Veloce Publishing

Veloce Publishing is a specialist book publisher based in Poundbury, Dorset, United Kingdom. Established in 1991 by Rod Grainger and Jude Brooks, the company developed a distinctive catalogue centered on motoring, motorcycling, automotive history, vehicle restoration, workshop instruction, and enthusiast culture. Its name comes from the Italian word for “speed” and was influenced by Alfa Romeo’s use of the term for faster versions of its cars. The name also alludes to Velocette motorcycles, which were the subject of one of the company’s early books. The Veloce imprint’s publishing program has included practical workshop manuals, marque histories, model guides, buying guides, technical references, biographies, competition and rallying titles, and books aimed at collectors and vehicle enthusiasts. One of its early titles was a Mazda MX-5 Miata workshop manual written by Rod Grainger and Pete Shoemark. Over time, the imprint expanded well beyond a single vehicle marque or format, publishing books on cars, motorcycles, motorsport, racing personalities, classic vehicles, restoration, and related enthusiast subjects. Veloce has worked with authors and contributors known in motoring and broadcasting circles. Its published authors have included television presenter Mike Brewer, former rallying champion and Top Gear pundit Tony Mason, and supercar dealer Tom Hartley. These contributors helped reinforce the company’s connection with enthusiast media, specialist expertise, and performance-car culture. The catalogue has also included titles that appeal to readers seeking accessible technical knowledge rather than purely general-interest automotive coverage. The company operated several imprints. Veloce remained the principal automotive and transport imprint, while Hubble & Hattie focused on animal-related subjects. Hubble & Hattie also published work by notable figures such as astronomer Sir Patrick Moore. Earthworld was another imprint associated with the publishing portfolio. According to the cited reference material, Veloce had published close to 1,000 titles under the Veloce name and more than 80 titles under Hubble & Hattie before the 2024 ownership change. In February 2024, the Veloce, Hubble & Hattie, and Earthworld imprints were acquired by David & Charles. This transaction transferred the imprints into the David & Charles publishing portfolio while preserving their established specialist identities. Publicly available reference material does not provide detailed financial terms, post-acquisition management information, or a complete account of the brands’ current operating structure. Veloce is therefore best understood as an active specialist publishing brand within the David & Charles group, with its historical strength in automotive books and a broader portfolio covering animals and natural-world subjects.

Veloce Publishing was founded in 1991 by Rod Grainger and Jude Brooks in the United Kingdom. From its beginning, the company concentrated on specialist books for readers interested in cars, motorcycles, motorsport, vehicle history, and practical maintenance. The Veloce name was derived from the Italian word for “speed.” Its founders associated the term with Alfa Romeo, which used it to distinguish faster models, while the name also referred to Velocette motorcycles, an early subject in the company’s publishing program. The company’s early catalogue included a Mazda MX-5 Miata workshop manual written by Rod Grainger and Pete Shoemark. This title reflected the practical orientation that became an important part of the Veloce identity: books intended not only to document vehicles but also to help owners understand, maintain, restore, and enjoy them. The catalogue subsequently broadened to include workshop manuals, model and marque histories, buyer’s guides, motorsport accounts, biographies, restoration references, and other books for automotive and motorcycle enthusiasts. Veloce’s editorial scope gave it access to contributors with experience in motoring, broadcasting, competition, and specialist vehicle dealing. Published authors have included television presenter Mike Brewer, former rallying champion and Top Gear pundit Tony Mason, and supercar dealer Tom Hartley. Their involvement connected the imprint with both professional expertise and popular enthusiast culture. The company’s books consequently served several overlapping audiences, including collectors, restorers, owners of classic and modern performance vehicles, motorsport followers, and general readers interested in automotive history. Alongside its core Veloce imprint, the company developed additional specialist publishing identities. Hubble & Hattie focused on animal-related subjects and published more than 80 titles according to the cited reference material. Its authors included astronomer Sir Patrick Moore, demonstrating that the imprint’s list extended beyond narrowly defined pet or animal books into broader natural-interest subjects. Earthworld was another imprint associated with the company’s portfolio. Together, these imprints gave Veloce a wider presence in specialist nonfiction while retaining clear subject-based identities. The scale of the Veloce list grew substantially over the company’s history. The available reference describes close to 1,000 titles published under the Veloce imprint and more than 80 under Hubble & Hattie. These figures indicate a long-running specialist program rather than a small occasional list, although the public reference does not provide a complete title-by-title chronology or detailed annual publishing figures. In February 2024, David & Charles acquired the Veloce, Hubble & Hattie, and Earthworld imprints. The transaction marked a change in ownership and placed the established specialist brands within the David & Charles portfolio. The available sources do not state the financial consideration, provide a detailed account of staffing after the acquisition, or specify whether all historical publishing operations remained unchanged. On the information available, Veloce continues as an active brand associated principally with automotive and transport publishing, while its related imprints extend into animal and natural-world subjects.

• 2024

  Specialist imprints are acquired by David & Charles

  [1]Veloce Publishingen.wikipedia.org

  In February 2024, David & Charles acquires the Veloce, Hubble & Hattie, and Earthworld imprints.

• 1991

  Veloce Publishing is founded

  [1]Veloce Publishingen.wikipedia.org

  Rod Grainger and Jude Brooks establish Veloce Publishing in the United Kingdom.

• Early Mazda MX-5 Miata workshop manual is published

  [1]Veloce Publishingen.wikipedia.org

  One of the company’s early titles is a Mazda MX-5 Miata workshop manual written by Rod Grainger and Pete Shoemark.

A specialist enthusiast publisher combining practical and historical automotive books with related motorcycle, motorsport, animal, and natural-world publishing.

• Automotive publishing · 1991

  Veloce automotive books

  The core Veloce list covers automotive subjects including vehicle histories, marque and model guides, restoration, buying advice, motorsport, biographies, and enthusiast culture. The imprint is aimed at owners, collectors, restorers, historians, and general readers with an interest in cars and transport.

• Technical automotive publishing

  Workshop and repair manuals

  Veloce publishes practical technical references intended to help readers maintain, repair, restore, and understand particular vehicles. An early example was the Mazda MX-5 Miata workshop manual written by Rod Grainger and Pete Shoemark.

• Animal publishing

  Hubble & Hattie

  Hubble & Hattie is an associated imprint focused on animal-related subjects. It has published more than 80 titles according to the cited reference material and has included work by notable authors such as astronomer Sir Patrick Moore.

• Natural-world publishing

  Earthworld

  Earthworld is a specialist imprint associated with the Veloce publishing portfolio. The available reference identifies the imprint but does not provide a detailed catalogue description.

• 2024

  Transfer of specialist imprints to David & CharlesM&A

  Background

  Veloce Publishing had developed an automotive-focused list alongside the Hubble & Hattie and Earthworld specialist imprints.

  Action taken

  In February 2024, David & Charles acquired the Veloce, Hubble & Hattie, and Earthworld imprints.

  Aftermath

  The imprints became part of the David & Charles publishing portfolio. Public reference material does not disclose the transaction value or detailed post-acquisition management arrangements.

  Source

1. 1Veloce Publishingen.wikipedia.org