Full throttle (1933 1st edition) with signatures of Malcolm Campbell, Earl Howe, Raymond Mays, Elsie M Wisdom, Freddie Dixon, John Cobb, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, Charles W A Scott, Thomas Rose and Bryan de Grineau

A rare 1st edition of the book ‘Full Throttle’ published in 1933 and written by Sir Henry ‘Tim’ Birkin. In the book Birkin tells of driving Bentleys from the early days in the 1920’s and 30’s, through the single-seater Brooklands, with both the standard and supercharged Bentleys. Also he discusses his races with both Maserati and Alfa Romeo. In 1932 Birkin was sued for libel by the Brooklands circuit and the Brooklands Automobile racing club of which he criticised both strongly in the book. Interestingly the book has affixed to the title page a dated written apology from Birkin suggesting he did not mean to cause any offence to the running of the Brooklands circuit, we have not seen this apology attached to any other edition of this book. The owner of the book has affixed various rare individual autographs to do with both motor racing and aviation to the opening pages which include some illustrious names which are as follows :- Sir Malcolm Campbell (British racing motorist and motoring journalist. He gained the world speed record on land and on water at various times during the 1920s and 1930s using vehicles called Blue Bird); 5th Earl Howe “Francis Curzon” (Won the 1931 24 Hours of Le Mans and co-founded the British Racing Drivers’ Club with Dudley Benjafield in 1928); Raymond Mays (British auto racing driver and entrepreneur and one of ERA’s most notable drivers); Elsie Mary Wisdom (Also known as “Bill Wisdom”, she was one of the first women to win a race for both male and female drivers at Brooklands); John Cobb (Three times holder of the World Land Speed Record, in 1938, 1939 and 1947, set at Bonneville Speedway in Utah, US); Freddie Dixon (An English motorcycle racer and racing car driver. The designer of the motorcycle and banking sidecar system, he was also one of the few motorsport competitors to have been successful on two, three and four wheels. He was twice awarded the BRDC Gold Star for car racing.) Sir Charles Kingsford Smith (An early Australian aviator, in 1928 he made the first transpacific flight from the United States to Australia. He also made the first non-stop crossing of the Australian mainland, the first flights between Australia and New Zealand and the first eastward Pacific crossing from Australia to the United States. He also made a flight from Australia to London, setting a new record of 10.5 days.); C.W.A. Scott (Famous English aviator, pioneer and aerobatic, best known for winning the MacRobertson Air Race in 1934); Thomas Rose (A British flying ace in World War I, credited with 11 victories. Better known as “Tommy” Rose, he also won the King’s Cup Air Race in 1935 and from 1939–45 was Chief Test Pilot with Phillips & Powis Aircraft Ltd. – renamed Miles Aircraft Ltd. in 1943). Bryan de Grineau (British artist and illustrator, born as Charles William de Grineau in 1883. Several of de Grineau’s sketches and illustrations are included in pages of the full throttle book). There is one other signature that is unrecognised. The book itself being approximately 90 years old is in fragile condition with the binding coming away from the spine and several taped loose pages with the expected foxing from age to majority of the 291 pages. However the book itself is intact and complete and in perfectly acceptable condition for such a vintage edition with dimensions of 23cm x 16cm. At the front of the book the name ‘E Newton’ and dated 5-10-33′ written to the first blank page and we believe this was the original owner, and at the back an original letter head from the Brooklands Automobile Racing Club is taped between the last page and the rear cover. A wonderful historical publication containing some rare, unusual and desirable original pre-war signatures.
reference: BO-FULLTHRSIGHB-01