FORMULA 2 THE GLORY YEARS, 1967-84 – ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BOOK

FORMULA 2 THE GLORY YEARS, 1967-84

ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BOOK

In Ron Howard’s Rush, drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda meet at a Formula 3 race in England. In the film, starring Chris Hemsworth as Hunt and Daniel Brühl as Lauda, this first meeting shows the Brit and Austrian dominating. Toward the end of the race Lauda takes the lead and, making contact with Hunt as Hunt attempts to pass, both spin; restarting his car, Hunt takes the win. It’s a F3 race and not a Formula 2 race, but the laidback atmosphere in the paddock – along with the hyper-competitive pace of the race – would be not unlike the feel of Formula 2. That vibe is well documented in FORMULA 2 THE GLORY YEARS, 1967-84 by photojournalist Jutta Fausel, released late last year by Evro publishing. 

Described by the book’s supporting material as ‘a feast of nostalgia’, it is certainly that. I began reading Road & Track in the mid-‘60s, and at that time it was a monthly pub devoted to both road and track. One month might see the newest Ferrari on the cover, while the next issue could be a Formula 1 race in Europe, reported by the well-traveled Henry Manney. Within its coverage of competition Formula 2 was a key ingredient, in part because of the early look it provided of rising stars, and in part because it gave readers another chance to see the established Formula 1 stars, still competing – if only as a tune-up – in the smaller, less powerful (but no less competitive) Formula 2.

The book’s ’glory years’ cover 1967 thru 1984, when Formula 2 organizers conducted an actual championship series, won by Jacky Ickx in that first season. And while the book’s subject matter may seem narrow to an American audience devoted to NASCAR and Indy (and one that only recently began to wholeheartedly embrace Formula One), Ms. Fausel and her editorial team at Evro Publishing have broadened that ‘narrow’ descriptive considerably.

Beginning with a forward by 1967 Formula 2 champion Jacky Ickx, the first of the books 560 pages includes an intro by Ian Phillips, a preface by Ms. Fausel, and a look at the three Formula 2 seasons – ’64 thru ’66 – which preceded the championship years, while near the end there’s an afterword by Chris Witty. Sandwiched between are in-depth looks at each season, those tracks used for the races, a comprehensive shapshot of each season’s champion – beginning, of course, with Ickx – and a comprehensive listing of entrants and their results. French drivers dominated the series during this period, and to that end there are almost as many hyphens (Jean-Pierre Beltoise, Jean-Pierre Jarier and Jean-Pierre Jabouille!) as there are photos. 

Although Fausel’s catalog is dominated by the cars and competition, and while the era gave spectators a far better look at the drivers than they can get today, there are plenty of pics of drivers and their support network outside of the cars. And it’s that personal take that makes this about more than racing, especially when you consider the lives lost (as just one example, Formula Two took the life of Indy and F1 legend Jim Clark – at Hockenheim – in 1968) in pursuit of those victories. 

The photos are supported by an appropriate amount of informative text, supplied by contributors Bob Constanduros, Peter Higham, Mark Hughes and Ian Phillips. To be sure, I didn’t find this to be an ‘I can’t put it down’ read, but then, if you bite it off chapter by chapter it’s both doable and enjoyable. 

If you were reading Road & Track 50+ years ago, FORMULA 2: THE GLORY YEARS, 1967-84 will not only stir memories but fill in the considerable number of blanks. And if you’ve only recently become a fanboy (or fangirl) of Formula One, Jutta Fausel’s book provides an amazing background…by one of the more accomplished fangirls. 

Evro Publishing’s books are distributed in North America by Quarto Publishing Group USA, and can be ordered from Quarto’s website: www. quartoknows.com. The book is $130 U.S. And if you hurry you can probably receive it on or around Father’s Day. For you dad. Or for yourself.