Racing Reviews

When I first read this book, I was hopeful that it was evidence that there was hope for the slowly slipping quality of the Black Stallion series. I was wrong but that doesn't eclipse the quality of this book. Farley finally faces off the Black and his son, Satan, but in a race for their lives. A little slow in the beginning but with a thrill-packed ending. Highly recomemded. If I ever run into the person who got the bright idea to pull it off the presses, I will definately give him a piece of my mind.

The Black Stallion and Satan 176 Pages By Kitty I could Identify with Alec Ramsay when he felt some stress over the upcoming International Cup Race. His stallion, the Black was going to be racing against some of the best racing stallions and colts in the world including his own son, who was also owned by the Ramsays and trained by their good friend Henry Dailey. Alec was stressed, because he was afraid he was going to have to pull the Black from the race because he was an aggressive unpredictable horse who might be compelled to fight the other stallions. There were a number of important events that resulted in the outcome of the story, and one might almost say there were multiple climaxes. The setting had a very big effect on the main character, and in a way changed the story. I enjoyed this book a lot and hope that if you choose to buy it, you will enjoy it too.

The Black Stallion and Satan is about Alec and both of his horses. In the beginning the Black isn't his. Alec misses the Black and Satan because he never gets any time alone with Satan now that he is a race horse. So when the Black's owner dies and leaves him to Alec, Alec decides not to race the Black. He buys a farm where he is going to retire the Black and use him to breed racehorses. When Alec learns that he is the only one who believes that the Black is faster than Satan, he decides to prove it and gets into a lot of trouble which results in the public finding out the Black is back in America. The press puts a lot of pressure on Alec to race the Black against Satan, an he agrees. Just before the race something happens to all the horses that are supposed to be in the race. Will anyone ever know which horse was faster?

This is the first Dick Francis mystery and I like it the second best. I like "Nerve" slightly better, but only slightly. This "Dead Cert" contains several impressive scenes. The most impressive is the climax in which the star horse "Admiral" plays an unexpectedly spectacular role. It is definitely THE MOST SPECTACULAR scene in ALL Francis mysteries. Highly Recommended.

In yet another gripping story of mystery, murder and British steeplechasing, Dick Francis continues his amazing streak of hit novels.

His real appeal is not racing or mystery however, it is his ability to create characters who are admirable, honorable and self-reliant. If you're looking for troubled, self-loathers who "somehow" overcome their weakness and become unwilling and unwitting heroes, don't look here. Francis' heroes revel in their abilities to withstand evil, overcome it, and end up smiling in spite of it all.

Kudos once again for Dick Francis and Dead Cert!

Dick Francis didn't save the best for last. I have read all the DF novels except Blood Sport, which I have ordered and expect it anyday. I have loved every single one, but Dead Cert is my favorite, although Bonecrack and Whip Hand are close favorites.

Dick Francis is an excellent author because he is a master at combining three elements into his novels. Horses:), danger and mystery, and romance. If anybody reading this reveiw has never read a DF novel, please do so, you won't regret it!

This is a well paced, well writen book that brings out the thrill of the Iditarod. I did figure it out about half way through without really trying, though, but it didn't take anything away from the excitement! The only other negative to the story is that I live in Alaska and I don't think the author really got the point across of just HOW cold it can get here in the winter. Negative temperatures for a month or more! Good book and the best fictional account of the Last Great Race I have read.

Sue Henry sets the first book in her Alaskan Mystery Series in one of the most grueling sporting events in the world, the 1000-mile Iditarod dog sled race. The book details the progress of the race and the unusual "accidents" which take place along the way. State trooper Alex Jensen is highly suspicious that some of the mushers may be sabatoging others in an effort to gain an advantage in the race. Henry creates vivid descriptions of the race course and the brutal conditions which beset those brave enough to participate in the Iditarod. She creates enough red herrings to make the mystery interesting and vividly writes about the dangers, both natural and man-made, which the racers encounter. I highly recommend this book!

The cover of one of Sue Henry's books caught my eye and the line "An Alaska Mystery" caught the other. I bought this book immediately and could not put it down. It is very well researched and makes me want to move to Alaska and enter the Iditirod!

I bought the 2nd book the following day and read it in one sitting. I'm dying to keep reading her books. The characters are good and the mysteries are solid.

Sue Henry has a gift and I'm grateful she's sharing it with us. Do not pass up the opportunity to read these books if you like mysteries. Highly recommended!

This book is wonderful, I have just about all the driving books available today and was unsure about buying this one... I am very happy that I did, it was and is very worth the money.

Bentley, who does still race, is easy to read and talks in terms of real world driving, on the street. Yes, he covers a lot about on the race track and the finer points, but her relates that to the street and the "practice" of feeling the car and understanding what is happening at all times in order to become a better driver... and it actually works, I have started to become more aware of the fine movements of weight distribution in my commute to work!

If you think you have too many books on driving, splurge a little and buy this one, I think you'll be happy you did!

I have read most books on driving and racing techniques, this one makes it easy to understand and to apply to everyday situations. I like the way that Bentley divided the book into the four parts (the car, the track, the driver and the finish line) it is an easy read. There are lots of good diagrams to help get the point across. If you are a driving enthusiast or racer, and you only want to buy one book, this is the one you must have.

Why I like this book:
There is less emphasis on getting the car set up and more on just driving like a pro. Too many grassroots level enthusiasts whine about tires, shocks and sway bars. Ross hardly touches on this stuff. Clearly he comes from the point of view of a professional driver, not a chassis tuner or racecar builder. His emphasis is to get as much as possible out of the car regardless of the equipment. Even pro's have to deal with sub par equipment and rules that make things less than ideal. For example, if you are a Pro driver for hire, you might get the call to run 24 hr of Lemans. You share one car with 3-4 other guys. It's not your car, it doesn't get to be set up the way you like it. You are paid to just plop in the seat and drive it fast and not complain. Now THAT's a race car driver. And that's the vibe i get from Ross in this book. Learn to drive fast, and stop whining. Also spend less money on your car and more money on track days. The book gives you good advice on how to analyze the track, and learn it quickly. Even though Ross mostly races RWD cars (I race FWD cars), I still found 90% of the book to apply. Read this book twice before your next trackday. Then review sections between your run groups, and amaze your buddies at how quickly you have become one of the fast guys! And don't loan it out!

I have a number of autocourses and I still feel that they are getting better with every passing year. If you have an interest in Formula 1 then you should have this book. It gives an overview of each team in the championship and really gets a great insight as to how their performances stacked up and what their expectations really were or should have been. The race guides are an indespensible piece of information for the serious fan, although they do occasionally miss outstanding performances from the middle or rear of the field, due to the majority of the focus being on the battle at the front, however most details are covered and in very good detail. The summary of the other racing series (F3000, F3, CART, NASCAR, etc) is a very worthwhile addition as it gives a good reference point without having to purchase other literature. Then there is the top 10 driver lists, they may not always be the rankings you expect, or agree with!, but they certainly are a good talking point, and quite well justified in most cases.
Overall the most complete annual book about Formula 1 and a complete necessity to any real fan.

Autocourse is the ultimate annual of the just completed Formula One season. My first volume covered the 1976 season and I own all but two since then. The only reason I missed those two was because they sold out before I could place my order. Each edition continually improves on the previous years with outstanding statistics for each race including lap charts, the absolute best photographs from the world's best photographers and an always intriguing editor's top ten drivers list. The race reports don't miss a beat from first to last place. The technical breakdown gives every detail of each car down to what brake pads and spark plugs they use. You are not a Formula One fan if you do not own Autocourse.

This is the latest edition of the Autocourse F1 Grand Prix Annual. As usual, it is packed with details of the teams, drivers and the races with many many beautiful pictures of the 2001 F1 Grand Prix Season. It is always enjoyable to read and to recap the excitement of the season. This edition is even more special if you are a Schumacher or Ferrari fan. Shumi won his forth title and has broken several records while the Ferrari F1 Team has made it two in a roll.

Although DVD or VCD on the 2001 Grand Prix Season will be published soon, I still find reading the Autocourse more enjoyable.

Dis-spells a lot of the myths about Tony and the team. A fantastic, cant put down read about the behind-the-scenes Nascar we watch and love.

True Speed is the story of Tony Stewart's life both on and off the race track. Written by Tony (along with a co-author) True Speed reflects Tony's thoughts and beliefs. I found myself to be an bigger fan after reading the book than I was before. Tony is dedicated to his sport and that is clear in each and every page. Along with Tony's views there are quotes from family, friends, team members, and fellow drivers. This all mixes together to make True Speed a truly interesting read.

I am from Indiana and I am very proud to say that I am from the same state as Tony Stewart! Good luck to Tony in everything he does.

This book is great!! I would recommend this book to any Nascar fan, not just those who love Tony!! When I began reading this book--I absolutely could not put it down! Read the entire book in just one night. It is definitely a true look inside the life and heart of Tony Stewart. The first few chapters are a little hard to follow as he leads you through his start in racing but as you read on into the book and start hearing of all of his adventures in racing and with the media, you are just dying to know more. I just hope that Tony doesn't let it end here, I am sure that there will be more excitement in his life in the next few years and maybe he will write "True Speed 2--A story of a Winston Cup Champion"!! I would recommend this book to everyone and want to wish Tony (if he happens to read this review)----GOOD LUCK IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP Race in 2002!

Very good book for learning to race everything from 5k to marathon distances. There is no fluff, just the facts on how to prepare for a specific race distance. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is the authors schedules are a little too general for those of us who must have a detailed schedule. This book is not a beginner's book. To get the most from it you need to have some experience running races, even if you are a slow runner.

This is an excellent book. Pfitzinger not only tells you how to train, but explains why in clear, understandable language. His schedules are perfect for runners who need flexibility since he sets out what needs to be done each week & prioritizes them so you can fit them into YOUR work schedule, not the other way around.

After using 2 cycles of the training program, I can attest that they bring results.

The best training resource I've read in 25 years of running! Bravo!

Pfitzinger's book finally delivers on what I always want from a book on a complex subject, simple explanations and simple solutions. Why write 800 pages when 188 will suffice. If you are only looking to train for 5K's then you can skip the section on 10K and marathon training and get even more concise explanations. This book gives short, simple explanations to the key elements of a training program. We now know everything we need to know about VO2 max and lactate threshold training, their relative importance, how to improve them and how to incorporate them into your training program. Pete indirectly points out how most of us are doing no lactate threshold training (by running most of our daily runs to slow) and doing all of our interval work to fast. I recommend this book to anyone looking to improve his or her racing times.

I would also suggest buying "Daniels Running Formula". I bought it last summer and my 5K's times went down from 19:40 to 18:50. I bought "Road Racing for Serious Runners" to basically get a second opinion on Daniel's theories. Actually these are not opinions or theories. These are time-tested methods back by sound science. I'm 43 years old and I'm living proof that random training will yield random results. Both Pfitzinger and Jack Daniels book will eliminate the "lets try this" approach to training. Both books cover the same topics and both authors come up with the basically the same training program. Daniels book breaks his schedule into 4 six-week phases while Pfitzinger has a 10-week and an 11 phase. When you look at both plans it becomes obvious and almost laughable on how easy it is to improve on your racing times (and in my case actually cut back on the training intensity).

I would buy both books so you can really feel good about your new training methods. Pete's book is simpler and has separate schedules for some of us low 20-40 mile per week folks. Daniels book has slightly more science and covers more topics. Daniels also has been around longer and has trained more athletes. There are only a few contradictions in Pete's book. He states on page 21 that your volume of Vo2 max workouts (your hard intervals) should be 1 workout per week with a total distance covered of 4 to 8K with the possibility of adding a second lower volume session each week. This corresponds with Daniels book where he has 2 Vo2 max sessions each week (or 1 Vo2 Max and a race). But when you get to the detailed 5K schedules for the 20-40 miles per week you only see 6 Vo2 max workouts scheduled in 21 weeks, despite them being listed as the number one priority. Also only 5 threshold workouts are scheduled in the last 11 weeks for the 20-40 mile schedule. I guess Pete is no dummy. He knows that Bill Rodgers may not use his book and that it will be geared towards people like me. He knows that I'm going to sneak in a combination of ten 5K and 8K races this fall before I attempt to peak in early December. The Daniels book just encourages it and has those realities clearly shown on the schedules. Just buy both books, start training smarter and in some cases a little easier. I've bought bad unhealthy lunches for [PRICE]. If you run this will be the best [PRICE} you will ever spend.

This book was even better than Willow King and I didn't think that could be possible! It's realistic and is written by a real Jockey so it's no wonder I could feel my own feet in the irons. Katie Durham is a true hero who shows real mettle in this unputdownable novel.

Arter reading the firse one about Willow King and Katie, I just had to read the second one and was not disapointed. After wiining the Futurity, Willow King is pointed to the Kentucky Derby. Katie dreams of becoming his jockey and riding him in the Derby. She works super hard and eventually, makes it to being a jockey. While in the mean time, meets Camela who is Cindy's cousin who is also blind. Together, they are able to learn a bit from the other.

This was a great book!! I absolutly loved it! I think that it deserves 5 stars more than any other book. It is about a girl named Katie who wants to take her horse Willow King to the Kentucky Derby and ride him in it. Katie is a girl thet was born with one leg shorter than the other. In the 1st book, Willow King is born with crooked legs and is going to be put down. But Katie knows how he feels and saves him and turns him into a race horse. Along the way (in the sequel) she meets a blind girl Camela and has to deal with Mark, the jockey who wants to ride Willow King in the derby. I also reccomend the 1st book, Willow King. I hope you read this book because it is a awesome, awesome book.

Carroll Smith outlines all the skills and attributes that it takes to be a first class driver. There are sections on race craft, fitness both mental and physical, chassis tuning, tire selection, data acquisition, and general tuning concepts. A well-written and informative book for the race car driver both experienced and novice. Unlike some of the other books that I have read in this category, it was entertaining and informative as opposed to the "text book" style that seems to be so common!

A perfect addition to Mr. Smith's line of books is "Drive to Win". If you wish to improve your skills as a hobbyist or professional then read this book. The book is slightly slanted to the race driver who wishes to enter the professional ranks, but is very informative for the non-professional as well.

I first got this book with I was only a kid doing DE's and track days. At that time I found the book to be helpful but way too advanced for me. Now 2 years later with karting races and Skip Barber I often find myself re-reading sections of the book and understanding more. I won't be surprised to re-read it again as I get deeper into the skippy school race series.

Quite a book that have always been there with me throughout my new born racing life.