Recommended Motorsport books

[52Paddy]

I'm looking to buy some motorsport books. I'm interested particularly in world and national rallying, Formula 1 and international single seaters, sports cars and touring cars. But not limited to anything. A good book is a good book. Something thats not difficult to read (as per language used) but which also goes in depth (whether it deal with races, personalities or cars.) Encyclopedic type books I find particularly interesting as you can gain a broad range of knowledge about a sport or era, as opposed to one man's journey through the ranks (e.g. as in a biography, which are good reads in a different light.)

So what motorsport books have you read and found particularly enjoyable and feel worthy of recommendation?

[steve_spackman]

I'm looking to buy some motorsport books. I'm interested particularly in world and national rallying, Formula 1 and international single seaters, sports cars and touring cars. But not limited to anything. A good book is a good book. Something thats not difficult to read (as per language used) but which also goes in depth (whether it deal with races, personalities or cars.) Encyclopedic type books I find particularly interesting as you can gain a broad range of knowledge about a sport or era, as opposed to one man's journey through the ranks (e.g. as in a biography, which are good reads in a different light.)

So what motorsport books have you read and found particularly enjoyable and feel worthy of recommendation?

http://www.bullpublishing.com/shop/category.asp?catid=12

http://uk.autocourse.com/

[Easy Drifter]

Fast Response. Dr. Steve Olvey. American USAC/CART/Indy focusing on the development of safety but a lot of behind the scenes history and some pretty funny stories.
Any of Steve Matchett's books on the life of an F1 mechanic. I am biased as I was a race mechanic for over 20 years.

[MrJan]

EPYNT :bounce: Got some typos and the odd weird bit of grammar but I am yet to see such a detailed, well photographed and well put together book (and all about one venue :eek: )

http://www.griffinrally.com/epynt.html Worth it for the photographs alone.

*Stands back and waits for Paddy to say that he already has it*

[J4MIE]

The Slide Show books by McKlein over the past few years have been particularly brilliant, but I don't like to read, just look at the pretty photos :p :

[52Paddy]

Thanks for the suggestions. :)

[wedge]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Michael-Schumacher-Greatness-James-Allen/dp/0755316509/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231892117&sr=8-2

Analysis was absolutely spot on IMHO.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alex-Zanardi-My-Story/dp/184425108X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231892186&sr=8-1

Still have yet to get my hands on it and read it even if its been countlessly recommended over the years

And probably the most raved booked over the last six months: Tommy Bryne - possibly the most naturally gifted driver in F1 never to have fully competed in F1.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crashed-Byrned-Greatest-Racing-Driver/dp/1848310285/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231892450&sr=8-1

[Mark in Oshawa]

For something a little different

Since you fans in Europe don't always understand American racing...read "Driving with the Devil" by Neal Thompson. It tells the story of stock racing in its embroynic days from the moonshine runners in the Applachian mountains. Why it is I think VERY readable is you get a feel for how the racing evolved and how racing was always a business as well as a passion to most of the participants. It wasn't a rich man's sport in America and THAT is a racing culture that is unlike a lot of the gentlemen racers you saw in f1 in the early years.

Another good read along this vein is an old copy of "You can call me Mr. 500" by Andy Granatelli. A little bit of a blowhard but you learn how the American dream took hold in this showman from Chicago. The story of how he grew with the Brickyard and how his hard work made him a millionaire is a nice story of guts and courage. He wasn't afraid to fail or work to get where he wanted.

My third is Gerald Donaldson's biography of the Late and always great Gilles Villeneuve. I still tear up reading the chapter of his passing...and THAT is the mark of a great writer.

[Easy Drifter]

I forgot about Donaldsons' book. I concur. Even he doesn't tell how close Gilles was to having to give it up for lack of money. If he hadn't won at Gimli that probably would have been it. There wasn't enough money left to get him to Mosport, although there was a collection going to be made among the teams to help.
Another good book about NASCAR is Cale Yarboroughs's 'autobiograpy'.
The good ole boys really were.

[Don Capps]

Since you fans in Europe don't always understand American racing...read "Driving with the Devil" by Neal Thompson. It tells the story of stock racing in its embroynic days from the moonshine runners in the Applachian mountains. Why it is I think VERY readable is you get a feel for how the racing evolved and how racing was always a business as well as a passion to most of the participants. It wasn't a rich man's sport in America and THAT is a racing culture that is unlike a lot of the gentlemen racers you saw in f1 in the early years.

Being "readable" does not necessarily make it accurate. Thompson's love of a good story and moonshine itself meant that he did not allow facts to get in his way when writing the book.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Being "readable" does not necessarily make it accurate. Thompson's love of a good story and moonshine itself meant that he did not allow facts to get in his way when writing the book.
I don't know about that, explain where he made up anything? Racers didn't come from the moonshine community? Bill France didn't have a lot more help than the France's want to admit?

I think he captured the essence of how the moonshine runners evolved into racers....and how stock car racing evolved into something professional. No lies, and the man did a credible job of adding color to the mix.

[Zeakiwi]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=possum+bourne&x=14&y=16

Possum Bourne's biography Bourne to Rally. One of the few farm boy to works team rally drivers. 2 NZ titles, 7 Australian Rally titles and at least 2 Asia Pacific titles. Team mate to Sainz, McRae and Burns. Cars -early Cortina to WRC Impreza hill climb special.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rat-Paul-Radisich-Story/dp/1869506995/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302408576&sr=1-1

Paul Radisich - motocross bikes to BTCC to v8 Australian Touring cars

[Don Capps]

I don't know about that, explain where he made up anything? Racers didn't come from the moonshine community? Bill France didn't have a lot more help than the France's want to admit?

I think he captured the essence of how the moonshine runners evolved into racers....and how stock car racing evolved into something professional. No lies, and the man did a credible job of adding color to the mix.

When you begin to think rationally and objectively in historical terms, find and then read and consider the research of other historians, and then conduct independent research on your own, you begin to develop many doubts and a very healthy skepticism when books such as the one by Thompson are trotted out purporting to support the notion that stock car racing and NASCAR has its origins in the illegal liquor trade.

The issue is not that there were or were not those involved in the illegal liquor trade involved in stock car racing, particularly in the late Thirties and into the Forties and Fifties in the Southeast, rather the extent and their role in its origins. It is not difficult to suggest that the role of the moonshiners in the origins of stock car racing is very minimal to non-existent, mostly the latter; and, the same can be said for the idea that the races were primarily composed of moonshiners using cars used in the business of transporting illegal liquor, which is largely legend and mythology which was invented, nurtured, and sustained by non-historians.

While Thompson continues to peddle the baloney regarding moonshiners and stock car racing, there are those who are beginning to look more carefully at all this manufactured nonsense and pointing out that much of what has long been accepted as "fact" is often nothing of the kind. As far back as the Seventies there were academics questioning and providing grave doubts regarding the stock car creation mythology.

One does not necessarily have to lie outright to tell a story is not necessarily true. This is the case with Thompson's book.

Feel free to believe what you wish regarding the origins of stock car racing and NASCAR, even if it is probably dead wrong.

[BDunnell]

Don, I would be genuinely interested to know what some of your recommendations are.

[00steven]

Fast Response. Dr. Steve Olvey. American USAC/CART/Indy focusing on the development of safety but a lot of behind the scenes history and some pretty funny stories.
Any of Steve Matchett's books on the life of an F1 mechanic. I am biased as I was a race mechanic for over 20 years.

It's possibly my favorite book!