Le Mans 100: A Century at the World's Greatest Endurance Race

The second best of the 100 year retrospectives of this race (see my other reviews for the best). More affordable than the slightly better book. If money is tight, get this one. If you have to have the absolute best, get the other one.

"Le Mans 100: A Century at the World's Greatest Endurance Race" is a comprehensive and well-executed exploration of the iconic Le Mans 24 Hours race spanning a century. This book offers a deep dive into the history, memorable moments, and the evolution of this legendary endurance race.The writing is both engaging and informative, providing a balanced mix of historical context, race details, and captivating anecdotes. The photography is top-notch, offering a visual feast for motorsport enthusiasts. The book effectively captures the essence of the race's evolution and its significance in the world of motorsports.If you're a fan of endurance racing or simply interested in the history of the Le Mans 24 Hours, this book is a must-have. It's a well-researched and beautifully presented tribute to a century of racing history, making it an invaluable addition to any motorsport library.

There is racing and there is Le Mans (or Les 24h du Mans). Nothing compares to this historic race.The book is a year by year review of the 100 years anniversary of the race (1922-2022). Each year provides some photos of the main car and the story (in 2 pages or so) of the race.It's fascinating when the book starts switching to color photos in the 60s and how the cars evolved over the years (the 90s were a big switch).In addition to the visuals and texts, the author has also included some of the original posters image in color and these are just plain beauty. I wish these could still be easily found.Lastly, the dark year 1955 is approached with a lot of respect and decency. No over sensationalism. The author understands this is a story over 100 years and 1 year doesn't define the race. It is discussed but as an event among others.Truly Mr Smale has a great deal of respect for the race, the pilots, the cars, the teams and the passion that goes with it.And the book comes in a high-end, premium presentation making it the perfect gift for any true car enthusiast.

This is a very high-quality, luxuriously designed, large coffee table book. It's hard-cover and comes with a protective sleeve that you can keep it in for storage and display. It's a comprehensive history of the race, but not so copy-heavy that it's a burden to read. It's the kind of book you could either read straight through, or keep out on a table to pick up and browse through when you have a few minutes. The photos are all so interesting, it's like traveling through time to look at all of the details. The book goes in chronological order, and there's an index at the back, so you can look up specific automakers, models, drivers or other details and skip to those pages. My husband is a classic car collector and was very excited to receive this book. We are both quite impressed with it! It would be a wonderful gift for anyone who loves classic cars and racing, and the unique culture of the Le Mans race in particular.

When I showed my son (the car enthusiast) the book case cover, he immediately said “Oh, that’s the Le Mans track”. Clever idea to put that on the front cover.This book details the 100 year history of Le Mans- a race that lasts 24 hours! Each year is filled with large photos (black &white in the beginning and then later years, color photos). I like how the author summarizes the changes in the race from year to year. There are a couple of fold out pages- one of which is of retro Le Mans posters. It’s amazing how much time, effort, and money were involved in the races. The text really showcases this. This book would be a great gift for a car or racing enthusiast.

While the focus is narrow, this will appeal to a wide range of drivers, mechanics, collectors, race fans and others with a passion for fast automobiles. It’s a big book and would make a great coffee table book if your wife will let you. The book quality is very good. It’s a big size with heavy pages. There are great photos and the content is well written. If you’re specifically a Le Mans fan, this is a great history and it’s easy to find the information you’re looking for if you’re trying to research something or someone specific.

Le Mans 100 by Glen Smale is a huge and wonderful historical look back at the most notorious endurance race ever conceived. This book covers everything from the beginning to present time with crisp clear photos and easy to read and follow commentary. This deserves a permanent spot on my coffee table and sure to read over and over. Bravo!

This is a well printed book with excellent photos. It is a great coffee table piece to have with other racing memorabilia.