First Principles: The Official Biography of Keith Duckworth

"[A] superb read ... A wonderful insight into a much-missed man. Highly recommended." - Classic & Sports Car (UK) "there is much, much more within the covers that the book's compact dimensions imply ... Worthwhile, in a word." - Motor Sport ..". an enthralling book ... One of my books of the year, for sure." - tkc (Totalkitcar)"[An] extremely interesting book. It would be an excellent holiday read." - ACtion"Chronicling the life of the legendary Keith Duckworth ... this excellent and highly readable book offers a rounded look at the life and work of this remarkable man ... A must read and highly recommended." - Club Lotus News"entertaining and revealing ... an informative and valuable piece of research on an outstanding British engineer whose contribution has always deserved far wider exposure." - Kieron Fennelly "Not only is the author's engineering background evident in his treatment of the more technical aspects of the narrative, he has done a fine job in pulling together the details of his subject from a more personal angle. As an insight into the life and philosophy of a brilliant engineer it could hardly be bettered. Absolutely essential reading." - Speedscene"In an age of high tech, digital design this biography of Keith Duckworth is refreshing, taking you back with some nostalgia to a golden age of intuitive, and British, engineering design." - Microlight Flying Magazine "Well researched and highly readable" - F1 Fanatic "[The] definitive biography of one of the most important figures ever in British motor racing ... this book should be required reading for anyone interested in the evolution of Grand Prix racing since 1945." - BRDC Bulletin"I would highly recommend this book. Not only will it appeal to Lotus enthusiasts but also to followers of motor sport in general, including anyone who is interested in reading about one of the men who helped Britain to become a world leader in motor sport engineering development." - Historic Lotus Club "an insight into the person behind the machines." - klassiekerrally.nl"Extensively researched, the book includes not just fascinating details of the man himself and his family but also the background to the growth of Cosworth and the technical details of the engines produced ... A great read. - The Marshal "The complete life of a motor sport great, interspersed with his wit and wisdom; it certainly invoked plenty of belly laughs. Definitive." - Classic Cars "an insight into the person behind the machines." - "klassiekerrally.nl""Extensively researched, the book includes not just fascinating details of the man himself and his family but also the background to the growth of Cosworth and the technical details of the engines produced ... A great read. - "The Marshal" "a good read" - "www.silhouet.com""a truly rounded book of a truly remarkable man. Well done, Norman Burr, for reminding many and educating others about the life, times, brilliance and person of the much-missed engineer Keith Duckworth." -" Vintage Racecar/Vintage Roadcar" "[The] definitive biography of one of the most important figures ever in British motor racing ... this book should be required reading for anyone interested in the evolution of Grand Prix racing since 1945." - "BRDC Bulletin""I would highly recommend this book. Not only will it appeal to Lotus enthusiasts but also to followers of motor sport in general, including anyone who is interested in reading about one of the men who helped Britain to become a world leader in motor sport engineering development." - "Historic Lotus Club" "Not only is the author's engineering background evident in his treatment of the more technical aspects of the narrative, he has done a fine job in pulling together the details of

Trained as an engineer at Rolls Royce Aero Engines and Bath University, lifelong petrolhead Norman Burr has been a technical journalist practically all his working life. Initially with professional and industrial magazines, then as a freelance, and subsequently through Pagefast Ltd, a small printing and publishing company that he helped found, he later returned to freelance journalism in 2006. It was Keith Duckworth's enthusiasm for aviation, rather than his better-known motor sport contribution, that provides the connection, but as an accomplished author in both areas, Norman Burr is ideally positioned to chronicle the life of this legendary engineer.

Foreword 5Preface 6Acknowledgements 7Chapter 1 The making of the man 10Picture gallery 1 17Chapter 2 Flying low 25Chapter 3 The Lavender Hill Mob 28Chapter 4 Living with Lotus 39Chapter 5 Horsepower from the stables 50Chapter 6 Three hectic years 60Picture gallery 2 65Chapter 7 Creating a legend 78Chapter 8 Two golden avenues; two dead ends 91Picture gallery 3 97Chapter 9 Work and (a little) play 114Chapter 10 Stress and de-stress 127Picture gallery 4 129Chapter 11 Cosworth takes off 143Chapter 12 Of life and loves 158Picture gallery 5 161Chapter 13 Turbos on two continents 176Chapter 14 The marine adventure 190Chapter 15 New openings 202Picture gallery 6 209Chapter 16 Icons of the Eighties 223Chapter 17 "We have to start again" 233Picture gallery 7 241Chapter 18 Flying from the heart 254Chapter 19 Cosworth after Keith 264Picture gallery 8 273Chapter 20 Diesel diversions 283Chapter 21 Keith after Cosworth 287Picture gallery 9 289Chapter 22 The microlight legacy 308Chapter 23 Vale 320Picture gallery 10 321Appendix 337Index 351