 copies available of this special Klemantaski Edition.