Jacks, Knaves and Kings of Speed: 20th century heroes and villains of motorsport

This is a personal series of short biographies looking at some of the most interesting characters from 20th century motorcycle racing, F1, rallying, speed record breaking and more.

There are famous names like Barry Sheene, James Hunt and Malcolm Campbell, plus lesser known characters, like female speedway ace Fay Taylour, fast-living racing driver Tommy Byrne or the eccentric Onyx F1 team owner Peter Monteverdi.

If you want a book about variable valve timing, active suspension or FIA rule changes and protests, then look elsewhere. This is all about people; their strengths and weaknesses, all the crazy stuff they did off the track, as well as the heroics going into turn three. Drink, drugs, sexual adventures, lions in sidecars, collaborating with the Nazis - it's all in here.

So are people like Mike Hailwood, who won the George Medal for dragging a fellow race driver from a burning car. In the end, motorsport is fascinating because of the beautiful danger; the constant pushing of mechanical limits, human skill, endurance and bravery. We all need heroes.