Tales from the Toolbox is a unique collection of
behind-the-scenes stories and anecdotes as told, in their own words, by former
Grand Prix mechanics who have worked at the top level of the sport during the
past 50 years.
On the front line of the sport, mixing with drivers and team
bosses, the mechanics saw a side of it that nobody else got to see and rarely
gets to hear about – and this book tells their story.
Chapters are themed around a particular aspect of a mechanic’s life, ranging
from what they consider the highs and lows of their career, to their opinions
of drivers and team bosses, the all-nighters, letting off steam, the
‘Mechanic’s Gallon,’ nightmare journeys and customs capers. It also reveals a
tale of camaraderie between teams and individual mechanics which is hard to
imagine in today’s highly competitive Formula One environment.
The stories are supplemented by photographs from the archives and photo albums
of the mechanics themselves, many of which are previously unseen.