Racing Books

In keeping with the Centennial of Flight -- Rebeccasreads recommends this book as a look at how Eddie Rickenbacker, an Ohio farm boy with Swiss roots, grew up to become a World War 1 Flying Ace, a founder of our commercial aviation, a pioneer racecar driver & the owner of no less than the famed Indianpolis 500 Speedway.

Originally published 80 years ago, Patria Press is re-issuing the Young Patriot Series -- all fine stories about the childhoods of many of our heroes & heroines.

Very nicely written for the young reader by Kathryn Cleven Sisson, Eddie Rickenbacker: Boy Pilot And Racer is the latest of the Patria Press "Young Patriots Series", a collection of biographical books celebrating the achievements of youthful American heroes and heroines. Children will avidly follow the daring exploits of a young man with flying in his blood, who would one day become a World War I Flying Ace and winner of the Medal of Honor. Enhanced with black/white illustrations by Cathy Morrison, Eddie Rickenbacker: Boy Pilot And Racer is an upbeat and inspirational biography for young grade-school level readers which would make a welcome addition to any school or community library collection!

Dennis Miller's book "Eddie Sachs: The Clown Prince of Racing" is a must read for anyone who ever rooted for (or against) Eddie in the good old days of USAC championship racing. While not a literary masterpiece, the book is rich in content because the author has included quoted anecdotes from many of Eddie's contemporaries, and of course from Eddie himself. The reader will get a clear idea of what racing was like in the 50s and 60s - not all that glamorous and exceedingly dangerous.

Eddie Sachs must have been quite a character. This excellent book reconstructs not only the life of great race-driver, but also an era in which things were not yet completely spoiled by money, managers and advertising.

This is one of the most exciting books on the subject of mountain climbing I have ever read. Adrenaline on full!

Not just "there I was in a whiteout" stories, although those are in there. The sixteen pieces represent attempts on Everest back to the Twenties when Mallory disappeared. They are in chronological order, which is helpful because many of the writers refer to past history in their work. All but three are excerpts, but as always, carefully chosen so that you enter and exit the work without feeling confused. There are selections about the early exploration of Everest and then a detailed third-person account of the first ascent in 1953. Geoff Tabin writes about the dynamics of an expedition and the labor that goes into making even an unseccessful assualt on the mountain. Willis puts an interesting spin on the idea of "survival" by including two interesting accounts - one explaining why the previously strong bond between Messner and Habeler didn't "survive" after their 1978 triumph without oxygen, and a first person account by Maria Coffey, who after losing Joe Tasker to the mountain traveled ther with Peter Boardman's widow to find closure for her own "survival". And there are the epics: Venables' near fatal overnight bivouac on the mountain, Anatoli Boukreev's rebuttal of "Into Thin Air", which cast him in a poor light, an account from Lene Gammelgaard, a less-known participant who nearly died that brutal night in 1996, and my favorite - an emotional yet self-effacing first-person story of that same disaster by Michael Groom, one of the guides, who reflects not only on his own near-death, but the helplessness of a guide who could not save his clients: it was he (among others) who walked away from Beck Weathers and left him for dead. So all in all a great read on many aspects of Everests history, and if mountaineering gets your blood going, don't overlook the earlier series volumes"Epic", "High", and "Climb", all packed with riveting tales of death and survival from mountains around the world.

Be clear on one point: this book is not for general consumption. Helm is writing for a particular audience, and that is thoroughbred horseracing handicappers and bettors. That said, I cannot recommend this volume highly enough. Witih the explosion in computer technology over the past several years, and the attendant availability of rafts of information, there are very few true "frontiers" left to the race handicapper. Pedigree -- a horse's bloodlines, and all that they suggest about his/her abilities -- are, in Helm's view, the last unexplored territory. He begins with a compelling examination of the current state of the thoroughbred breeding industry. But his truly original contribution to the ever-growing literature of handicapping follows, as he creates a cogent technology for applying pedigree information to the analysis and playing of specific types of races. In Helm's view, the real opportunities at the racetrack arise when one can, based on reliable data, project that a horse will be able to accomplish something that it has not yet attempted. So, a first-time starter may be backed with confidence...if the bloodlines suggest precocity. A sprinter may be backed in a distance race...if the pedigree suggests stamina. And so forth. Races that previously appeared to be unplayable become golden opportunities. Bottom line: this stuff works! Since this initial volume, Helm has published several updates, and puts out annual "Sire Ratings," so that those of us who use his essential technology can work with the most current information.

With the publication of Exploring Pedugree horseplayers finally have available information(an a perspective of how to use it) that allows them to intelligently evaluate debut runners in maiden races, as well as young horses stretching out, switching to the turf or trying an off-track for the first time.

"A quantum leap in handicapping consciousness." The Cramer-Olmsted Report

"A major breakthrough in handicapping." Daily Racing Form

After having just read Gary Paulsen's book Winterdance, I was anxious to learn more about the iditarod race and this book answered every question I could have dreamed up and more including history of mushing and the race, how mushers and dogs prepare for the race, what kind of equiptment they carry, and descriptions of the trail itself. It also has a very large bibliography which gave me a list of other books I would like to read.

This is a great book. The training section helped me with ideas for my dogs, as did the parts on equipment and feeding.

McClurg's book is spectacular!!! Love the way the book flows, awesome photos from the various eras. Especially good with the early 1970's rear engine fuelers. First rate!

This book is superb, even surpassing McClurg's earlier tome. Lots of sharp color and black and white images. The book is divided into genres, like slingshots, gassers, etc. I'd have liked a few more fuel altered shots, but that's quibbling. It's an excellent book that you should make it your business to get.

Greetings! Mike Irwin of the StockCarFans Newsletters here...

I just finished book #6 of the Rolling Thunder series, "First to the Flag".

The book tells the tale of "Rocket" Rob Wilder, a young racer discovered at a small out-of-the-way track by the legendary Jodell Lee himself. The discovery gets Rob a job driving in the Grand National series for car owner Billy Winton, formerly "head wrench" for Jodell's Cup team. The Winton Racing Team has a highly visible software firm, Ensoft, as primary sponsor. Ensoft's head of marketing is Michelle Fagan, who just might have a crush on young Wilder. For some reason, though, Michelle introduces Rob to her cute blonde sister, Christy. Rob and Christy hit it off right away, and become "an item".

The book follows the path of "Rocket" Rob and Winton Racing through the Grand National season, including Rob's first trip to Daytona to race in the Daytona 300. Will Rob be able to handle the high speeds and drafting? How long will it be until he visits Victory Lane? Will the ol' green-eyed monster mean Rob has to choose between two attractive sisters? Read the book and find out!

Of all the books in this great "Rolling Thunder" series, I liked this one the most. The story moves along at a good pace, and the characters are well-developed. The book is extremely clean, and I recommend it for all ages. There is no bad language or adult situations, other than some drinking that ol' moonshine, and some kissing at the door at the end of a date. The book is suspenseful, and exciting, with a little romance and intrigue thrown in for those who enjoy those elements.

I have read every book of the series from the beginning up until this one with the exception of Young Guns the one before this one, and yet I didn't really miss anything. I found this book to be just as easy going as the style it is written in and like the rest just as clean. One thing I did miss was the linking of the modern day legends with the roles of the book. If you have read the others you know what I mean as in Richard Petty talking to the likes of Jodell and Bubba and Joe. Maybe they will get back to that in the new one which I have now. Other then that I have one more thing to say. Buy the book and enjoy it you want be let down

everyone in our house loves this book. Fun for the kids...AND informative for the adults. GREAT for any collection!!!

This book was really neat! Any NASCAR fan of any age will enjoy this book!

As a fan of open wheel racing and F1 in particular this book is an absolute joy. I have always marveled at the team aspect of the sport. Drive and engineer working along side of the mechanics as a team to produce the fastest car on Sunday. TV couldn't show you how this is being done, but you knew it was happening. The engineers were reviewing the data, talking to the drivers and then focusing the mechanics to get the car that extra 10th of a second. Then back at the factory, the aerodynamicist are working 24/7 to get even more out of the car.

This book shows the fruits of their collective efforts and explains them in a way the fan and the engineer can understand and appreciate. A first rate father's day gift and an excellent choice for any other occasions for a racing fan. I'm going back and buying the rest of the series!

The F2002 was easily one of the most dominant Formula One cars in recent history. Not since the early '90 Williams or the last '80 McClarens has there been such a dominant car in one season. In addition, Ferrari had the best driver on their side, which resulted in one of the most lopsided Championship battles in F1 history. In short, Ferrari's constructor points for the year were exactly the sum of all other teams that participated in the 2002 Championship. And it was all due to the radical car design that was leaps in bounds above both its predecessor, the strong F2001, and all of the combatants.

This book does an amazing job, as it has done every year since inception, in recreating the super-detailed nuances of each Formula One car that participated in the Championship and its evolution from the prior season car to the car that closed it out in Suzuka. In addition, the book gives a preview of the 2003 cars that just wrapped the season. It would be better if this was more timely, but given the level of detail its amazing that Mr. Piola gets this done five years after the season wraps! Overall, an amazing book for the F1 fanatics who give pause to the detail of an F1 car and the struggles teams go through to get the aerodynamics just right. Yet given the detail, the well drawn pictures make it easy to see the changes made from race to race, and the verbiage is easy enough for a non-F1 nut to follow. Fantastic book, look forward to the 2003 edition.

It is a bit Ferrari-focused given the author is Italian and Ferrari have dominated the Constructor's trophy for the past five seasons.

This is a very informative book with insightful sections on the teams as well as detailed accounts of each race. Additionally there are backgound and update sections which also make for interesting reading. The photo's are great and include behind the scenes shots as well as the on track sessions. Also helpful are statistics which include race results, retirements, pit stops fastest laps etc. All in all a great book at a very reasonable price.

As a Formula one freak, I haveto say that this is a very good book. It's filled with high quality color photos, description and statistics of each race in the 98 season (which includes the track map with the names of the curves), handful of information about all eleven teams (with home address and web site for each team) and even some interesting extra stuff that has nothing to do with the 1998 season. It's definitely worth the money.