Along the way, the team with its larger-than-life proprietor was always universally respected in the world's Formula 1 paddocks, often as the plucky underdog. In compiling this comprehensive history, the author has interviewed dozens of surviving team members -- including most of the drivers and many mechanics -- to gather their memories and present an energetic, touching, compelling and above all entertaining narrative.

• Ken Tyrrell's career as a racing driver in the 1950s, moving on to become an entrant of Formula Junior and Formula 3 single-seaters in the early years of the following decade.
• Establishing himself in Formula 2 with his star driver, Jackie Stewart, and also claiming the European title in that category with Jacky Ickx in 1967.
• Onwards to Formula 1 in 1968, linking up with French constructor Matra, then remarkably winning the 1969 World Championship with Jackie Stewart.
• Achieving almost immediate success as a constructor in a golden era that brought two more Formula 1 titles for Jackie Stewart, in 1971 and 1973, but ended in tragedy with the death of François Cevert.
• The extraordinary six-wheeler: Tyrrell sprung one of Formula 1's biggest surprises with a radical design that won a race but ultimately proved to be a blind alley.
• Falling down the grid as turbos took over, although Tyrrell achieved final victories in glitzy city races in America, in Las Vegas (1982) and Detroit (1983) -- and brief notoriety for technical chicanery in 1984.
• Extended twilight: amidst occasional flashes of excellence, notably from Jean Alesi in 1990, the Tyrrell team's latter years were difficult as Formula 1 also-rans, and ended in 1998 after takeover by BAR.