A book about a great like Jim Clark is always exciting, even if it's the seventeenth one on the bookshelf. It's unbelievable how new pictures can always be found that have not yet been widely distributed.
Nevertheless, it is actually logical that there are a few more pictures of a Clark worldwide than of the little Swiss man from Ticino called Silvio Moser. Or so we think, but is that true?
If you compare the two new books on Jim Clark and Silvio Moser, this does not seem to be the case.
Extensive work
Even with Moser's relatively short career, which is full of obstacles, it is possible to fill 291 book pages. On the contrary, the amount of material Aldo Pessina and his friends have compiled is absolutely incredible.
The book is certainly not lacking in background information. Even track layouts from past courses have found their way into the book. Unfortunately, the layout is sometimes a little chaotic due to the many inserts and additional information.
Complete race overview
Each of the 218 races that the small Ticino native competed in is listed in the book. Whether it's a slalom in Agno (CH) in a Mini Cooper S or the Monaco GP in a Brabham-Repco, there are pictures of everything.
Perhaps the most interesting pages (pp. 206-210), however, show three vacation days at the Hotel Letitia on the occasion of the 1971 Temporada, where the "Equipo Suizo" with Siffert, Pescarolo, Paul Blancplain and Silvio Moser stayed. Private shots show Siffert and Moser on the beach in Colombia, visiting an indigenous village and in the wooden class (or rather cargo hold) of a DC3. Images that urgently need to be preserved as cultural heritage.
The self-build
The Bellasi project, a not really successful F1 self-build by Silvio Moser from 1969/70, is of course explained, as is his participation in the film "Le Mans" by Steve McQueen.
Many well-known personalities share their memories of Silvio Moser. Among others, Jackie Stewart, Mauro Forghieri, Karl Foitek and Adriano Cimarosti have their say.
Abrupt end to a versatile career
The young thoroughbred racing driver Silvio Moser, like many others, paid for his passion with his life. The 33-year-old crashed in a Lola BMW T294-71 at the 1000 km race in Monza in 1974.
Structured along the timeline
With the exception of the foreword, palmares, glossary and a data section on the vehicles, the book is structured chronologically, with one chapter for each year. Of course, the early years from 1960 onwards are somewhat shorter, but the year 1970 alone comprises 22 pages.
Exclusively in Italian
One fly in the ointment for some people is that the book is only available in Italian. Anyone who does not speak this language will of course miss out on a lot of background information and all the interesting details of the individual races and vehicles. The full appeal of this book is only revealed when you read it in detail.
Of course, the pictures alone are worth the CHF 65 / Euro 56. But for those who can also enjoy the text, this book is an absolute must.
Bibliographical details
- Title: Silvio Moser, Pilota indipendente
- Authors: Aldo Pessina with friends of Silvio Moser
- Language: Italian
- Publisher: Fontanaeditizoni, Fontana Print SA
- Size: Around 300 pages
- Format: Hardcover, 22 x 28 cm, many pictures
- ISBN: 978-88-8191-393-0
- Price: CHF 65 or Euro 56
- Buy/order: From the publisher or in relevant bookshops
