Essential Motorsport Books...
Discussion
HeavySoul said:
456lbft said:
AlpineWhite said:
Paul Dishman said:
GTP rpm said:
Another vote for "Winning Is Not Enough - Jackie Stewart".
A truely remarkable man.
A bit too much about his royal and or rich friends for my tasteA truely remarkable man.
Currently reading 'the life of Senna', anyone else read it?
While we're on the subject, what sort of errors should I be looking out for? Thanks
AlpineWhite said:
HeavySoul said:
456lbft said:
AlpineWhite said:
Paul Dishman said:
GTP rpm said:
Another vote for "Winning Is Not Enough - Jackie Stewart".
A truely remarkable man.
A bit too much about his royal and or rich friends for my tasteA truely remarkable man.
Currently reading 'the life of Senna', anyone else read it?
While we're on the subject, what sort of errors should I be looking out for? Thanks
HeavySoul said:
AlpineWhite said:
HeavySoul said:
456lbft said:
AlpineWhite said:
Paul Dishman said:
GTP rpm said:
Another vote for "Winning Is Not Enough - Jackie Stewart".
A truely remarkable man.
A bit too much about his royal and or rich friends for my tasteA truely remarkable man.
Currently reading 'the life of Senna', anyone else read it?
While we're on the subject, what sort of errors should I be looking out for? Thanks
hi
I have a motorsport bookshop on line so have read many many books. Here is a few that are memoirable to me. This is not an advert as I dont have any listed here and nobody knows its name
Excellence was expected- purchased at silverstone for £50 in 1980 after ticket touting at 14 years old!
A diferent kind of life- virginia williams: probably the best book I ever read!
Perry Mcarthy: Like dell boy and rodney;an amazing laugh!
le mans 1959: The pictures of the fun away from the race!
Badminton book of Motors: 400+ pages in 1901 the car was only 12 years old!
A chequere Year 1955: not many people have heard of this account of the 1955 season.
Champion Year is a good insight into the un-professionalism of Mike Hawthorn. Boy the had fun
Gille Villeneuve By Donaldson: You kind of feel like crying when he lets you down when he has an affair!
Sometimes the books are better than the reality of the time.
I have a motorsport bookshop on line so have read many many books. Here is a few that are memoirable to me. This is not an advert as I dont have any listed here and nobody knows its name
Excellence was expected- purchased at silverstone for £50 in 1980 after ticket touting at 14 years old!
A diferent kind of life- virginia williams: probably the best book I ever read!
Perry Mcarthy: Like dell boy and rodney;an amazing laugh!
le mans 1959: The pictures of the fun away from the race!
Badminton book of Motors: 400+ pages in 1901 the car was only 12 years old!
A chequere Year 1955: not many people have heard of this account of the 1955 season.
Champion Year is a good insight into the un-professionalism of Mike Hawthorn. Boy the had fun
Gille Villeneuve By Donaldson: You kind of feel like crying when he lets you down when he has an affair!
Sometimes the books are better than the reality of the time.
Tony2or4 said:
LY99 said:
Slightly OT - Does anyone know of any books about Art Arfons and this period in LSR, The Green Monster, Craig Breedlove etc???
"The Fastest Men On Earth" by Peter JR Holthusen, and "Automobile Record Breakers" by David Tremayne both have good sections on Arfons etc.456lbft said:
HeavySoul said:
Spelling mistakes, lack of full stops and capital letters in the right places from memory.
I might have forgiven the odd typo, if the book hadn't been so over hyped as a definitive guide and 10 years in the making etc etc. But there were also some factual errors, which as always, completely spoil the perceived integrity of the rest of it. Unforgiveable.I think they must have just rushed it out for Christmas and thought f
k it!
HeavySoul said:
456lbft said:
HeavySoul said:
Spelling mistakes, lack of full stops and capital letters in the right places from memory.
I might have forgiven the odd typo, if the book hadn't been so over hyped as a definitive guide and 10 years in the making etc etc. But there were also some factual errors, which as always, completely spoil the perceived integrity of the rest of it. Unforgiveable.I think they must have just rushed it out for Christmas and thought f
k it!ADEuk said:
Life at the Limit by prof Sid Watkins.
Prof Sid also wrote 'Beyond The Limit'http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Limit-Sid-Watkins/d...
Can't believed nobody mentioned Alex Zanardi
It's a must read.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alex-Zanardi-My-Story/dp/1...
It's a must read.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alex-Zanardi-My-Story/dp/1...
Paul Dishman said:
skeggysteve said:
Another one I would recommend is a book about John Wyre and sports car racing - but I can't for the life of me rememeber what it was called - sorry!
I 'think' it was written by a JW team manager, if that helps.
The Certain Sound-Thirty Years of Motor Racing by John WyerI 'think' it was written by a JW team manager, if that helps.
It's called 'Racing in the Rain' by John Horsman. He was the team manager I was thinking of.
more info here
fatboy69 said:
Racing Mechanic by Ermano Coughgi, i think thats how his name is spelt, is a good book.
For those who havent heard of him he was Niki Lauda's spanner man many many years ago.
Ermmano Cuoghi, is that available in English? I assumed he was Italian. Lauda's book is good too. "To Hell and back"For those who havent heard of him he was Niki Lauda's spanner man many many years ago.
AlpineWhite said:
HeavySoul said:
456lbft said:
HeavySoul said:
Spelling mistakes, lack of full stops and capital letters in the right places from memory.
I might have forgiven the odd typo, if the book hadn't been so over hyped as a definitive guide and 10 years in the making etc etc. But there were also some factual errors, which as always, completely spoil the perceived integrity of the rest of it. Unforgiveable.I think they must have just rushed it out for Christmas and thought f
k it!456lbft said:
AlpineWhite said:
well, I've bought it now, and I've started so I'll finish. The odd typo I can live with (even though it doesn't inspire confidence). However if someone could highlight the worst factual errors I'd be most grateful.
That would mean reading it again! Actually I don't think it's that bad, but I seem to remember something as I was gently simmering over the typo's coming across a reference that was just wrong and wishing I was nearer the end.
If you want good read there is 'The Limit' by Michael Cannell.
Told through the eyes of Phil Hill from a young age he describes in detail all the various characters he came across in his racing career and the races he engaged in with them, including the 1955 Le Man tragedy.
Stunningly emotional and moving as it portrays the difficulties of chasing the dream of being a racing driver in the late fifties and sixties when two out of three racing drivers died at the wheel!
Very engaging and hard to put down!
Told through the eyes of Phil Hill from a young age he describes in detail all the various characters he came across in his racing career and the races he engaged in with them, including the 1955 Le Man tragedy.
Stunningly emotional and moving as it portrays the difficulties of chasing the dream of being a racing driver in the late fifties and sixties when two out of three racing drivers died at the wheel!
Very engaging and hard to put down!
Go Like Hell is a superb read - almost like a novel in style. What a shame the film never got made.
However, on the same theme, I'd suggest the fantastic 'The Ford that Beat Ferrari'. The second edition has more updates on the individual GT40s and a bit more information, I believe. Great story and the photos from GT racing in the late 1960s golden age (many courtesy of the Ford archives) are stunning.
However, on the same theme, I'd suggest the fantastic 'The Ford that Beat Ferrari'. The second edition has more updates on the individual GT40s and a bit more information, I believe. Great story and the photos from GT racing in the late 1960s golden age (many courtesy of the Ford archives) are stunning.
Howden Ganley 's Road to Monaco is excellent, if not as good as Damon Hill's outstanding Watching the Wheels.
Lost Generation , David Tremayne is superb, and I don't mind admitting reduced me to tears, having seen all three drivers- Brise. Williamson and Pryce on track many times.
Peter Revson's terrific Speed with Style set a benchmark which may not have been reached , except by Damon's book. Like Damon , he wrote it himself and tragically Revson was dead within weeks of its publication.
Karl Ludvigsen's Lotus book is definitive , as you would expect from him - a brilliant insight into Chapman the man and Lotus itself .
Adrian Newey's book is very good indeed , and I am not remotely technically inclined either.
Jackie Stewart's book is insightful and moving but the corporate speak , product plugging and name dropping is tiresome . But I admire the man immensely .
For pictures, Rainer Schelgelmilch's Sports Car Racing is unrivalled - it weighs five pounds, mine cost me thirty quid and the photos are amazing.
Avoid Johnny Herbert's book which is dreadfully written , strewn with errors and in serious need of a good sub editor. His story deserves so much better
Crashed and Burned is entertaining and if anybody wonders why chip on both shoulders Byrne never made it in F1 , despite having talent to give away , this tells you exactly why...
I enjoyed Brian Redman's book hugely - some of today's snowflakes might wince at the danger, adversity and injury this lovely guy went through . The book has an awful title (Daring Drivers , Dangerous Tracks )and a rubbish cover but is a great read .
Motor Sport Greats in Conversation by Simon Taylor deserves its place on every motor sport fan's bookshelf, as does Denis Jenkinson A Passion for Motorsport
And finally , a quirky little masterwork , Julian Hunt's Motor Sport Explorer - it describes the 800 venues in UK which have been used for motorsport (and that is excluding rally stages etc) . Utterly fascinating , and who knew that my home county of Yorkshire has had no fewer than 8 race circuits , some being used ad hoc on operational RAF bases like Linton on Ouse and Catterick . Terrific reference work and a real labour of love - buy it !
Lost Generation , David Tremayne is superb, and I don't mind admitting reduced me to tears, having seen all three drivers- Brise. Williamson and Pryce on track many times.
Peter Revson's terrific Speed with Style set a benchmark which may not have been reached , except by Damon's book. Like Damon , he wrote it himself and tragically Revson was dead within weeks of its publication.
Karl Ludvigsen's Lotus book is definitive , as you would expect from him - a brilliant insight into Chapman the man and Lotus itself .
Adrian Newey's book is very good indeed , and I am not remotely technically inclined either.
Jackie Stewart's book is insightful and moving but the corporate speak , product plugging and name dropping is tiresome . But I admire the man immensely .
For pictures, Rainer Schelgelmilch's Sports Car Racing is unrivalled - it weighs five pounds, mine cost me thirty quid and the photos are amazing.
Avoid Johnny Herbert's book which is dreadfully written , strewn with errors and in serious need of a good sub editor. His story deserves so much better
Crashed and Burned is entertaining and if anybody wonders why chip on both shoulders Byrne never made it in F1 , despite having talent to give away , this tells you exactly why...
I enjoyed Brian Redman's book hugely - some of today's snowflakes might wince at the danger, adversity and injury this lovely guy went through . The book has an awful title (Daring Drivers , Dangerous Tracks )and a rubbish cover but is a great read .
Motor Sport Greats in Conversation by Simon Taylor deserves its place on every motor sport fan's bookshelf, as does Denis Jenkinson A Passion for Motorsport
And finally , a quirky little masterwork , Julian Hunt's Motor Sport Explorer - it describes the 800 venues in UK which have been used for motorsport (and that is excluding rally stages etc) . Utterly fascinating , and who knew that my home county of Yorkshire has had no fewer than 8 race circuits , some being used ad hoc on operational RAF bases like Linton on Ouse and Catterick . Terrific reference work and a real labour of love - buy it !
Edited by coppice on Friday 26th January 08:02
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