Racing Reviews

Having lived and participated in the sports car racing era of the 50's and 60's I can only say that this book portrays it as it was. There was a charmingly naive blend of people and machinery in an era when a handshake was a bond. These photos and the text are very accurate, and why not? Denise McLuggage was there racing, Tom Burnside was there photographing. I was a licensed flagman for the SCCA and stood next to Tom Burnside at many a track in the Northeast . His love and passion for the sport then translates beautifully in his work despite the passage of many years. I recommend this work to anyone who was there or wished they had been - it is worth it. The photos are a treasure for all car enthusiasts. As you page through you can almost smell the the Castrol Racing Oil, hear the beat of the engines small and large and sense your adrenalin rising

American Racing is a truly nostalgic book. It covers a wide selection of races on road and airport tracks between 1954 and 1968. If you feel a slight tickling down your spine, when you hear words like 'Jaguar D-Type' or 'Ferrari 250 Testarossa', 'Porsche 550 Spyder' or 'Cobra' then this book is for you. Here they are all together with Allards, Austin Healeys, early Chevy Corvettes, Mercedes 300 SLs, OSCAs, up to the Shelby Cobras, Lolas and Chaparrals. If you get sort of jumpy feelings when you hear 'Nassau Speed week', 'Grand Prix of Cuba' (YES! 1957, 58 and 1960) or 'Sebring 12 Hours' by all means get this book! American Racing is a picture book for all who cherish memories of racing cars which still looked like automobiles and not like motorized advertisement posts. The photographs of Tom Burnside are all in B/W. This is the sole reason why I gave only a rating of 9. I had preferred at least a short section with selected color photographs. But - come to think of it - maybe this book had lost its special appeal... Ok - let's make a 10 out of the 9, then! Back to the pictures: Many of them are simply fantastic, you can almost smell the mix of burned tires and Castrol 'R'. Not only are there hundreds of action photographs out on the track. You also find a lot of snapshots of the dramatic action in the pits during a race, contrasting with pictures of the mechanics preparing the cars in the tranquility of a garage. There are a few shots showing the social side of racing: A friendly chat between drivers between two races, relaxation beside the swimming pool of the hotel, the distinguished atmosphere of the official banquet. In short, you (literally) get the whole picture of the racing scene, when autombile racing was still mainly a sport. Imagine a racing car today with only a few decorative racing stripes and at the most two or three palm size bumper stickers! Here they are, page for page - automobile racing at its best! The texts - incidentally in English, German and French! - are concise and informative. They are written by Denise McCluggage, a journalist with a fine sense for writing exactly not too much and not too less. She gives you all the needed information, and at the same time she transmits the feeling of the atmosphere of the scene. By the way: She was also one of the most gifted lady amateur race drivers who mastered also some of the 'big bangers' of the time! It is simply wonderful to see such a book in print, reliving sweet memories of times when visitors of a race simply could walk into the paddock and talk to the heroes of the day: From Briggs Cunningham to Carroll Shelby, from Bob Bondurant to Jim Hall, from Stirling Moss to John Surtees... Here they are all together, doing their thing and bringing us the thrill of automobile racing at its best.

The Autocourse annual is the most outstanding annual of the formula 1 season anyone can hope for. Containing team by team analysis of the year, a review of each race, statistics over the season, an editors top ten drivers of the F1 year, seaon review of most other motor racing formulae (F3000, F3, British touring cars, DTM, Indycar, Nascar etc...), lots and lots of high quality photos, most of them colour. A must for any serious F1 fan, and well worth the money.

This is the definitive review of the Formula One season. It offers excellent photos of your favourite Formula One drivers and teams. It gives you a behind the scenes look at each team's season. Each race is reviewed, complete with pre-race as well as race day statistics. This hardbound, colour glossy paged annual is a must have in any Formula One race fans collection.

The Autocourse series is by far the best I've ever seen written of Formula One. I've devoured several years of Autocourse and will read it for a very long time.

Autocourse has for many years now provided an annual containing all the myriad of details of the Formula One season. This year's offering is as good as ever and provides a first rate coverage of Formula One.

Apart from overview articles, it provides a detailed review of each team and the drivers as well as a detailed description of each race, including all the qualifying action. For the statistically minded there is a full set of stats including lap charts for each race.

There are also brief overviews of other motor racing formulae.

Overall, if you want a permanent record of the Grand Prix year, you will have to go a long way to find a better book.

This edition of autocourse holds true to the reputation that autocourse has for being the benchmark for preserving a F1 season in print and picture. The pictures are excellent, the details of rach race are recorded totally for future reference, and the articles contained within are superb. A must have for any F1 fan, and any Ferrari or Schumacher fan.

There are several reasons why you should get this book. First of all, it is the 50th anniversay edition. The content including the pictures are still of very high quality. Then, a Ferrari is on the front page . . . it covers Ferrari's Triumph both in constructor's and driver's championship after 21 years of waiting (assuming you are a Ferrari fan). And finally, if you have followed autocourse before and you are a true F1 fan, I couldn't think of any reason why you should skip this one.

This is an excellent resource. Nowhere else have I been able to find just the information I want; printed in logical order. I'm building a web site about my truck, and the BPD is my bible for determining just the right gear combinations to maximize my performance with the Gear Vendors gearsplitter I've installed. I don't have a lot of money for R&D, and this book has given me just the right info I need. Thank you!

I am an enthusiast and I love the car crafting hobby. For years I have been saving all of my back issues of various magazines for formulas, tips, and tricks used in building many of my cars. After purchasing this book I was able to get rid of them. It is one of the most informative pieces of literature I have ever seen. Forget those pamphlets that tell you to buy a bunch of bolt-ons, this is real world horsepower.

I have been training and riding barrel horses for 24 years and feel that this is the best barrel racing book I have ever come across. It is a great tool for all levels of barrel racers- from beginner to experienced. I found the chapters regarding barrel horse bloodlines and solving common problems very interesting. This book is easy to read and comprehend and has magnificent pictures to visually display the content. Worth the money!

This book covers it all! From selecting certain barrel racing pedigrees, ground work with colts, first rides, beginning barrel work, problems, tack selection and much more. This book contains hundreds of beautiful color photos and is nice enough to be a "coffee table" book (that's where mine is). Ed and Martha even take the time to answer your questions if you e-mail them, first-class all the way...

There's no better place to start if you want to learn to race bikes. A lot of what's out there is very interesting but targeted towards a more advanced racer. It's all too easy to lose sight of the fundamentals. This book will help you pick the equipment you need without going overboard, improve your understanding of training and recovery, and work a training plan into your life without burning out. It's full of detailed discussion of essentials like how to execute an attack and make it stick. The chapters on improving fundamental skills like climbing, cornering and descending are complete, detailed, and effective, as are the chapters on strategy and tactics. Road racing, time trials, criteriums and stage races are each given a full chapter that will to help you develop a tactical sense that you can apply when the situation arises. I'm midway through my first serious season and the more I get out and race the more mileage I get out of this book.

Bike Racing 101 is an excellent resource for those cyclists with a basic knowledge of the sport, and a strong desire to take it to the next level. This book guides you through the process, from getting licensed, to understanding road racing events, to the necessary equipment. From there, this easy-to-read book (that's filled with up-to-date photos), helps you, the future racer determine your goals, choose your first race, and even guides you through basic training. Bike Racing 101 gives you the background knowledge to increase speed, power, and endurance as well as the basics of nutrition and hydration. All the aspects of racing are covered in this book and it prepares you for everything to expect in a race, it even has a section on learning how to crash! With an insider's perspective, it makes racing seem much less intimidating. The back of the book is full of helpful resources as well, complete with a glossary of related terms and suggested websites. This is a must-have for any cyclist with the desire to race!

This book has a touching story about a great man. This book can make you laugh and cry. If you want a book this one is one of the best.

This book had the best info that I have ever seen.Every chapter was interesting.It was the best Biography that I have ever read. I suggest you read it.I loved it.

Words cannot capture the drama, the funniness, the insanity, the rambling rants, the verisimilitude of the live race descriptions, and that certain 'je-ne-sais-quoi' of Bob Roll's cycling book. It is a peculiar and interesting place, that region or landscape where the demented mind of Bob Roll inhabits and calls itself home. I am sure I don't want to live there, but a visit is well worth the price of admission.
Yes, he is the real deal. Rode the Tour de France with Lemond. The Giro with Andy Hampsten. Helped Andy win the Giro d'Italia in probably the most epic stage ever of any Grand Tour when Hampsten claims the lead of the race in a freak snowstorm over the tallest mountains in Italy, aided by his trusty leftenant-one certain Bob Roll-who brought warm drink and clothing up to his leader to assist him win the stage and the Giro. (Many riders crawled off their bikes, weeping in pain and the knowledge they would never even finish the stage, much less the race. ) Not so Mr. Roll-- in helping his teammate win, Mr. Roll of course suffered hypothermia, frostbite, and literally had to have his heart jumped when the freezing temperatures plummeted his pulse to a mere 20 or 30 beats per minute.
Oh yeah, he was also the person Lance Armstrong called when, during his comeback post-cancer, Lance wanted a good training partner and colleague to go to Boone, North Carolina to exorcise his demons and return to the bike. Hundreds of cycling miles in N.C. and laughter and tall tales at night, courtesy of Mr. Roll...
We all know what happened next.
But to those of us who want to know more about Sancho Panza (Bob Roll) than Don Quixote (Greg, Andy, or Lance) please consider this. True heroics often hide themselves in others' glory. His demented humor belies a fine intellect and a warped and twisted view of life that makes sanity appear disgusting, I want to know this man. For now, the best I can do is read his book and follow his peregrinations across the desert of media cycling hype.
Don't expect to do anything but laugh and cry when you read this piece of culture clash, as if you were at a cocktail party with Hunter Thompson meets Bernard Hinault. You'll wish you too had gotten lost in a New Mexico snowstorm and had the wit to tell it as yet one more brush with the eternal masquerading as sheer chance. As if.
Roll on. Ride like the wind signor!!!

for all cycling fanatics who want to read portions of bob's racing diary. fyi, this book is not to be confused with anything john wilcockson has written :)

If you are interested in Drag Racing, particularly Bracket Racing, this is a Great book to read. Well organized, this book is a valuable resource for the "basics" of Drag Racing as well as some more advanced issues such as various electronics used in this sport, throttle stops, line locks, etc.

This book is well illustrated and logically organized. You can read it front to back, or just use it as a reference tool for any specific part of Drag Racing you are interested in learning more about.

Even though this book is already a few years old in print, it still provides accurate fundamentals which have remained virtually unchanged in this sport for 25 years or more.

If you are looking for a technical manual on 4 link geometry, look elsewhere. If you want to further your basic knowledge, read this book. I wish that high school auto shops would include this book in their class as a study guide. The future of our sport, or any sport for that matter, depends upon new players. Many "first time" racers have shared their stories with me about their desire to participate in the sport of Drag Racing, but they were reluctant to approach any current racers they don't personally know for help and advice on getting started. This book answers many of the basic questions about bracket racing / drag racing as well as serving as a valuable guide for racers with experience in the sport.

If this book were used in Auto Shop classes, the number of racers would increase. Knowledge is power, and power supports confidence. Knowing the fundamentals about drag racing and helping any "rookie" avoid embarassment for trying this sport can be accomplished by reading this book

Just when we think we know it all about any topic, a book well written about the fundamentals of the topic teaches us some more. This is that book.

This book has numerous tips for every bracket racer out there! From building your race car to dialing it in. There are also many strategy tips for the beginner or seasoned veteren. This book has it all to help you from the gate to the finish line.