In the Name of Glory 1976 Book

I am almost through this excellent book by Tom Rubython that came out in late 2011 that is about the 1976 season long battle between Niki Lauda and James Hunt and want to recommend it to anyone interested in 1970s F1 history. The timing of this book coming out before Ron Howard’s movie Rush about the same topic is great as it will give readers great background before seeing the movie.

The book really outlines the significant differences in the drivers' attitudes towards fitness and alcohol and drugs versus today. At the Monaco GP, Hunt only got in from partying at 4:00 a.m. before the race started. The amount of drinking, cocaine snorting and pot smoking during the season that was done by Hunt is staggering when you consider that most of today's drivers do not even drink any alcohol during the racing season.
The book definitely highlights how much more dangerous F1 was back then versus today, and that also probably played into Hunt's partying as he was most likely living for the moment, because tomorrow may never come.

It also documents the politics at Ferrari that were brutal for the drivers to endure during the period when Enzo was still alive. The team orders were asking Lauda to let Regazzoni win in Long Beach and Belgium because Niki had won too many times (he was leading the championship at the time!). Ferrari also wanted to sack Lauda in favor of a relatively unknown Italian driver by the name of Maurizio Flammini before Lauda won the Monaco GP convincingly. I was a Niki Lauda fan before, but I have gained additional respect for him after reading this book.

It is an excellent read and the shortest of Rubython's excellent books on Formula 1 at 296 pages.
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Crap I have heard of the movie only in name with no idea about what it is about. I wonder if BestBuy has it? Oh great book and I will see if B&N can order it for me, thanks.

 

The movie is only starting production and will not be out for a while. I got my copy of the book through Amazon.

 

I just spoke with B&N and they do not have it yet so in the mean time I ordered Shunt. Thanks for the heads up on the new book as my collection of F1 books is virtually non-existant for such a fan.
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I also have Shunt and Life of Senna as well, awesome reads!

 

Thanks for the heads up on the new book as I forgot to mention that. On a side note the few times I have been to BigTex's home I'm always in awe at his collection of motorsports books, it took alot of strength NOT to ask "Hey man can I borrow a few?" LOL

 

Ahh, "the good old days"!......

I only really met him once - In the campground at Silverstone on Sunday evening - *After* the race! Turns out some of his old crew from his FF/F3 days were camped next to us and he came over to party with them.

Suffice to say, it turned into quite the party and I have nothing but very fond memories of the guy. He even graciously signed autographs for folk until it became impossible.

RIP James.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Lucky dog your are!

 

I just spoke with B&N 10mins ago about the status of my order of 'Shunt' because they said it would only be 3-4 until it came in when I ordered it on the 13th and they said they would call. Well after two weeks I decided to call and I was told their supplier canceled the order because they only have one copy and apparently it is the only copy in the US, well thats what I was told.

This confuses me because I thought B&N and their supplier in ARK were in the business of selling books?? Also why was I not notified by B&N of the cancelation of my order?? No big deal for me though as I will take my business to Amazon for both 'In The Name of Glory' and for for 'Shunt'.

 

I don't believe it is the only copy, something else must be up. I bought the book this past summer, I think through Amazon.

 

Not a big issue as I'm certain Amazon can supply both books I was just kind of surprised that I was not contacted. In the past their customer service has always exceptional and since I live directly across the street from an outlet I really like the convience. I'll still be a loyal customer though but I will also let them know that if a future order is cancelled I expect to be notified so I can take another route.

Crap I cannot wait to read these books!!!

 

I read the book as well... and I remember that season from my own memory, as well as reading all of Lauda's books.

While I'm not suprised about anything written about Hunt, it seems to me that all the stuff on Lauda comes from his own books, Rubython is not as credible as people think. His F-1 Magazine was finally taken away from him becuase is would just make stuff up... literally. he had access to the F-1 guys but I think Max and Bernie got filled of his interpretations...

the book is OK - there are a number of historicall errors, and the details are not really there, to me its like a huge book report, i dont see any new info that I did not know about. Now if you did not know anything about 1976 season, then it would be interesting. The stuff about wanting to put Flammini in a car is true, but that was after Lauda broke ribs trying to finish his swimming pool at his Hof home in Austria.

It was a very difficult year for Lauda, but from Montezemolo's own recolections about the season Mr. Ferrari was always engaged, and made the ultimate decisions. I love the comment in the book that Enzo saw Lauda at the dutch GP in a "rare visit to a race" and then two chapters later he states that Enzo had not been to a grand prix since the early 50's... its that kind of detalis that drive me crazy in a supposedly historically accurate book about the events of 76.

His conclusions about Lauda's accident are also pretty hard to swallow, as even Lauda and Ferrari have never confirmed any real cause....could have been wishbone failure, or brakes, or tires etc... Its somewhat entertaining but really not as accurate as one would have hoped.