Le Mans book races to £400 in bidding battle

Published on Saturday 8 July 2006 14:30

A RARE book signed by the Edinburgh man behind one of Scotland's greatest sporting triumphs has fetched more than three times the amount expected for charity.

The book telling the inside story of the Ecurie Ecosse motor racing team which won the Le Mans 24-hour race in 1956 was discovered in a city charity shop.

Volunteers at the Oxfam Bookshop on Nicholson Street decided to offer the rare first edition to the highest bidder.

The book, written and signed by team manager David Murray, sold for 400. An expert had valued it at around 150.

Tom McAughtrie, a volunteer at the shop, said they were delighted with the response after a story ran in Wednesday's Evening News.

He said: "One of those who came in with an offer said he had been a mechanic involved with the Ecurie Ecosse team.

"But we have accepted a bid of 400 from an Edinburgh man, after a bit of a bidding war.

"We are delighted with the response and the money will be going to a good cause."

Fifty years ago this summer, Murray led the relatively unknown Ecurie Ecosse team to victory in the famous race.