Racing Books

For the true (or new) Stock Car Racing Fan. The stories are very enjoyable for all NASCAR fans.

Read about some of the famous and obscure personalities in NASCAR. First time I had ever heard about Bobby Labonte having Graves Disease. Very interesting stories and fun too.

The first thing the reader will see upon opening this book is the amazing photographs taken by Kinrade. But a closer inspection lets you know that this is much more than just a picture book. Each subject's story is extremely well written and insightful and shows how many people are involved in making Winston Cup racing the success that it is today. Evidence of how well the subjects were chosen is shown by the array of drivers profiled in the book. The author chose a retired superstar (Richard Petty), a seasoned veteran (Bill Elliott), an up-and-coming star (Bobby Labonte) and a rookie (Buckshot Jones) to show the differences among drivers in various states of their careers. But the driver profiles aren't even the most interesting stories in the book. Very few people understand the complexity of preparing for an event as large as a Winston Cup race and the author shows this well with the other profiles in the book. Someone has to be responsible for the ticketing of more than 100,000 spectators attending an event and the profile on Frances Goss shows just how this is accomplished. Myra Falkenbury's story shows just how tough it is to supply credentials to the 12,000-14,000 additional media, sponsors and workers attending an event. One of the more interesting stories is that of David Carmichael, who has created a place for himself in the world of Winston Cup racing by cleaning the wheels of haulers and motorhomes in the Winston Cup garage. Each of the more than 30 profiles digs deep into the jobs and personal lives of people that you may or may not have even known were involved in making the Winston Cup Series such a success. This book is a must have for the novice and the long-time Winston Cup fan.

This book covers the full range of the sport as it existed when it was first published, (1982). I raced that era and can say that this book catches the flavor of the time. A must read for any historian of bicycles. The current mountain bike is a direct decendent of the bikes from this day. Stu and Bob... Good Work. Stu if you happen to read this, I read the recent article in SNAP 6-99, I enjoyed to here from you.

Covers history, riding techniques and training. Where other books try and convey the essence of BMX, this one really has it all!

This book covers the full range of the sport as it existed when it was first published, (1982). I raced that era and can say that this book catches the flavor of the time. A must read for any historian of bicycles. The current mountain bike is a direct decendent of the bikes from this day. Stu and Bob... Good Work. Stu if you happen to read this, I read the recent article in SNAP 6-99, I enjoyed to here from you.

This book is GREAT. A masterpiece by Gary. having owned GSXR's I am biased. But I am a Kawasaki devotee and still found the book good. It is techinical, refreshing and complete. Well worth the price. It could do with a few more road test reports, but other than that.. Comon Gary, how about a book on the ZXR?

This is the bible of GSXRs, if you have a gGixxerh have just lusted after one, or are looking to get one, you got to get this book. It brought back fond memories of the mid-eighties sportbikes. The info and the pictures are top notch, and you can find out so much about such famous riders like Kevin Schwantz, Doug Polen, Mick Grant, Gary Goodfellow, Anders Andersson, and James Whitham, who all took their turns on the Gixxer.
Great book, it shows all, the good, bad and the ugly, about this bike. Years covered are from the first GSXR, the 1985 750 (not until 86 was the bike imported to the US) up until the 97 year.
Cheers!

Having owned several GSXRs from the first model available in '86 and the last one in '97. I found this book to be extremely informative. Explanations by top racers and the Suzuki factory provide great insight into the creation and on-going development of the GSXR. Enough technical detail is provided to understand changes to the motorcycle without having to be a Mechanical Engineer. The book also helped me not get taken by a person claiming to sell an '86 LTD version with a standard clutch. Based on the information in the book there was no such thing as a LTD with a standard clutch (they ALL came with a dry-clutch)

Nice book covers most all of the big-time ford flyers from the sixty's and seventys.
Brought a lot of memories from U.S. Nationals at Indy.
Best of the best were there, this book covered them.
Nice purchase ,will do the Mopar book next.
Worked for G.M. hated them

This is a great book. It covers everything Ford did drag racing wise in the 60's

Total Performers: Ford Drag Racing In The 1960s by journalist and dedicated racing fan Charles Morris clearly documents the decade of the 60s as one packed with exciting cars, thrilling races, and substantial factory participation in the development of drag racing vehicles and technologies. Enhanced with 130 full color and 390 black/white photographs, Total Performers wonderfully showcases drag strip racing breakthroughs in automotive performance that included Ford's FE-series engine, the Police Interceptor, GT 390, Single Overhead Cam, Cobra Jet, Boss 429, and more. Here are all of the cars and their drivers that made drag racing history. Also very highly recommended from CarTech Auto Books & Manuals for car racing enthusiasts and fans is Pat Ganahl's Von Dutch: The Art, The Myth, The Legend (1884089984, $39.95).

This book may well be the ultimate bmw book. It details everything down to the tee. If you have an avid interest in BMW, this book is a "MUST HAVE NOW" title.

I bought this book at amazon.com's great price when I knew the original edition was difficult (and expensive) to locate. The book, with its great commentary and numerous photos, really shows the essence of the motorsport successes (and failures) of one of the world's great auto makers. If you are interested in racing (and BMWs in particular), I very much recommend this book.

Taking into account the difficult task of giving fair representation to BMW's extensive motor racing history, this text serves as the definitive tome on BMW's racing exploits. For the most part it covers BMW's sedan racing from the 60's to 80's, with a smattering of formula car history thrown in, too. The text describes the overall racing history and details quite extensively the technical aspects of the various cars. This is augmented by a fantastic collection of photos of racecars, homologated streetcars, and technical drawings. While it isn't cheap (even on Amazon) it's well worth it.

Dave Perry is not only one of the world's best sailors (2nd in the 2005 Hinman Master's Championship and champion of many other regattas) he's an amazing teacher. If you've ever heard him talk, I'm sure you'd agree. His energy and enthusiasm for the sport is clearly dipicted in his excellent book. No matter what your level in sailing, you are bound to learn something new from his book.

bryan mcdonald
us sailing appeals committee member

Each time the US Sailing rules change, I order my replacement copy of "Understanding," by Dave Perry. Not only is he the most reliable and knowledgeable expert on our sport's arcane rules, but also he's the best at explaining them. Besides a complete rules dissection, the book holds a complete set of the latest racing rules (so you don't need to spend another $30 on those if you're not a US Sailing member) and a great rules-in-brief section that can help a newcomer get on the race course safely without tackling the complexity.

An excerpt from the Back Cover:

Includes the complete text of the 2005-2008 International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Racing Rules of Sailing and US SAILING Prescriptions.

Contains over 100 quotes and references to the US SAILING Appeals and ISAF Cases, making it an indespensable resource for sailors and racing officials.

The better you know the rules, the sharper you will be tactically on the race course. Dave Perry clearly and concisely answers all of the most commonly asked questions on the racing rules from a champion racing sailor's perspective.

This is a wonderful book written by one of the greatest americans of our time. I keep it around, it is wonderful to flip through now and then and guests love it.

Miniature car racing is a thing of the past except for some beautiful old race cars and a few nostalgic followers. My grandfather was an avid racer and is mentioned in this book, which is how I came across it. My family has one copy which we pass around to remind us of "the old times". This is a wonderful book with all of the great names and the GREAT cars. It's good to see that all of the fun and work that went along with this sport is wonderfully captured to be remebered forever.

Miniature car racing is a thing of the past except for some beautiful old race cars and a few nostalgic followers. My grandfather was an avid racer and is mentioned in this book, which is how I came across it. My family has one copy which we pass around to remind us of "the old times". This is a wonderful book with all of the great names and the GREAT cars. It's good to see that all of the fun and work that went along with this sport is wonderfully captured to be remebered forever.

I had the pleasure of being acquainted with Walt Hansgen, and when asked for a description of this great racing driver and fine man, I responded with this:

One Word - Integrity.

This was a driver of the caliber of a Stirling Moss, a Juan Manuel Fangio, a Jackie Stewart, a Jimmy Clark ... and I have NO doubt that had he been born a decade or two later, Walt was one who would have become a Formula One World Champion more than once, and might well have won the Indy 500 more than once as well. And it is a clear testament to his ability to not only DO the great things, but to share the "how", with a rare egoless generosity, with others, that his protégé and friend Mark Donohue DID win at Indy.

His story is told accurately and his racing exploits described with an attention to detail that only a researcher of the great skill that Mike Argetsinger demonstrates can accomplish. And some of the pictures are just priceless reminders of what many (including myself) might call a far better time for Motorsports in general and road racing in particular. That shot on the cover of a fully relaxed Walter Hansgen at speed in the Birdcage Maserati just flat stuns me to silence - "in memoriam". It sits in the place of honor on my coffee table and there is a rush of pleasure every time I glance down and notice it anew. What a great treasure.

For some of the Walt Hansgen story I was there, albeit only as a very small part of it. I always knew Walt as a very special guy, even on the odd occasion when we happened to disagree (as we did at Marlboro in a race for Holman and Moody in Ford Falcons, one of which I shared with Walt). It was a minor matter I don't remember. But I sure do remember Walt's essence of pure integrity and great character, as well as his awesome ability to make anything on wheels go fast (yes even a Ford Falcon! LOL!)

We used to say about such men, "He doesn't cast a shadow".

This book is a must read for all who either lived at the time - or are interested in an accurate record of that time - of the heady era of big bore sports car racing, as it moved from amateur to professional in sometimes awkward ways, and produced great American drivers down the timeline like Masten Gregory, Roger Penske ( a VERY quick driver for the short time he drove, before taking on the role of car owner and team manager), Dan Gurney, Mark Donohue, Danny Sullivan, Sam Posey, and many, many others.

Thanks, Mike, for a pleasurable, engrossing and informative read!

- Charlie Hayes, author of Life After Death

Michael Argetsinger has written the definitive book on US sports car racing in the 50s and early 60s. His descriptions of races and drivers from that era bring back a flood of memories that I truly treasure. For one all too brief moment Walt Hansgen is back with us. This is the best racing biography, and maybe the best biography of any kind that I have ever encountered. This was money well spent.

I highly recommend this book to all with an interset of American road racing, its history and how it has gotten to where it is today. I read the book as one who either spectated or actively competed at many of the race meetings described in the first half of the book. At times I was on the track for events described herein.

In the 50's and 60's modern road racing was evolving in the US. This was a golden era with most of the world's best sports cars were being raced in the US. The top international drivers came for most of the international events. Racing was going from racing on the road, through the airport era to the first of the specially constructed tracks that were sometimes heavily opposed by the powers controlling such racing.

I rate the book as an 8 or higher out of ten by my very discerning rating system.

The book is truly two subjects in one as intimated in its title. One subject is the life and racing history of Walt Hansgen, one of the US's all time best road racing drivers. The book tells Walt's story, often by detailing specific race meetings and each of the cars that Walt drove.

This provides for the beginning and early history of the modern era of road racing to be told in all of its glory and sometimes sordid political throes.

The book will appeal to all students of the sport who want to understand better how it evolved to today's status and/or with an interst in how one of its all time greats came to being. The period also includes the the time of the beginning of some of today's leaders of the sport.

Michael Argetsinger had at his disposal a most amazingly detailed set of facts, recollections and quotations that he utilised to author his book. It is not likely that anyone will ever be able to write a book to top this one for the subject matter as he reaches information that will soon disappear without books of this type.

Regards and happy reading

Joe Bosworth

This is a really great book. It tells the story of Man O Wars greatest son. It is a must read for anyone who likes War Admiral or the Sport Of Kings. On the subject about Seabiscuit Vs. War Admiral both of them were great noble horses who need to be "applauded to the echo" and maybe Seabiscuit just got the better of him on that day in 1938.

While everyone who reads about Seabiscut will hear about how he defeated the great War Admiral, few who see that story will get the amazing true life story of War Admiral.

Ed Bowen did a wonderful job in capturing the trials and tribulations of one of the greatest Triple Crown winners.

In War Admiral's time they did not have the advanced medicine and treatments and training technique's they have today.

Also the Triple Crown was not spaced apart with 2 week intervals to rest.

Reading this book made me see that even though Seabiscut defeated War Admiral in their match race, nothing can ever take away from his triumphs and accomplishments.

War Admiral was one of the greatest horses of all time, and you should have this book in your collection.

Best Regards to all, MC - TheStickRules.Com

The seventeenth installment of the outstanding "Thoroughbred Legends" series from Eclipse Press, War Admiral by horse racing expert Edward L. Bowen is the story of a singularly remarkable racehorse. The only son of the great horse racing legend Man O' War to become as great racer as his illustrious his father, War Admiral claimed the title at the Triple Crown races, and even ran with a badly cut foot at the Belmont Stakes. The life, training, exploits, great races, and more of this noble animal are painstakingly chronicled in this fine animal biography which is especially recommended reading for racehorse aficionados. Also highly recommended is Edward Bowen's Man O' War: Thoroughbred Legends...

I just finished reading one of the greatest sports books ever written, definitely the most entertaining book on auto racing I have ever laid eyes on.

A few weeks back, I was searching amazon.com for auto racing books and found this. It was written in 1973-1974 and had not sold well but was in great enough demand that a reprint was done in 1995 ("20th Anniversary Edition").

The book is bookended by the 1972 Southern 500 at Darlington and Bledsoe describes the chicanery involved throughout a race weekend in the 'old days.' This is a great read for new or old fans because it takes you behind the scenes and into the lives of independent drivers and "hot dog" stars like Richard Petty and David Pearson.

For local short track fans, a whole chapter is devoted to the "small time" auto racing life. This includes a section where Bledsoe follows around California dirt tracker Billy Scott, including a memorable trip to a strip club.

Bledsoe spends a race day with Richard Petty and family, interviews 1940s-1950s women stock car drivers and describes the struggle of black driver Wendell Scott.

As we all know, fans had a lot more access to drivers than they do now and Bledsoe witnesses this first hand.

Tragic events such as the death of Friday Hassler is detailed, along with the saga of young gun Larry Smith (who lost his life as Bledsoe was writing the book and transcribing a taped interview with Smith).

Nothing like this will ever be written about today's auto racing because access is often limited and the "redneck" image is now frowned upon.

Buy this. Please.

The title of this book matches its content perfectly. I read it years ago and am glad to see it re-printed for today's fan to read. So many NASCAR books today are nothing but fluff - rehashes of generally known stories about Gordon, Stewart, and Earnhardt. But this book is much more. Learn about the great characters and events of the 60s - Curtis Turner, Joe Weatherly, Fred Lorenzen, Linda "Miss Hurst Shifter" Vaughn, the annual celebration of the Southern 500 in Darlington (a tradition now gone), and of course The King RICHARD PETTY. Whether you are a new or long-time Cup fan, get this book today.

This is an amazing book that covers the entirety of the sport from the local short track to daytona. It is a unique historical anecdotal look at the sport during the early 1970's and much legend and lore from that period is covered. This is quite simply one of the best books on the sport that i have had the opportunity to read. If you are a fan or a student of NASCAR Stock Car racing then you must read this book.