Robert Connor has had a life-long passion for all things automotive. He lives in Gloucestershire, England.
This extensive paperback tells the story of the epic 1968 London to
Sydney Marathon, with its author Robert Connor, making good use of
quotes from those who took part. Plenty of archive pictures help to
set the scene, and this is an entertaining – if somewhat expensive
– account. -Classic and Sports Car
Clearly a labour of love, this details the impressive 10,000-mile
endurance event contested by 255 men and women in 98 vehicles
almost 50 years ago. Starting from its origins during an
alcohol-fuelled lunch shared by Tommy Sopwith and Jocelyn Stevens,
it traces the planning and promotion before delving into
competitor’s personal stories, giving the book an important human
touch. The style of interjecting chronological overview with
chapters dedicated to different teams is a touch jarring, but many
of the recollections are too good to pass up. If the thought of
reading about a half-century old endurance rally doesn’t appeal,
think again. This is a fine, enjoyable book. -MotorSport
The 1968 London to Sydney Marathon saw more than 250 people set off
on a 10,000-mile endurance rally from London to Sydney. Crossing 10
countries, competitors encountered treacherous driving conditions,
collisions, injuries, kangaroos, and millions of spectators
crowding the roads. This new 308-page book draws from personal
recollections of over 60 participants and contemporary newspaper
and magazine articles. It tells the full story of the Marathon,
from an idea dreamed up over lunch to the last car over the finish
line. - Classic Ford
On 24th November 1968, more than 250 people from 19 nations set off
on a 10,000-mile endurance rally from London to Sydney. Crossing 10
countries, competitors encountered officious border guards, gangs
of rock-throwing children, treacherous driving conditions,
collisions, breakdowns, injuries, wayward dogs, livestock, camels
and kangaroos, millions of spectators crowding the roads and even
bandits. Among the professional drivers were a large number of
enthusiastic amateurs, many of whom had never raced in their lives.
This book draws from personal recollections of more than 60
participants – many of whom made it to Sydney and many more who
didn’t – and contemporary newspaper and magazine articles to tell
the full story of what was called the ‘Marathon’, from an idea
dreamed up over an alcohol-fuelled lunch to the last car over the
finish line. -MG Enthusiast
Long overdue, the book is a fine tribute by a wholly enthusiastic
chronicler who full well realizes, as do the many participants he
was able to interview, how unique the Marathon was.
-Speedreaders
A book which I could hardly put down. I have read plenty of short
and medium length accounts of this event but nothing which
approached the journalistic detail and photographic excellence of
this recently published book. It retells many of the well known and
fascinating stories of the rally, but most importantly it does a
whole lot more by telling a vast number of personal stories, often
from virtually unknown competitors...I could wax lyrical about many
aspects of this book - the enormous photographic gallery, the very
detailed index, the huge bibliography, the footnotes to each
chapter and so on show the scholarly discipline of the author. It
is clearly the most comprehensive account of the Marathon you are
likely to find." - ESCAPE Newsletter, June 2016
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