Hardback, 352 pages, 150 B&W pictures in text
ISBN: 978-0007331697 Publisher: Veloce Publishing
Publisher retail: £24.99; Amazon:£21.24
To a true touring car fan this book is essential, but it is a dry read from an author famed for his work on double world champion Jim Clark. Research, writing style and cooperation of the subject, Britain's first national touring car champion, are flawless. Yet, somewhere along the tarmac and dirt trails, the humour, the now fabled classic cars and courageous competence of Sears amongst his contemporaries faded from this period tale.
There is also outrageous padding in that the ninth chapter is devoted to Jack's son David and an index to the important, but totally unrelated, Stanley Sears collection of classic and veteran vehicles with the accent on Rolls Royce. Such space should have been devoted to Jack's detailed thoughts on the quite fabulous vehicles he drove, from rallying's aristocratic Healey 3000s to premier league races behind the slim wood rim of proper Lotus Cortinas and more.
'Gentleman Jack' was always over-modest about his second career (like some stunning natural talent he regarded himself primarily as a farmer), but I'd really have liked to hear more anecdotes and insider information. Just how did it feel to drive now legendary competition cars in such fabled company as Jim Clark and more?
The Sears years in Cobras, via GT40s and the 7-litre aircraft carrier Ford called Galaxy that blew away the Jaguar establishment are the stuff of legends, but you get little of the joy and exhilaration that must have surged through his winning 1955-65 seasons.
Worth having for Sears' pivotal role in winning that 1958 British Saloon Car Championship in a unique tie-breaker. Some superb sideways action pictures are on show, but a missed opportunity to entertain and educate us on a significant motor racing achiever and little of this outstanding character comes across.
