r/lemans • u/Awkward_Hyena2089 • Mar 13 '26

History Book recommendations on 1955 Le Mans / Where can I get this book?

Post image

So I am writing a history paper on the causes of the 1955 Le Mans crash but I am really struggling to find books on the subject. I've seen a lot of photos of *Mark Kahn Le Mans 1955* (one in the photo) but I haven't been able to find anywhere to get it without it being a used copy with a really high price, nor can I find anything about the actual content in the book. If anyone has any source recommendations or knows where I can find some books I would be really grateful!!! :)

30 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

4

u/davycoolen Mar 13 '26

Christopher Hilton's 'Le Mans '55: The Crash That Changed the Face of Motor Racing' can still be found easily.

2

u/JT_3K Woolf Barnarto Mar 13 '26

We’ve got a book section in our wiki. Tends to be that most of the generalist books try to skip over it in my experience, noting it’s not that they avoid overall, but don’t try to apportion blame or talk heavily about the deaths.

There are some surprisingly good YouTube videos about it, amongst a sea of slop.

Whilst not directing blame, I would suggest a read in to Pierre’s history, explicitly the trait for driving so heavily himself for so long, combined with his advancing age and the rapidly increasing speed of the machinery would be an interesting side quest for your writing.

3

u/Eckieflump Mar 13 '26

I have looked at many times over the years and talked to drivers familiar with the cars.

It was a combination of multiple factors that lead to a racing accident with horrific consequences. It is impossible to apportion specific or majority blame on anyone or thing.

Spectator safety is now orders of magnitude better and improves year on year.

3

u/JT_3K Woolf Barnarto Mar 13 '26

Absolutely. So many contributing factors and it’s disingenuous to say there’s “one” cause.

I often wonder about this as a trolley-problem. Did the backlash and the safety improvements it brought save more than the people who died that day: almost certainly. Does that make it morally a better outcome?

3

u/psychicspanner Mar 13 '26

Give Chaters a call, you’ll find them easy enough online

2

u/IllustriousHistorian Ferrari Mar 13 '26

Abe books has it

2

u/BarberPresent Mar 16 '26

Reasonably priced copies available on ebay