Automobile/motorsports book READERS thread

I didn't see a thread like this so I figured I would start one.

I'm bored, I'm going to buy some books, I was thinking of the Derek Bell book and/or the Vic Elford book, are they a good read?

What other books have decent breadth to them?
I've read all the Niki Lauda books and a few others but that has been 20+ years ago, I'm looking for a good STORY, and not all opinionated self-indulgent crap.

 

about LeMans leading up to '66. Like to hear your opinion on characterization of Ferrari.Very entertaining read, not a lot of footnotes, etc. though more like reading a magazine article

 

There's a book thread (granted, "collectors") already, so I think another one would kind of dilute the usefulness of both.

You might consider merging them. And you might get more answers as well.....

I recommend "The Limit" even though it's somewhat sensationalized and a few things presented as facts are questionable it is still a very good read....and I tend to read everything I can about Phil Hill.

 

I thought of that, but there is a difference between a 'collector' and a 'reader'.

Folks may not want to 'collect' books, maybe they just want to 'read' books that are not considered 'collectables'?

For example, I collect Autocourse, but I don't read them, OTOH I have read Donohue's book and Lauda's books, and a couple others, but these are not 'collectables'.
Or am I wrong? The Donohue book WAS a collectable until they printed a second edition, and then my at-one-time $425 'collectable' was worth about $12 after that.

 

That was my idea as well, we need a thread about good biographies which are an easy and enjoyable read...

1) Only here for the beer - Gerry Marshall (1st edition is collectable)
2) one of my all time favorites although it is in french : Olivier Gendebien, Quatre fois vainqueur au Mans http://philippe.chemin.78.perso.neuf.fr/Le_Mans_Fichiers/Le_Mans_htm_03/Livre_Olivier_Gendebien.htm
3) everything written by Paul Frere
4) Speed was my life - Alfred Neubauer
5) more to come as I am not in front of the bookshelf at the moment

If you understand german, I can put a list together

 

I just finished Bernard Cahier's two volume set "F-stops, Pit Stops, Laughter, and Tears". I thought it was a great read with a lot of stories to go along with the recap of every GP season from the '50's until the late '70's. He likes to self promote, but I haven't seen too many in the racing world that don't.

George

 

I go to the book "collectors" thread frequently. It has morphed into a general book section. That's why I suggested a merge. Starting individual threads tends to fragment the information.

But I don't want to be called a site nanny!!

 

I give up....

 

I bought The Unfair Advantage when it came out, and I still have it. I never pay much attention to values, but I'm surprised the second edition had that much impact.

I can recommend a good biography: "Ferrari" by Richard Williams. It covers the pre-SEFAC days in detail and is not sensationalized like Yates's book.

Also, the best overview of the cars and the man, in my opinion, is "Ferrari: The Man, The Machines" by Grayson. It is written from the perspective of seceral people who were involved directly with the man, the company and the cars.

If you liked David E. Davis, Jr.'s writing get "Thus Spake David E." It's a collection of his columns and stories.

Finally, "The Bugatti Queen" by Seymour is outstanding.

PS: Never give up!

 

Did you get any of the suggested books? If so, please let us know what you think of them.

Jack

 

Brock Yates biography of Enzo is pretty good...

I like Winning is not enough - Jackie Stewart

Any of the older 1990 and lower autocourse's are great reads...

My terrible joy's - Enzo Ferrari...

if you like the movie "Grand Prix" get the book the "Crewel sport" lots of famous lines out of that book in the movie.

 

My Two Lives by Rene Dreyfus, and King Of The Board Tracks/the life and times of Jimmy Murphy by Gary Doyle, and of course Racing In The Rain..........

 

I just got 'Vic Elford: Reflections on a Golden Age in Motorsports', I had no idea he is the one that pretty much got Porsche into motorsports in the mid-60's.
It was a decent read, it really is a book about 'him' with some decent stories, but the stories don't go into a lot of detail, but I sure do remember all the names he threw out in the book.

I was hoping for more 'campfire' stories, but there is little of that, it's pretty much what the title says it is, his recollections of motorsports from when he was most active, around 1964 to about 1973. For some reason I thought he was around a lot longer than that.

Derek Bell book is probably next.

 

No disrespect intended, but Brock Yates' bio of Enzo Ferrari is *TERRIBLE*. Sensationalistic, contradictory (the book contradicts itself in many places), undocumented (by Brock's own admission within the book - i.e. "There's no real proof of this, but.....", to that effect - MANY times).

Read it only as a comedy, not as any serious biography of Enzo Ferrari. Or, read the pan of it in the FCA mag, Prancing Horse back around issue #110 or so, *THEN* decide if you really want to read the book. The FCA review goes into much greater detail than I do here.

Sorry....

gp

 

I have that one, have not gotten into it.

Have read Rob Walker's bio?
He lived quite the life..

Duncan Hamilton...

Innes Ireland..

All those old school guys are good...maybe you should just drop over and borrow a couple armfuls.

 

I have an extra copy of 'My Two Lives', as I had one signed by Rene (lengthy inscription) to the author, but the dust jacket was frayed from travel.

So I bought a second one, for the mint jacket!

So, an unsigned tattered version is available to loan.

Someone needs to come sort this stuff, if I get killed.

 

I found a copy of this at the Monterey Automobilia Event for $75. I was very happy to find it at that price. There was one down the isle at another vendor for about $300. Hey, this should be in the Collector's section!

George

 

Steve Matchett (F1 commentator) has a book called "A Mechanic's Tale", interesting from perspective from the unsung heroes.

 

Mine with the inscription WAS huge bucks, but worth it to me.....I dunno about $300 for a plain one.

L' art et automobile had it at auction...

 

Hi,

I really enjoyed "Driven Man - David Richards, Prodrive and the Race to Win" by Alan Henry. It was a good read as well as providing some insight on building a sustainable business model active in a broad cross section of motorsports.

Just my two cents,

Ramin

 

That is a very cool book - gives the real "behind the scenes" perspective. Matchett wrote another book, whose title escapes me now, about the '94/'95 seasons with Schumacher. I have a signed copy (by Matchett, Hobbs, Varsha, and a couple other people....) which is on my "to be read" list. Soon, I hope.

gp

 

Ken Purdy's Kings of the Road give a great 1949 insight into prewar classics.

His All But My Life is Sterling Moss's autobiography as told to Purdy.

Both are great fun.

 

Life in the Fast Lane: The Story of the Benetton Grand Prix Year. ISBN 0-297-81610-1

 

Try this:

Mark Donohue: "The Unfair Advantage"