Racing Reviews

As a ski instructor for a few years I was recruited to coach a group of kids for ski racing. I new almost nothing about the techniques and tactics for ski racing and found this book to be a big help. It does contain a bit more information than I needed on downhill and super G racing. A great book for anyone interested in racing.

I was in an REI store in Baltimore a few years ago when I stumbled on this book and promptly bought it. I had read a few other similar guides but I was still having difficulty grasping the concept of a proper Giant Slalom turn. Lisa Feinberg Densmore's SKI FASTER clearly and succinctly got the message across. Helpful photos of the "wrong" way as well as the "right" way really gave me an understanding of what I should be striving for. Although I have a long way to go, this nifty tome has helped me shave significant seconds off my recreational race league times. I have only one request. Lisa, when are you going to put it all on video? I've searched the web looking for an instructional video for recreational GS racers and none exist! With your broadcast background, you'd be a natural to produce one. As my club's racing captain, I an assure you there is a market out there!

Pat Moore
Race Captain
Mt. Laurel Skiers
www.mtlski.com
New Britain, CT

I'm new to ski racing and was searching for books about it. There's not much out there. I found this book, it was exactly what I was looking for. The author touches just about every topic in ski racing. I think this book is geared toward the beginner and intermidiate racer, although advanced racers could probably use it as a reference for racing techniques. Bottom line, it helped me ski better,and faster!

Soft Science of Road Racing Motorcycles is quit a good book for tuning your race bike. But it's intended for recrational use. For real racer's it's to basic. While tuning my own bike it was usefull to use the books. The comments are also very handy. It does explain tunning a lot of different bikes so it can be very wide used. All in all it wasn't a bad book at all espiaccialy if you are a 'recrational' racer!

This book might not be for every rider. But the data on the different kinds of plans that one can make in relation to riding I think is excellent. Also, when you see the comments by Wayne Rainey (a hero of mine for sure), then you know this information applies at the top level of riding.

Also, the section on one's sense of speed--I've been doing some racing and around racetracks for years, and there isn't anyone else that even talks about this (not in a fashion I can understand that is).

The checklists that Code provides at the end of the chapters can really help pinpoint a riding problem. That is valuable to me.

Again, not for everyone, but a little reading of this book, and a little patience with one's own riding can equal big gains. Well worth it.

I have roadraced for about 5 years now and have used the checklists in this book MANY times to help answer questions that I didn't even know existed within myself.

Having this book handy helps since I don't always have Keith there to ask me the proper questions. There are certainly things that should be thought out after a ride or practice session and this book HAS THE QUESTIONS to think with!!!!! I really recommend this book to anyone who wants to ride faster and/or better through those twisty corners.

GREAT BOOK!

Stoney Landers

As a fan of stock car racing, I found the inside look at what happens to those winning championships to be interesting and a learning experience. I'd recommend this for fans of any level of stock car racing.

I'd highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to gain some knowledge about what champions go through. As with his other books - which I've read - Mr. Huff has done his homework and delievers a nice package for new and old NASCAR fans alike. Wanna know what a champion's life is like, read this.

This insider's profile of NASCAR race car drivers and teams is a recommended pick for any with a prior interest in championship auto racing: it goes behind the scenes to examine the lives of the drivers, their motivations and achievements, and the emotional aspects of winning and racing. A perfect gift choice for the race car fan who wants to read about the experience.

a must have for dinghy racers , though not quite as brilliant as Walker's Positioning.

Used the original when coaching collegiate team in late '60's. Haven't found anything better in newer books. Buying it now to start the next generation.

While there are many books on sailboat racing, this one is a real classic. My father had it on his bookshelf when he was competing in the Mallory finals back in the 1960s and it is just as relevant today. I found it a very readable book. Dr. Walker covers the basics in enough depth that those who work at appling his lessons can expect to be at the top of the fleet in most club regattas. He gives many verbal illustrations of his points using his own experience in one design and Olympic competition.

This is a fabulous book. I wanted to say that so my only nit-pik can be taken in proper context. How, I repeat HOW, can the Watkins Glen circuit in upstate New York have possibly been left out of this book? It's probably because I attended the Grand Prix several times in the late 60's, that I am flabbergasted by this omission. Other than that glaring omission, I loved the book.

This one is a "no-brainer," for me. If you love auto racing, this book is a MUST HAVE! It doesn't matter what kind of racing circuit you enjoy: NASCAR, Formula One, IRL, CART, it doesn't matter. This book shows the tracks, detailed descriptions of each turn, including highlights of famous races on each course. For circuits that have changed over the years, it even shows the evolution of the changes. With stunning color photos of famous drivers, famous racing moments, and several track perspectives, and even the famous 14 mile Nurburgring circuit from days gone by. This is a book all racing fans should have sitting close by to refer to at a moment's notice.

NOTE: (added 5/19/02) The book only goes up to the 1999 season, so it will not reflect the changes made to Hockenheim, Germany's circuit in the 2002 season. This is a MUST HAVE book if you have an interest in remembering the older, longer Hockenheimring that is now a thing of the past.

Excellent Book. As well as giving in depth, but easy to read descriptions of each Grand Prix circuit, many tracks from around the world are included such as Indianapolis, Surfers Paradise and many more. All circuits have the track layout with the speed, G-force and the gear selected on each corner and straight. On some of the tracks there are driver profiles and a description of a great race on the circuit. There are rally good pictures too. A lot of great information and pictures are packed into this book. Great for a novice but it also offers something for the expert.

Anyone who has read Mr. Walker's work understands that he takes a very technical and analyitcal look at the sport of yacht racing. It is definatly an effort to get through the book, and I feel that the beginner will not get much out of it. Overall, he is very thorough and on target. There is much to be learned from the book, and it will make a person a better racer.

One humorous aspect of the book (and all of Mr. Walker's writing, for that matter) is that most of his examples consists of times that he has screwed up and lost the race. The reader occasionally wonders whether he should be taking his advice.... ;) However, the examples are often excellent illustrations of the point he is trying to make.

this is an outstanding and thorough evaluation of what is involved in sailing a good race beyond trimming the sails correctly and handling the boat well

A really good read, taking the reader into the front seat of all types of cars as raced and rallied by one of the "gentlemen of the track". Plus a peep into the offtrack life of the stars of the past racing generation

Although there are numerous books about Moss, this is one that epitomizes his life, style, achievements and true greatness as a driver and gentleman.

I too enjoyed the original print ads for a great many of the cars shown. And the information is generally reliable as well. Although one should keep an open mind. In the section covering the 1968 Dodge Charger R/T the editor states that this is the car driven by Steve McQueen in "Bullitt." This, of course, is not true as McQueen drove a Ford Mustang fastback; the mafia hitmen drove a black Charger 440 R/T.

Pretty good book in that it covers a lot of muscle cars and a long time span. I like the way the book uses many original ads and it is fairly complete in its coverage. I would like to see better pictures and more proofreading. I noticed that some of the information about certain cars is incorrect or transposed. It also appears that some of the picture captions are not associated with the proper picture.

Overall a very informative book on muscle cars from the '60's to the '90's. It's an excellent start for us younger people to learn about the older muscle cars that we didn't get to see as we were growing up. This book covers most of the significant muscle cars that have come out of America from the years 1960-1995. If you are interested in buying a muscle car but aren't exactly sure what car you want to get, this book will help you narrow down your choices.

A very detailed look at Stuart's life. Lots of insight about how rally teams were run in the good old days. If you're a rally fan, you'll enjoy his life story.

It was a pleasure to reminisce about the glorious days when Ford Motor Sport ruled world rallying. I was heavily involved in club rallying during the 70's and mid 80's, and to get an insight into the workings of the Company at that time proved enjoyable and filled in the gaps of what 'Joe public' knew of FoMoCo. It was also a pleasure to read about the early days of rallying, and compare with the current trends and how vastly different World championship rallies are nowadays. A great read from start to finish.

A very humourous look at Stuart Turners life! A great read and well worth buying, but then I am slightly biased, being his younger daughter.

what was in the book was great, but i thought there should have been more. i wanted info on some of my favorite cars(i.e. sox and martin and so on)on top of cars that were featured but relatively unknown

Not only does Robert Genat take outstanding photographs of the hot rods in his book, the accompanying text matches the quality of the photographs big time. He explores the world of drag racing in a manner that is enjoyable for both racing addicts as well as the novice. His text is easy-reading and makes the history of each car, owner and driver come alive. He covers cars that were in action from the 50s into the 70s. Drag racing is a somewhat neglected sport media-wise with the recent popularity of stock car racing so this book is a very welcome addition to any die-hard drag racing fan's library.

This is an excellent book written by someone that obviously has been a drag racing enthusiast for years. He is able to show through words and pictures a real history of some of the important cars that have made a mark on this sport. The photography is first rate and will make one appreciate how incredible the early machines actually were. As a longtime fan of drag racing, I'm hoping that a second book is in the works.