Racing Reviews

How do I know this book is not as good as it should be?
Well, I have a very similar DK "ultimate" book for bicycles. That one covers everything from all the different bikes & accesories to the skills & techniques required for good riding, as well as general maintenance.

THIS motorcycle book has none of that. 90% of the book covers various motorcycles, most of them old cruisers, with just a few points on each one. It has only about 18 brief pages at the end to discuss the workings of a motorcycle and other things such as tyres, clothes, etc. That is just not enough.

This book is simply a summary of various motorycles from a historical perspective (with hardly any included from the "sports-bike" category). Not only that - all the bikes are old ones starting from 100 years ago. None of the newer sports bikes are covered in any sort of real detail. But aren't they one of the most popular [if not THE most popular] types of bikes? (I don't know, because I'm new to this) Any book worthy of using the word "ultimate" is the title must be both well-balanced and very thorough. This book is neither.

If you want my opinion, do not buy this book if you have not seen it. I can't believe everyone else rated it so highly, unless of course they're the sort who get nostalgic reading all about a bunch of old cruisers!

This book has great photos, no dark areas or confining borders to the photos, and intelligent text that always complements the main features--the motorcycle photos. Though mainly an exposition of the many types of motocycles in the world, this is also a history book touching on vintage bikes, famous racers, and facts about changing technology that have made certain bikes pathbreaking achievements of engineering. There is only a two-page section on motocross, the same volume of pages allocated to scooters. No elaboration into the sub-phyla--or sub-classes--of arena cross or supercross. But that's not a big deal, because what you have here is well worth it on its own. Wilson includes a great layout of "Electrics and instruments" which is reminiscent of Gray's Anatomy, in that it looks like a dissection scene from biology class. He lays out the electrical system of a motorcycle (street bike), looking like nerves branching out of a spinal cord. This is an innovative way to present this, with the amber, red, and white light covers and the battery cell covers still on. Only someone obsessed with this subject matter could have done this, which has the benefit of rubbing off on less-devoted adherents of the sport and the products who still need to be motivated by reading this book. And by simply studying it. Way more than words here. This is the lifetime achievement superstar reception room table favorite book in our law firm. Amazingly, no client has stolen it yet.

"The best spin-off from the invention of the wheel is, without any doubt, the motorcycle."

Whether you are a rider, someone who likes to admire motorcycles, or are curious to learn more, this book is for you. The book balances the "lure of the open road" mystique of motorcycles, with solid history, and gorgeous photographs of important and well-known models.

The first few pages look at how Gottlieb Daimler developed the first motorcycle. You will also see impressive photographs of a replica made from the original drawings. From there, Mr. Wilson teaches us about how engines developed, and where they were located in the design. Then, the issues of other needed technologies are explored (like brakes, suspension, and safety features). Original black-and-white photographs vie with color advertisements and beautiful color side views of motorcycles for your attention.

The main section of the book looks at the history of the world's motorcycles, by geography. Each page is crammed with views of motorcyles from ever angle, photographs of riders, and lots of specifications and other interesting details. Major parts of this section cover the United States (Harley-Davidson, Police Motorcycles, Henderson, Custom Bikes, Indian, and Other Classics), Germany (BMW, DKW, Sidecars, MZ, Munch, NSU, and Other Classics), Great Britain (AJS, Brough-Superior, BSA, Norton, Triumph, Speed Records, Velocette, Vincent HRD, and Other Classics), Italy (Benelli, Ducati, Gilera, Scooters, Moto Guzzi, MV Agusta, and Other Classics), Japan (Honda, Touring Motorcycles, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha), and a few bikes from Austria, Czechosloakia, France, Scandinavia, and Spain. The strength of this section is that many brands are covered. The corresponding weakness is that not very many models can be displayed for each brand.

The most exciting part of the book for me was the section on Motorcycle sports. These include Grand Prix racing, Superbikes, endurance racing, T T racing, Motocross, trials, speedway, desert racing, American racing, drag racing, and sidecar racing. Just looking at these exciting bikes is enough to make you wake up, and sit and stand up taller.

The final section displays key points about how the various parts of a motorcycle work.

Mr. Wilson is lucky to have been able to draw upon the Motorcycle Heritage Museum in Westerville, Ohio for models to illustrate the book. We are fortunate to be able to see them also.

If you just want to see Harleys, you will prefer Mr. Wilson's outstanding book, The Ultimate Harley-Davidson.

Looking at these marvelous machines made me think about other ways we can enjoy the wind in our hair and a feeling of freedom. If you like those experiences, have you ever tried other means to enjoy them? How many can you find? Which ones are even more fun than motorcyles? For me, a small boat on a choppy ocean going full throttle racing to get close enough to identify a humpback whale is an even better joy.

Now, consider what experiences are even more enjoyable than "wind in the hair" and "feeling free" in the form you like best . . . and are safer. How can you enjoy them more often? Can you enjoy any of them just by looking at a book?

Exercise your imagination to open up more possibilities for seizing all the juice life has to offer!

Peter Hunn has done it again with yet another fabulous book on Outboards! Being a member of the Antique Outboard Motor Club Inc. and the Antique & Classic Boat Society one is always on the look out for good books that deal with and speak to our fond affection for vintage outboards and boats. This book more then fits the bill.

In The Vintage Culture of Outboard Racing, Hunn covers a wide, and intricately related, variety of topics. He starts off by giving the reader the necessary background on where the facination for outboard racing competition began and then quickly takes you to the haydays of the 1930s through the 1950s. Along the way you get a sense of the attraction of this sport for both the professional outboard racer and the average family member that was struck with the racing bug. Chapters Four and Five, that deal with Clubs and Organizations and Outboard Racing's Civil War respectively, are pretty indepth and may not be for the everyday outboarder but for those of us that cannot get enough these two chapters make for an interesting read and provide important information. The middle of the book, Part III: The Culture of a Sport, was a delight. Hunn could not have written on this subject without speaking to Hank Bowman and his outboard writing syndicate. A terrifc amount of very relavent information. Hunn definitely took me back to my youth with the chapter on Cottage Racers. I read through it like a Mercury 30H on the straight away! I was so glad to see the inclusion of the women racers of the period, as they brought much to the sport being champions in there own right. The chapters on Racing Collectibles and the pertainent information in the Appendics were equally enjoyable.

Hunn's previous books, The Old Outboard Book, The Golden Age of The Racing Outboard and Beautiful Outboards could be looked upon as the the first three books in the series. The Golden Age of the Racing Outboard certainly provides one with equally indepth and facinating information on the racing outboards and boats that the racers in this book used. The pictures alone tell the story. In fact one might say that it laid the ground work for the Vintage Culture of Outboard Racing.

All in all a well thought out and put together book. If you love outboards and outboard racing you will 'race' through this book. Mr. Hunn when can we expect your next outboard offering?

Peter Hunn has done it again with yet another fabulous book on Outboards! Being a member of the Antique Outboard Motor Club Inc. and the Antique & Classic Boat Society one is always on the look out for good books that deal with and speak to our fond affection for vintage outboards and boats. This book more then fits the bill.

In The Vintage Culture of Outboard Racing, Hunn covers a wide, and intricately related, variety of topics. He starts off by giving the reader the necessary background on where the facination for outboard racing competition began and then quickly takes you to the haydays of the 1930s through the 1950s. Along the way you get a sense of the attraction of this sport for both the professional outboard racer and the average family member that was struck with the racing bug. Chapters Four and Five, that deal with Clubs and Organizations and Outboard Racing's Civil War respectively, are pretty indepth and may not be for the everyday outboarder but for those of us that cannot get enough these two chapters make for an interesting read and provide important information. The middle of the book, Part III: The Culture of a Sport, was a delight. Hunn could not have written on this subject without speaking to Hank Bowman and his outboard writing syndicate. A terrifc amount of very relavent information. Hunn definitely took me back to my youth with the chapter on Cottage Racers. I read through it like a Mercury 30H on the straight away! I was so glad to see the inclusion of the women racers of the period, as they brought much to the sport being champions in there own right. The chapters on Racing Collectibles and the pertainent information in the Appendics were equally enjoyable.

Hunn's previous books, The Old Outboard Book and The Golden Age of The Racing Outboard could be looked upon as the the first two books in the series. The Golden Age of the Racing Outboard certainly provides one with equally indepth and facinating information on the racing outboards and boats that the racers in this book used. The pictures alone tell the story. In fact one might say that it laid the ground work for the Vintage Culture of Outboard Racing.

All in all a well thought out and put together book. If you love outboards and outboard racing you will 'race' through this book. Mr. Hunn when can we expect your next outboard offering?

This book is a valuable source of information on the people who built the sport, the races, classes, and so forth. The big names you'd expect to find like Dean Chenoweth and Hank Bowman are covered but so are many more lesser known people (both male and female) who really made the sport what it was. I found the stories about development of various clubs, the APBA, suburban stockers and cottage racers to be fascinating reading. The author even lists all the different classes as they developed. The chapters on collectibles like toys and accessories make you want to go out and start buying stuff. Overall, this is a rewarding book. It's got some material on motors but Hunn really covers those in more detail in Golden Age of Outboard Racing. Overall, a surpising approach that also has some unusual photos.

This book is worth reading for the appendix and details on trip handicapping, but the material on track biases smacks of type 1 errors (finding differences that aren't really there).

Andy Beyer is speaking of very sophisticated and advanced technique's in track bias at the many different tracks a person may play or go to.

In this age of simulcast wagering at multiple facilities, this book is even more important.

You have to keep a detailed log book as far as we are conerned to know what the bias is at different tracks.

Andy correctly points out many important factors that the majority of the horse racing public would not consider, and thus if you considered them would give you an advantage.

Beyer is the King !

Best Regards to All, MC - TheStickRules.Com

The main theme of this book is trip handicapping and a horseplayer who mainly focuses on figures must read. This book will change your mind and ways of thinking. I am actually quite surprise that this book was written over 10 years ago.

I wish I could say that I loved this book. I wanted to love this book, since thoroughbreds and racing history are two of my favorite subjects. The quality of the paper and the photographs are outstanding. The subject matter is of course inspirational, but the truth of the matter is the writing did not live up to its promise. Bowden is obviously familiar with his subject, and undoubtedly has many stories to tell, but it all seems to have become jumbled up in his mind. He frequnetly starts talking about one topic (say a famous horse race), then goes off on a tangent (say the horse's owner), leaving the reader to try to figure out what has happened. He also fails to focus on one main theme or point in each of his essays, trying to cram ractrack gossip, the human drama and information about the horses (breeding, training history, previous races, etc.) all into the short space available. The result is that the really interesting, in-depth stuff, the details about the horse and what made him or her truly unique, never get written. I found this book very irritating to read and wish that Bowden had had a good editor around to help him pare down and focus his work. If you are wanting disjointed tidbits and facts, buy the book. If you are wanting to really experience the personalities of the horses and the excitement of the races they participated in try another source.

If the mark of a good book is that it leaves you wanting more, then that's what we have here. Bowen's tales about the great races are very well-done. I especially liked the older races (before my time), and the best of these was John P. Grier pushing Man O'War as no one ever had.
But I wanted more - where is Forego, for example, and all those horses he caught at the wire, like Honest Pleasure and Wajima? I guess I'll have to wait for Vol. 2!

Racing fans should own this book by the outstanding turf writer Edward Bowen. He provides a comprehensive look at some of the most famous racing moments in the twentieth century, not only the great but the infamous (the 1933 "fighting finish" Kentucky Derby) as well. Great racing moments such as Man O'War's duel with John P. Grier in the 1920 Dwyer Stakes, Phar Lap's famous win at the 1932 Agua Caliente Handicap (his last before dying somewhat mysteriously), Secretariat's 1973 Belmont, Affirmed and Alydar's 1978 Belmont, the triple dead heat 1944 Carter Handicap, and the celebrated Jaipur/Ridan Travers of 1962 are among the profiled.

Bowen has a real feel for the subject matter, and he gives the reader the background of each race and even provides the charts for each race. There are also numerous photographs in this book, which is printed on high quality paper.

Bowen leaves out very few of racing's greatest moments. Two that are omitted are the 1976 Marlboro Cup (Forego barely winning over Honest Pleasure) which Bowen does mention briefly, and the great 1978 Jockey Gold Cup, where Seattle Slew gallantly and unsuccessfully tried to defeat Exceller. There's also a tiny bit of bias in this book, as is expected. Bowen seems a bit defensive in a couple of places with regard to Man O' War and Secretariat. According to him, "polls" supposedly crown Man O'War the greatest horse of this century, even above Secretariat. He doesn't really tells us which polls, of which there is only one that this reviewer is aware of, which the publisher Blood Horse conducted among 7 alleged experts and was published in a book about the top 100 North American racehorses of the 20th century. These "history savvy" experts, it seems to Bowen, know the truth that Big Red I was the best, and never mind the record or recollections of racetrackers and writers who saw both Man O' War and Secretariat and said the latter was greater. Frankly, I put my trust in the recollection of the dean of turf writers, Charles Hatton, who unhesitatingly called Secretariat not only the greatest he had seen but "the greatest horse anybody has ever seen." He saw both horses run, and the panelists didn't. (Furthermore, one of the panelists didn't even rank Secretariat in the top 10, and this was the real reason Man O' War finished ahead. As a result, no racing fan takes the Blood Horse poll seriously.)

But this is a minor quibble in a book full of information and great photographs. This is an ideal coffee table book.

I love books about the sea and sailing. 'Before the Wind' has been a slow and difficult read for me. It's as good as each short story.

I have found more enjoyment in Kinder's 'Ship of Gold', Hemmingeay-Douglas' 'Cape Horn', and Alvah Simon's 'North to the Night'.

This is a good book. Lots of differing points of view. Good yarns. Perfect for picking up while on a watch and putting down when you get tired.

The authors the editor has selected is a who's who of boating; Selected to appeal to both the serious and casual reader. From Dana to Dennis Conner you will find new material that will delight and inform....

This book is written for the "layman" in regards to the physiology behind the sport of cycling. As someone not familiar with VO2 max or heart rate training or even different methods of training, this book is perfect.

As someone with an Exercise Physiology background, however, this book was nothing more than a reveiw of everything I have learned. I was looking for something more physiologically based.

I read Serios Cycling from Ed Burke and realized that there is more to cycling than mere racing. Being a "new" cyclist at the age of 43 I had great difficulty to match the "older" cyclists that have been cycling competatively for the last 25 years. This book helped me to see what is all the preparation work behind the scenes. Mere fitness is not enough. You tend to hit the wall during training rides and feel confused because you are still not there. The understanding of how muscles work and what they need to continue performing at extreme levels of endurance made me to adapt my diet and pre-race preparation to ensure maximum energy, nutrition and oxygen are available to the working muscles to perform at their best. It was a complete mind change but today, less than three months since I bought this book fellow cyclist are questioning if I use steriods. They could not believe the improvement! The book is well laid out to explain the basic as well as the advanced detail of the body and mind and how to overcome those stages where you seem not to progress at all. If you are serious about cycling, get this book. You'll see what I mean!

I will be reading this book several times. It's packed with information on how to maximize your training session, off-season training advice, nutitional info, how to cope with jet lag, ad infinitum. I recommend this book to all who take this sport seriously.

I was unfortunately disappointed with Mr. Vaughan's describing his participation in the Fastnet race. His own passion and appreciation for sailing is clear, but this particular story line is jumbeled, at best. I would venture to guess that less than thirty percent of the book is actually about the race. Instead of building each of the primary characters, then launching into the race, he injects a life history for each character at points in the description of the race where the character experiences some significant event. Instead of being a great story of an increadible race, it's more of a collection of passages of admiration for individuals, that runs in fits a spurts. What was particularly disturbing was the recurring glorification of the life of a slave to the sea including binge drinking, indiscriminate love affairs and reckless endangerment. I did appreciate Vaughan's ability to beautifully convey a basic passion for sailing that is often difficult to describe.

Loved this book, find other review saying it's not about the particular race missing the point, it IS about sailing, about LOVING sailing, and yep, there is danger, but there is such an appreciation for LIFE in this little book that to carp about any politically-incorrectness is definitely mising the point! Good characterization, good story, GOOD BOOK! Find it and read it!

I liked this book a lot. Written about one particular sailboat race, and one particular storm, it falls into the category of "catastrophe" books, I guess, but it is, as another reviewer wrote, about much MORE than this one race. Wish there were follow-up books by Mr. Vaughan. Yes, great sailing descriptions, the best I've ever read. This book is a very good thing in a small package.

I liked the premise of the story as described in the previous reviews. I liked Sabrina Bennett. I liked Hunter, our hero the Earl of Greystone. But what I did not like was the constant references to Sabrina'a age, 18. Yes, Hunter was in his early 30's, I think 32 or 34. Yes, he was older. But she came across as a teenager. He referred to her throughout the book as a child, as "little one". Rather off putting, especially in bedroom play. Not that there was lots of that. Why did Ms. Brown employ her age to such distraction? Why make the age issue such an issue? It really took away from the story for me. Even in the bedroom scenes, she was wearing modest, high neck, white cotten nightgowns. Because she was really a girl, not a woman and thus, should have been left in the nursery.

Unlike the other debutantes of the Season, Sabrina Bennett has no desire to find a husband; for Sabrina has her whole life mapped out for herself: she's going to spend her life in solitude, reading and writing articles for the newspapers: a husband and children would only mess up this rosy dream she has for her future. Unfortunately for Sabrina, her grandfather wants her married and off his hands. So Sabrina comes up with what she thinks of as a brilliant plan to engineer her own social ruin, and so ensuring that her dreams will come true. With her sister's (Amanda) help, she draws up a list of rakes with which to carry out her plan. What Sabrina doesn't know is that Amanda has hopes of forestalling this harebrained scheme. Amanda skillfully maneuvers Sabrina into the path of Hunter Lancaster, the Earl of Greystone, a man with the rather sordid reputaion of having fathered his own stepsister's child. Amanda knows that Hunter is not the scoundrel that society has painted him out to be, and feels that Sabrina will be safe with him.

Hunter is furious when Sabrina propositions him to ruin her, and quite ruthlessly shots down her request. Little does Hunter expect that his path will cross Sabrina's again so soon after that! The next morning brings news of the horrific murder of a young debutante, Lady Jane. Sabrina is determined to discover who the murderer is, and invites herself to the house party of one of the suspects. Horrified at the turn of events, Amanda goes to Hunter for help. And so Hunter finds himself tracking down Sabrina, and assisting her (much against his will) in going through their "host's" personal effects. Imagine Hunter's surprise when Sabrina comes across a signet ring with a rather unique pattern that seems to suggest that Hunter's sister's seducer and the dead debutante's murder are somehow tied together. But how? However even before either Sabrina or Hunter can proceed with their investigations, all hell breaks loose. Somehow word of their outing has been leaked and Hunter is forced to offer for Sabrina, even as she is forced to accept his proposal of marriage. Can these two who seemingly have so little in common and who seem to grate on each other's nerves make this hasty marriage work? And will Hunter and Sabrina discover who murdered Lady Jane?

I rather enjoyed "Racing to Ruin." It was a really fun read. Sabrina Bennett is so spunky, smart and vivacious, that she completely disarmed me even as I groaned over her rather teenage tendency to carry out a scheme without thinking it through! It is this pluck and resolution that makes her the perfect match for Hunter Lancaster in spite of the very obvious age difference between them. I also liked that Stacey Brown devoted quite a few chapters to showing these two trying to make their marriage work, and coming to terms with their different expectations. Something else that made this novel really enjoyable for me was Hunter and Sabrina's witty repartee. It's been quite a while since I read such banter.

All in all, "Racing to Ruin" is a really fun read, and well worth recommending.

Sabrina Bennett refuses to allow her abusive grandfather dictate her future; rather, she plans her own ruin so that she might retire to the country where she may follow her intellectual interests. With her sister's aid, Sabrina decides upon the notorious rake Hunter Lancaster, Earl of Greystone to be the means to her ruin. Certainly he won't refuse her request.

Hunter can't help comparing the impetuous Sabrina to his beloved sister because of her innocent naiveté. Like Julia, Sabrina's youth and inexperience leads her to believe in the best of people, even to her own detriment. However, that shared innocence prevents him from accepting Sabrina's outlandish offer. Hunter finds himself wildly attracted to the young minx, perhaps because she offers such marvelous respite from his otherwise jaded existence. Soon, much to his own surprise, Hunter finds himself protecting Sabrina, rather than ruining her. Indeed, soon he finds himself going to great lengths to protect her, even at the risk of his beloved freedom.

These characters are often at cross-purposes, saying one thing and meaning another, and then suddenly so directly honest as to be touching. While they are charming, attractive characters, their own deceptions that end in misunderstandings, can leave the reader quite frustrated. Indeed, their dishonesty regarding their emotions toward one another can be quite infuriating. Nevertheless, the dark mystery that binds the plot of the story, as well as the charming romance that builds between the hero and heroine, makes RACING TO RUIN a very pleasant read. Recommended.

This is a reasonably good account of F1 history, but too "anglized", as too much emphasis is given to british drivers and teams. Of course F1 has a great deal to do with brits, but we shall never forget the importat roles of the french, germans, japanese and especially italians in the establishment of this important category of grand prix racing. The omissions of brilliant Nelson Piquet - one of the very few drivers ever to win 3 F1 world titles-, and of the geniuos Emerson Fittipaldi - the youngest driver ever to win a F1 world title-, as the best drivers of all times, are unforgivable. Recent F1 history owes much to talented brazilian drivers which are overlooked and not given the deserved credited in this book. Nevertheless still a readable book for grand prix racing fans.

I received The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Formula One for Christmas, and soon found myself reading through the whole thing cover to cover. One of the things that I found lacking was in the teams section, the Beatrice Haas Lola team was absent. Other than this minor omission, it's a great book.

This is really an ultimate introduction to F1, but, as such, it is first-rate. Read this, plus a few web sites and you will quickly understand the history and culture of Formula One. Not long on technology or statistics, it is for the average fan, especially the new one.

Marianna Haun's X-Factor is a starting point of information regarding the subject of the X chromosome, however, I felt the format of text hard to digest because the author's writing style is very broken up. The she wanders and comes back to the subject matter pages, and some times chapters, later. There is at least one pedigree error. Page 105 states Milan Mill is a daughter of Princequillo and the pedigree on page 106, shows her out of Caruso. Also, pedigrees of all listed DC mares would have been extremly informing and the index does not list all horses mentioned in the text. Myself being a researcher, would have liked to have had a bibliography included so I could varify the information presented. My general opinion of this work is that Ms. Haun compiled information from research work that has been done on this subject without a complete understanding of the subject matter herself.

I think this book is good on two levels. As a primer for getting to know what the X-Factor is and how take advantage of it when breeding horses, I think book is essential. It also contains an absolute wealth of information that is incredibly valuable and interesting to breeders and pedigree researchers alike.

On the other hand, I found a number of ommisions & contradictions in Mrs. Haun's logic and quite a few problems or errors in the book itself. There are points where the serious researcher will have to make leaps of faith with Mrs. Haun and other points where you'll be left scratching your head wondering what's she's talking about. I found of typos (horse names spelled incorrectly in the book AIR FORBES ONE, ISINGLAS, etc) and the general impression I got was that her work hadn't been checked thoroughly for errors or was rushed to print before it was ready. At one point she mentions that Bend Or and Gainsborough trace their X-Factor genes to the mare Pocahontas which is flat wrong. I could find no such link and was left scratching my head.

While Marianna documents the Princequillo and War Admiral lines fairly well, it seems that there's a lack of documentation of the Mahmoud and Blue Larkspur lines. Whether this is because the author doesn't know the complete story with these lines or not is hard to tell. There also appear to be Omaha and Citation lines which she treats differently than the other lines. Unless you are an astute reader, you'll miss some of information Marianna has to share about these specific lines.

Overall, I found the book great. I was able to replicate and validate most of the connections she made and in many cases extend them by locating additional double copy mares which aren't included in the book.

I look forward to an update of this book with a list of additional X-Factor sires and more complete documentation.

The findings of a genetic link to a specific characteristic found in superior race horses is nothing less than spectacular, both in terms of significance to the Thoroughbred industry, and in the sheer volume of information that had to be researched in order to achieve these findings. In a time of genetic emphasis and the biotechnical explosion that is to come in the near future, it is amazing to pinpoint a genetic link that is recessive, yet has found it's way down the gene trail for over 200 years. I applaude Marianna Haun, as I applauded the greatest racehorse ever with the largest heart in history: Secretariat.