The Tasman Cup – 1964-1975: A celebration of Australian and New Zealand motorsport’s greatest era is a page 500-page account portraying one of the most stunning periods in Antipodean open wheel racing.

Documenting first-person stories from competitors of the day, the book is a thorough description of a time when Australian and New Zealand drivers gained valuable experience against the world’s finest grand prix stars.

Forwards by the late Sir Jack Brabham, fellow three-times F1 champion Sir Jackie Stewart and Warwick Brown set the mood for the book.

There are a huge cross section of personal accounts from drivers, photographers and journalists who were immersed in a gold era of southern hemisphere motor racing.

Among the 40 first-hand accounts include recollections from Chris Amon, Derek Bell, Graeme Lawrence, Graham McRae, Bruce Allison, Vern Schuppan, Warwick Brown, Niel Allen, Leo Geoghegan and Frank Matich.

“It’s all about passion for me. That’s why I do it,” policeman/author Tony Loxley told Speedcafe.com.

“A lot of it is light therapy for me too.

“I come home after dealing with a junkie on Ice or a murder or whatever so I sit down and start writing and enjoy my passion for motor sport. It’s quite relaxing to be honest.

“The secret in this book and my other ones is a respect for the people who were involved and the entertainment value provided.

“They deserve recognition particularly these drivers in the Tasman Cup. They risked their lives every time they went out in those flimsy little pieces of work.

“I also like to let the drivers tell the story. I never let anyone tell a story who wasn’t there in my books.

“If the person is still alive and he wants to and is capable of doing it, he should write the story and that’s what we do with these books.”

The book has drawn together a priceless collection of more than 900 photographs sourced from some of the finest shooters of the era.

There are fabulous memories at every turn of the page from sections dedicated to New Zealand and Australia in the 1960s and 1970s, a pictorial tribute to the Tasman Cup to the stirring personal accounts from former competitors.

It brings to life an era where men and machines waged epic battles on tracks long gone from competition and when camaraderie and social interaction away from the circuit was a key fabric in a truly special era of the sport.

The book is essential reading for any self-respecting admirer of motor racing history.

It is being launched at Ryde Eastwood Leagues Club from 6.30pm tonight.

Tasman Cup 1964-1975: A celebration of Australian and New Zealand Motor Sport’s Greatest Era costs $94.95.

To order call 1300 582882 or go to fullthrottlepublishing.com.au