Automobiles Books

I selected this book only because it took place in Ohio - and mentioned several areas that I was familliar with. Well, imagine my surprise when it turned out to be a beautiful love story of an elderly couple. To sound cliche - I laughed and I cried while reading this - and I think you will too.

Had to lock myself in the bathroom to finish reading the last few pages just so I could savor, enjoy, and mourn the ending of this book. The whole thing was so, so marvelous...

I told my husband about this book tonight. I read this while working in a bookstore as a senior in high school; I graduated in 1976. Awesome book! I agree with the existing comments above; I fell in love with the characters and especially Howard Amberson, who just tried to get through life with his integrity intact, and for the most part suceeded. A truly timeless, unforgettable work.

From a person who always has at least three books going at one time, (book on tape in my car, one in my hand bag, and one on my night stand) I have my all-time top ten favorite books. I first got this book from the Library in the 80's and tried desperatly to find it to buy and I couldn't. So I am embarrassed to say it is the only book I have ever purposely kept and paid for from a Library. It is also one of the few books I have reread many times. It is one of the most REAL books I have ever read. It made me laugh, it made me cry. It gave me a whole different perspective on relationships and all the stages one goes through in a realtionship that lasts a lifetime. ANY one who loves to
read should read this book. It will be one you will never forget.

I've read this book three or four times. I read it again this past year and include it in my list of favorite all time books.

My 2 year old LOVED this book the first time I read it to her, and it became the one she would pick for bedtime every night. Since it's a little longer than a typical bedtime story, and not exactly soothing for sleep, I brought it downstairs for daytime story times!! The sound words are great and the rhythm and repetition is perfect for toddlers. I highly recommend this book!

My daughter and I have read this book for years and we just love it. I started reading it to her when she was 2, she is now 5 and it is still a favorite. I highly recommend this book as a gift for any occasion, it is great to receive a book that you would normally not see displayed at the local B&N.

There are some books that we save to read before bedtime, special, sleepy books. This is not one of those. Its just too much fun! We save it to read in the morning, especially on those mornings when we have to get the boys up a little earlier than usual. Sitting between their beds and reading this book is a pretty fun way to wake them up. As soon as they are awake enough to hear it they pop over to see. Its a much better experience than the usual lamentation.

Now if we can only find someplace that will sell us a "Three speed, wind up, paddle-wheel boat" we'll be set!

The sing-song words are the best when read aloud. My 1st and 2nd grader love this book just as much as my preschooler does. Very fun!

My two-year-old and I first fell in love with this book at our local library. We decided we just had to have one of our own. We love, love, love this book. It is so much fun to read over and over again. I now buy it for all of my Mom friends as a fun but off the beaten path gift.

My son is three, and obsessed with race cars. The illustrations are great, and give him lots to look at. He likes to count the race cars, and sing the song. Highly recommended.

My preschooler and I heard this book read at a library story time. We checked it out. Now I'm buying it. It's a given that he likes the subject and the song. The best part for me is that he's trying to read the book himself. He reads it to me and to his brother. He even read it to a friend of mine and her daughter.

The illustrations keep us busy too. He picks up on small details in the pictures and tells me stories about the drivers, especially the bad sport penguin.

My son first learned about this book in his Pre-Preschool class. We were at circle time and his teacher started to read it and I knew instantly he would love it. He loves Nascar to pieces and this book iced the cake. He is only 3 so he flips through the pages telling me the story. And, since some of the numbers on the cars are numbers in Nascar Nextel Series he thinks the book is about real Nascar cars and he tells me about the drivers. We spend hours with this book each week.

Great action photos on inside cover. I follow Nascar and reading the book makes me fill like I am at a race. A favorite next to wheels on the bus.

A fun variation on "wheels on the bus." We got this book from the library, and our son really liked it, so we purchased it. He loves the race cars and the animal drivers.

For years I wondered how there were so many "Matching Numbers" cars with, say, factory tach, 4 speed, etc. available today at large bucks. With the help of this guide, one can assemble or restore the car of their dreams just as if one had special ordered it from the factory in 1964. Of course the purist would say that to take a '64 Impala SS that was originally 250 horse automatic and convert that to a 300 horse, 4 speed, factory tach etc. was counterfeiting even though all the parts have the right casting number, date codes, etc. Well, we can't make that call because opinions run rampant among auto enthusiasts.

Whatever your goal, this book will help you achieve it. Whether validating the authenticity of a barnyard find or assembling the car of your dreams, Alan L. Colvin provides the information to answer your questions. It is presented in a clear, concise maner and organized for easy reference while browsing swap meets and surfing eBay.

My only regret is that I didn't have a copy of it sooner!

If you are going to restore any Chevy or Chevy engine in this time period, you will not find a more conclusive set of working drawings, factual insight or list of part numbers anywhere! I bought the book for the information of the different Chevy engines. With the wealth of information available I might just get myself a Chevy to restore!

By using this book, I figured out what year and model the block, heads and assembly date were for the motor in my 1956 Chevy Nomad. I knew nothing about the motor. I now know what I have.

Mike M.

I have this copy plus the 65-69 and 70-75 versions and find all of them excellent reference material with one caveat, no information on 6 cylinder engines, heads, exhaust, etc. For the V8 enthusiast though, it's hard to beat.

This book is exceptional and details all the finer points that you must know when thinking about, or have purchased one of these fine cars. Take the time and read through this book and it will give you years of knowledge. The book will also educate you as to the correctness of the Chevrolet you either have, or are looking at. It also will help verify myths with acctual facts and documentation as tho the true nature of the cars and their history.

This deliciously irresistible work by Man Martin created a magical community with such finely drawn characters that you wish they were real--all of them. It is rare to find a book where every character delights--even the seamy ones. You almost expect (and certainly wish) to be able to give Earl a call when your car takes a turn for the worst, when you crave green eggs and ham, or when you suffer a bad fall. You suffer when hearts break but are amazed at the resilience of the human spirit. Sly humor or frank laughter bubbled throughout the book. I carried this book everywhere so I could sneak in just a few more minutes of reading and I longed for more when it was done. Then I went and bought extra copies to give as gifts so I would not lose my own copy. Bravo, Man Martin--the pleasure of Deepstep lingers still. How lucky we would be to live where such sweetness and humor are paired with great enduring love.

Reading the new book, Days of the Endless Corvette, was like curling up in a big ol' comfy easy chair in front of the fireplace at a cozy inn. I couldn't wait to see what happened on each subsequent page, and I felt truly connected to the cast of eccentric country characters. Man Martin's words convey sweet charm, sly humor, and fascinating philosophy. His style is unique and at times downright hilarious. More than a few times, I scared the wits out of my dogs when I broke into shrieks of spontaneous and loud laughter... You really MUST read this book!

The town I grew up in was not exactly like Man Martin's Deepstep, Georgia. For one thing, it was in Kentucky. For another, it was certainly much bigger (small as it was) than Deepstep. But it was populated with people who can best be described as "characters," in the can-you-believe-what-he/she-just-did? sense, and at times it seemed that the swirling morass of often unusually directed energy was without purpose except to keep everyone in place for all time, as though they'd been hit with cosmic hairspray.

The main characters of Days of the Endless Corvette are at the center of just such a vortex. Earl is a mechanic with an intuitive ability to repair close to anything and even wind up with parts to spare. He thinks he could harvest enough left over parts to build a Corvette from nothing. Ellen is curious, well read and thoughtful in a way that makes most of Deepstep uncomfortable. She gave up a lot to have her daughter, including Earl. They are in love, but they can't be together.

But Martin handles this with such easy grace that the story aches but does not hurt. Some might find this a bit too sentimental or easy, but that misses the larger point. True to small towns (and to most people wherever they live, I would venture), the folks who populate Days of the Endless Corvette are most all decent people who are doing the best they can. With two notable exceptions, there are no people in the book out to bring down Earl either through malice or indifference. Instead, Earl's greatest struggle is with himself: he must learn to live with disappointment.

The story's narrator is a bit of a curiosity, too, and Martin knows it, having the narrator feign outrage at one point that the reader might doubt his veracity. He is, however, at the only place in the story where the paths of Earl and Ellen consistently cross, and then only in tangent.

Meet one of the most endearing protagonists since Huck Finn: Earl Mulvaney, the small-town Southern hero of Man Martin's debut novel. Have your box of Kleenex handy for Earl's heartbreaking obstacles as he cares for his mother, pursues his Corvette dreams, and woos his childhood sweetheart. Yet Martin's novel combines tragedy and comedy, and you will laugh out loud plenty. In short, your spouse is going to think either you're drunk or going through "the change" while you read the book, but your book club will understand. (And yes, you should read Days of the Endless Corvette with a few friends; it is a novel to share.) Earl's got to put his dreams into action among idiosyncratic small-town Southern characters you'd swear were real--they're that funny. The population of Humble County includes a mechanic who believes that cars evolved from fish and a trailer-restaurant owner who cleverly bypasses the county's alcohol and hunting restrictions. Another town resident endlessly pines for a lost love, not the wife who left him, but the dog she took with her, Digger. Whether this cast is chasing down bees or putting out various fires, the book's wise and winking narrator loves a good joke, so humor scatters down almost every page. Yet Martin's playful and innovative technique doesn't sacrifice soul, which makes this a novel for all lovers of great Southern literature.

Days of the Endless Corvette is in part about bringing a hero from boyhood to manhood, but along the way, it touches on everything from Schrodinger's cat to Civil War treasure. The novel is also about lovingly sharing stories, of the meaningful transformation storytelling brings. One of the characters tells his son, "If you love what you do, every day is like a vacation." Reading the book, you will know that you are in good hands, that the author loves what he does, and that you and he are taking a wondrous ride together.

Forrest Gump meets Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance with a southern twang. OK, you literatis probably wonder what I mean by this. The protagonist is awkward, introverted but talented mechanically, and he lives in a world of ideas to replace the human element that he finds so stressful. His star-crossed love object broke his heart (and mine) when she marries a dumb jock because of pregnancy, while the protagonist is still working on second base. The references to southern living are refreshing in that they don't depend on bigotry or center around food.
This was a captivating story and an enjoyable summer read, notwithstanding that it was the author's first novel, which for other persons has sometimes resulted in a product only a mother could love. This first novel has appeal to all, and indicates the author has a good future.

I have several of Charlie Morris' books and find that this one every bit as good as the others. Charlie does his homework when researching the subject matter. I recommend all of his books including "Total Performers, Ford Drag Racing in the Sixties".

R.L. "Pete" Garramone

Excellent reference for the factory lightweight drag cars. Contains several historical pictures that are awesome to review.

Just when I thought I knew most of the answers about those wonderful days when drag racing really was about buying on monday what we saw racing on the weekend, here comes a book that brings back all of those cars I loved to watch, that later inspired me to race both my '69 Mustang as well as my '71 Ranchero. To top it all off there was info new to me too. Great book.

The "characters" almost seem to be talking right to you from the pages of
this book. It's as if Mr. Morris was right there at each and every track,
office, factory, etc. He must have been a fly on the walls at some of the
meetings. Also, the humor mixed with facts kept me from putting this book
down very often. I can't wait for the next book from Mr. Morris.

A must buy for anyone's automotive library. I greatly enjoyed the book. By the author interviewing many of the people that where there and in the know made the book that much more interesting. The author made the book as close as he could to what really happened behind the scenes. You found out that unless you where close to the factory or had a friend that worked in key departments including the fabrication shop, etc. you wouldn't know about many of the one off parts done for "freinds". This gave some racers a little more advantage then the other guy with the same brand car. One point of correction is that the '62 and '63 Pontiac SD cars did NOT come delivered on used tires as one West Coast expert claimed. Several of the factories would deliver cars in what they called "IN WHITE" for the racers that got their order in by April. These were the pilot cars that where built to test the production line and not meant for public consumption.

I wouldn't say that this was one of the funniest, or even best books that I have ever read, but it did keep me entertained until the very last page. This book had many unexpected, but clever turns that helped the story better progress. I would recommend this book for someone who isn't looking for something amazing, but for a book that is defiantly worth $6.50. (Which is what I paid for it.)

This is a very good book that I have read!! It is very good for teenagers!!!!!

This story by Caroline B. Cooney was delightful. I could not put this book down and read it in a day. The book is written using relatable context and has a similie so adorable, that I can't get out of my mind:

"Nannie was wearing a mauve silk suit and looked rather like a tulip."

I simply loved this book and hope there will be more adventures with Brit and "the girls"!

Caroline Cooney is a master at rapid paced action that takes your breath away.

When I bought HIT THE ROAD, I thought this one looks kind of tame and will be just a light read about a girl helping her grandmother -- NOT! There was nothing light or tame about this exciting adventure. The heroine's downhill race into danger and risk is thrilling. Just when you think things will get better, the danger increases. Caroline Cooney doesn't hold back with consequences, turning a simple drive into a perilous journey.

I couldn't stop flipping pages, eager to find out what happened next, surprised by a few plot turns, and completely satisfied when justice finally prevailed at the end.

It's no wonder that Caroline B. Cooney is one of my favorite authors. Next book I plan to buy of hers: CODE ORANGE.

Linda Joy Singleton

Hit the Road by Caroline B. Cooney is another terrific YA title by a prolific author. 16 year old Brit's parents have gone on vacation, leaving her under the care of her grandmother, Nannie. But Nannie has no intention of babysitting her teenage granddaughter or being babysat as well. Nannie and her two lifelong friend are determined to make it to their 65th college reunion, and if that means non-licensed Brit doing the driving and kidnapping a friend as well, so be it. Cooney has a real talent for getting inside teenagers' minds. Brit is selfish and rebellious, all without being unsympathetic. The idea of spending time with Nannie isn't what she wants to spend her free time. But as she spends time with her grandmother, she finds that they are in similar places in their lives. Both are on the verge of independence. Brit is about to break free from her parents' authority, while Nannie is just coming under it. Both struggle with the restraints place upon them, and Cooney manages to make the reality of growing old come alive even for a teen audience. This wonderfully written book is enjoyable to read and has a good message a well about doing what's right, even when it hurts.

Every bookseller I've ever met in Idaho recommends this book. It's informative but also fun and insanely well-written. Conley covers the Idaho basics but also wanders off down side streets and tiptoes through the state's history. And even though it's 700 pages, you still get the sense Cort knows more than he's telling.

I've had the book for 5 years and find myself going back to it again and again. I strongly recommened it for anyone living in Idaho and anyone interested in the West or just good writing

If every state could offer up a tour guide as thorough as this one, travelers would have much to cheer about, no matter where they were. This is a major achievement in the field.

Conley has arranged the book into three major sections (Lakes and Forests - North; Rivers and Canyons - Southwest; and Mountains and Deserts - Southeast), and then by major highways within each section. He takes the traveler along each route, pointing out historic sites, geological formations, archeology, towns and cities, and all kinds of points of interest along the way. When appropriate he will venture down side roads to highlight sites.

Much historical information is related by Conley (the book is 700 pages long), and there are photographs (mostly historical) galore. As useful as the guide is on the road, it is equally as entertaining and informative for the armchair traveler as well. This book will not help you with finding motels, restaurants, or modern day tourist attractions; it is strictly written with the history of the state in mind. And in that regard, it's a beauty. Travelers in Idaho or those interested in the state's history should be sure to get a hold of this book - you won't be disappointed.

We're planning our first trip to Idaho and were looking for the basic "have to have it with us" tour guide to help plan the trip and guide us through it. This book isn't it.

It appears to be a great book of local history and would be fine for backup information about the state but it is not good for planning a trip.

The only way to find items of interest is to read the whole book, set up your own itinerary, and basicaly write your own guide book from the information found here.

Fodors and Frommer have nothing to fear.

Cort Conley is to Idaho what Frank Dobie is to Texas. There is no man who has seen more of the Idaho landscape and backcountry, and known more of the Idaho people than Conley. And few people (if any) can tell you more about Idaho's underappreciated history and Indian lore. This book should be on the bookshelf of every native to the Pacific Northwest, alongside Evie Litton's Hiking Hot Springs of the Pacific Northwest (they just look good together).

Let's face it - what about Idaho DOESN'T make you curious? Whether it's the state capital Boise, or their infatuation with potatoes, Idaho has always been one of the more unusual states.

Well, thanks to author Cort Conley's vivid descriptions of the lush landscapes, and the colorful people that populate this great state, Idaho is well on its way to becoming much more than just "the state next to Montana".

As long as there are imaginative travel-authors like Conley around, Idaho will not be forgotten.

This is an absolutely oustanding book - Richmond managed to recreate a world which ceased to exist at the onset of the Second World War, the world of Jews from the central Polish town of Konin. The book is touching both in descriptions of Richmond's quest for the missing shtetl which can be found only in the fading memories of Jews who somehow survived the Holocaust and in his recreation of the Jewish town that does not exist any more. An absolute must for all those who think that Holocaust was just another tragedy in the past on some distant continent. A perfect gift to people who have roots in Poland - some of my friends found their relatives described in the book. Maybe you or your friends will share this luck?

I found this book absolutely fascinating. My Grandmother came from Konin so for me it was a look into the world my Grandmother left behind.

There is little I can add to the existing reviews save yet another resounding confirmation of this book's brilliance. Konin is a superbly written, award-winning thing translated into Polish, Hebrew, German and Italian.

The book is impeccable stylistically and intellectually, and the thorny issue of Polish-Jewish relations is penetrated with honesty and insight. The people interviewed and depicted in the book are -- well, simply, REAL.

Yes, this is another Holocaust archival work and yes, it is brilliantly researched and written. But Richmond's crowning achievement, I propose, is his ability to create a lengthy work as this, about people many readers could never know, without ever letting it lapse into sentimentality or a wearisome litany of names, faces and facts. And yes, I have tearfully walked the streets of Konin with those Shoah survivors who now live in England, the US, and Israel. Richmond has ensured that the Nazi attempt to relegate Jewish Konin to oblivion has been thwarted. And we are much the better for it. "For the dead and the living we must bear witness." Thank you Mr Richmond. You have witnessed for the murdered of Kazimierz forest and all the other killing fields of Nazi Europe.

My wife Urszula and I had decided to take a day out in London, some sight seeing and shopping. We passed the many book shops on Charing Cross rd, but a book in one shop window caught my eye, 'Konin, a quest'. My wife is Polish, from the town of Konin. But what could this book be about, we wonder? There is nothing in Konin. How wrong we were! The book amazed us. I have read many publications on the holocaust, but nothing moved me quite like this book. The research and the feeling, the hardwork put into this account of a community so thoroughly wiped out that my wife hadn't even been aware that a Jewish community had ever existed and yet she grew up on its streets. In fact, the school she went to, the Gymnasium was built by the jewish people prior to the war. But nothing was or is taught about the jewish people within its walls, no reminders, nothing. Until now. Theo Richmond's work is a priceless reminder of want was lost and what should never be forgotten. We look forward greatly to the day the book is published in polish, when everyone there has a chance to understand just what was lost. We met Theo recently, his powerful charater came across so well in his book, as it is such an honest account, that it felt as though we had known him for years. Buy It! It is the best book you will ever read on the Jewish people.

A fact filled book on the basics from one of the greats. A good read even if you aren't planning on going racing.

The basics are here, even though the book is some 45 years old. A good place to start from.

The Technique of Motor Racing
by Piero Taruffi

Aloha,
Thirty years ago I was a driver for the "Jim Russell International Racing Driving School" out at Willow Springs, CA USA. One of the greatest times in my life. Jim Russell (JRS) at that time had schools simultaneously on five continents. We taught in so many languages that we did not have a textbook of our own. JRS was busy training movie stars and World Champions for Formula One Race Car Driving. JRS put students in signal seaters from day one! We use to order Taruffi's by the case. It had been "The Book!" for over ten years and was very hard to find. I think Harry Morrow would get them for us from England. They would sell out every time. We could not keep them on the shelf.

I use the principles I learned every time I take to the road. I believe it has helped make me a safer and definitely faster better Motor Vehicle Driver. Probably contributed to my long life, considering I am in the habit of winning on or off the track.

For decades I did not see Taruffi at all. Sometimes I would pick them up in old bookstores. I am glad for the sake of all future drivers that someone has had the wisdom to keep Taruffi in publication. Just the fact that it is around after all these years should tell you something.

Even today, you will seldom see them sold used. You will never see them sold cheap. Many driving books are about the author. Some are about street driving. Taruffi is pure Racing!! How you can drive a car faster. The essence of driving. I do not see how things could have changed enough to invalidate anything Taruffi has had to say. Decide for yourself, you can always return it.

If you have read every book on Motor Racing ever published. You will find The Technique of Motor Racing not only has a lot to offer you. It may just be the most compact bit of Racing Knowledge you have ever found in one place.

Pass Um`
-ooO-(GoldTrader)-Ooo-

The classic corner lines and driving technique discussed. I bought this book based on Niki Lauda's (F1 World Champion 1975, 1997) recommendation of it in one of his books.

This book, first published in 1959, is mostly devoted to cornering, and this is the best publication about turns on flat surfaces with high adhesion, used in sport racing, and this information is still valid.

It has a pretty little chapter on physical training of a driver, with the schemes gymnastic exercises recommended for a motorist.

The details of driving position and handling of a steering wheel are mentioned, but not covered well enough.

Nevertheless, the cornering is explained fairly well, in 69 pages full of formulas, schemes and illustrations.

If you need a deeper text-book about fast and safe cornering, which is not only applicable to sport but also to driving on public road, and which covers slippery surfaces like ice, snow and dirt, I would have recommended a published work by Professor Tsygankov.