Performance Driving books / videos

<Hopefully this is isn't a duplicate thread>

What are the good books or videos that helped you drive better on the track or even on the road? I am looking for something that will help an enthusiast level of driver - not something for established racers to become Schumachers.

 

For enthusiasts, Ross Bentley's Speed Secrets is great. Just the original Speed Secrets, mind you, not any of the subsequent editions.

Jackie Stewart's Principles of Performance Driving (or something similarly named) is not great. It's out of print and I have a copy, but it's basically Jackie's first go at an autobiography.

 

+1

I had significant track day experience, and had progressed to running in the TT group with NASA by the time I read Speed Secrets.


My favorite point from the book:

"If your car feels like its on rails, you aren't driving fast enough"

The book really helped me visualize the mechanics of what was happening while I was driving, and the engineering that went into the cars to make them do what they do. It helped me realize that I wasn't going to get any faster until I started pushing the car past the point of "running on rails".

 

The best study is that which covers the fundamentals. The Bentley Speed Secret series is very good, but the three that I would recommend are, in no particular order:

1) Going Faster, The Official Book of the Skip Barber Racing School. Carl Lopez. 1997. Packed with terrific information and fundamental skills training perfect for drivers who aren't even contemplating competition.

2) Driving in Competition. Alan Johnson. 1972. Still the textbook on how to analyze and most effectively and efficiently navigate them. Good theory.

3) The Technique of Motor Racing, Piero Taruffi. 1957. If you're an engineer, this book outlines the scientific tenets on going fast very well!

Check out Amazon for community recommendations, but these are the three books every
driver should have on their bookshelf.

 

I believe that Think To Win by Don Alexander is also an outstanding addition to those previously mentioned.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Skip-Barber-Artist-Not-Provided/dp/B0006A9I2A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1266550489&sr=8-1
I have the Skip Barber Going Faster DVD , found it very informative. I am only a novice.

 

Can't beat Ross Bentley's Speed Secrets I have read a lot of the track books and nothing can stand up to Speed Secrets. I would get all of them but the first and Second Speed Secrets are the best.

 

Paul Frere (R.I.P.) wrote a very good one on Sports Car and Competition Driving.

I have it Sameer.... drop by and borrow it.

Some others too who's titles escape me at the moment.

I have a VERY old title by Jackie Stewart covering not only the basics of driving but buying a good sound used car! Scotsman indeed! It's funny due to it's antiquity, early 60s probably, from the pictures.

Edit: The other one is by Alain Prost, covering racing lines and tactics....the final chapter is:

"WATCH OUT!! FOR AYRTON SENNA!"...or something like that....

 

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

I have the Piero Taruffi book. Very cool book but some of the science in it went above my head.

I think I will go through some of the fundamental books identified here and see if it helps me improve.

 

You need to see this framed 348 Rodeo Drive poster, anyway........drop by, if in the Heights area....

 

The poster right here on my wall says 355.....?
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Right alongside the E-Monster's petrified gingerbread man!

 

VERY nice gingerbread man!

The 355 Event was later, I suppose.

But the 348 is similar, it's more of a frontal view of the car....very similar artwork though.

Valeria is "in the yard" working,, I'll get her camera later hopefully.

 

The 550 poster was similar as well. Lost the poster, still have the t-shirt!

 

I also have Prost's Competition Driving as well as Senna's Principles of Race Driving...if you have Senna's book hang onto it it only occasionally pops up on Amazon for around $300...

I have Stewart's Principles of Performance Driving and as others have said it's basically autobiographical and light on the technical matters. A very light read.

I also concur that Going Faster is outstanding along with Speed Secrets...

If you're ever up Dallas way I'll let you see the Senna book...

Frank

 

I have picked up a lot of tips from this book.
+1

 

Motorsport Book thread I started years ago on Bimmerforums. http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=318459

 

Great recommendations. Going Faster is now available in a Book/DVD set. I found it helpful to actually "see" the theoretical concepts taught in the book.

 

Ditto from here...

Cheers & C U @ d'Track!!
C

Chuck Hawks,
Pro-Driver, Coach, Instructor & Facilitator
rEvolution Performance Driving System