Motorsport Wordsmiths

[Autumnpuma 0]

Go dig out those motorsport books, dust 'em off and post the titles here. I need some new reading material.

Here's my contribution to your libraries:

Race to Win, Derek Daly (Excellent analysis of what a driver past, present and future faces and must overcome)

Jim Clark at the wheel ,Jim Clark (Jim describes Jim. Nirvana)

Jim Clark, Racing Legend , Eric Dymock (Good Lord this thing is expensive now! Written by a journo who called Jimmy a friend...good insight in this one)

The Mechanic's Tale, Steve Matchett

Racecar Aerodynamics, Designing for Speed , Joseph Katz (I met him once at SDSU...nice guy. This book is old, but still good for giving you the basics of aero theory)

Ok, there are many more, but I don't wanna steal anyone's thunder. So what are you waiting for? Post 'em!!

[Rainmaster 7]

I can't be doing with links at this hour, but Google is everyone's friend!

Enzo Ferrari - Richard Williams

VILLENEUVE: The Life of the Legendary Racing Driver - Gerald Donaldson

Working the Wheel - Martin Brundle (I remember this one was good)

The Death of Ayrton Senna - Richard Williams (I'll never forget the closing paragraph of this one)

Ayrton Senna: The Whole Story - Christopher Hilton

Valentino Rossi the autobiography - What if I had never tried it? (perhaps the best title of the lot and always reminds me of the tale of Heinz Hopflinger)

Jim Clark: Racing Legend - Eric Dymock (and yep, this one was a good read iirc)

Murray Walker's Formula One Heroes - Murray Walker & Simon Taylor

The Life of Senna - Tom Rubython

Life At The Limit - Professor Sid Watkins (a tale of F1 tragedy, makes you appreciate modern safety standards)

Winning Is Not Enough - Jackie Stewart (pretty good read iirc)

Michael Schumacher: the edge of greatness - James Allen

*************************************************

I'm interested in getting books on Juan Manuel Fangio, Sir Stirling, Alain Prost and Nuvolari if anyone has any recommendations? Also planning on buying, at some point, DC's autobiography (which if it's half as good as his BBC role should be a good read), and perhaps Niki Lauda's autobiography.

Edit: edited to get rid of redundant white space.

[Autumnpuma 0]

I also have Working the Wheel by Brundle...very good indeed. I do have one on Nuvolari, (Nuvolari, The Legend Lives Again), and it's pretty good, but I don't know how it compares to other Tazio books out there.

[dribbler 6]

Working the Wheel - Martin Brundle (I remember this one was good)

Michael Schumacher: the edge of greatness - James Allen

I'm interested in getting books on Juan Manuel Fangio, Sir Stirling, Alain Prost and Nuvolari if anyone has any recommendations? Also planning on buying, at some point, DC's autobiography (which if it's half as good as his BBC role should be a good read), and perhaps Niki Lauda's autobiography.

Two very good reads there. The Coulthard autobiog' is worth getting. There are 24 chapters on him having to concede positions to Hakkinen. Well, actually there's one chapter explaining, followed by 23 chapters of moaning. Seriously though, as you suspected, his intelligence carries through and it's quite insightful.

I would add 'The Piranha Club' by Timothy Collings.

[Rainmaster 7]

Cheers guys I'll probably get those three then

[JHS 1]

I'm interested in getting books on Juan Manuel Fangio, Sir Stirling, Alain Prost and Nuvolari if anyone has any recommendations? Also planning on buying, at some point, DC's autobiography (which if it's half as good as his BBC role should be a good read), and perhaps Niki Lauda's autobiography.

DC's book is good, very good. It's also amusing too and you can tell it's not fake. What I mean about that, is even though drivers right autobiogs, you can still tell that sometimes they put a bit of a false story on, but this seems the real genuine DC.

[Kopite Girl 0]

I had Sid Watkins book which was brilliant. Murray Walkers autobiography, embarrassing but Life In The Fast Lane by Eddie Irvine was a good read too. I wont mention Button's as I'm biased.

[Kopite Girl 0]

Mike if you can search for 'Jim Clark: Remembered' by Graham Gauld. Awesome read. I couldn't put it down.

[Senna's Ghost 0]

Ole Peeps

Nothing better than settling down for a few hours read of a good book on motor racing and particularly F1, especially biogs of past racers. Apart from the books already listed on this thread, all of which are very good reads, I'd recommend the following;

Stirling Moss the authorised biography - Robert Edwards

Mario Andretti - a driving passion - Gordon Kirby

Formula 1 Fanatic - Koen Vergeer. A really good read and an insight into the life of Koen and how F1 is his passion. However I don't agree with his assessment of Alain Prost.

Don't forget to purchase Autocourse at Christmas time. This sees me through the winter months before pre-season testing begins again and it always gives you the facts and figures of the season. So at anytime I can astound you all with my insightful knowledge of the F1 career of Paul Belmondo. Every lap he has driven, every practice time he clocked. Go on test me.

10 years ago Autocours celebrate its 50th birthday and produced an book to celebrate the occasion. It was simply titled 50 years of World Championship Grand Prix Motor Racing. It is up to the usual high standards of Autocourse annuals. It documents each season with the stories of that year. Lots of sidebar articles that inform. Fabulous pictures throughout and a list of every race and the finishing positions as well as championship stats. Excellent book. If you haven't got it you might be able to get a back issue from Amazon or E-bay.

Finally Ayrton Senna's Principles of Race Driving and Alain Prost - Competition Driving. If you go on a track day, make sure you pack a copy of one of these books. Guarantee that the instructor will take it from you and start reading it himself.

Tchau, and happy reading.

[Autumnpuma 0]

Mike if you can search for 'Jim Clark: Remembered' by Graham Gauld. Awesome read. I couldn't put it down.

Ole Peeps

Nothing better than settling down for a few hours read of a good book on motor racing and particularly F1, especially biogs of past racers. Apart from the books already listed on this thread, all of which are very good reads, I'd recommend the following;

Stirling Moss the authorised biography - Robert Edwards

Mario Andretti - a driving passion - Gordon Kirby

Formula 1 Fanatic - Koen Vergeer. A really good read and an insight into the life of Koen and how F1 is his passion. However I don't agree with his assessment of Alain Prost.

Don't forget to purchase Autocourse at Christmas time. This sees me through the winter months before pre-season testing begins again and it always gives you the facts and figures of the season. So at anytime I can astound you all with my insightful knowledge of the F1 career of Paul Belmondo. Every lap he has driven, every practice time he clocked. Go on test me.

10 years ago Autocours celebrate its 50th birthday and produced an book to celebrate the occasion. It was simply titled 50 years of World Championship Grand Prix Motor Racing. It is up to the usual high standards of Autocourse annuals. It documents each season with the stories of that year. Lots of sidebar articles that inform. Fabulous pictures throughout and a list of every race and the finishing positions as well as championship stats. Excellent book. If you haven't got it you might be able to get a back issue from Amazon or E-bay.

Finally Ayrton Senna's Principles of Race Driving and Alain Prost - Competition Driving. If you go on a track day, make sure you pack a copy of one of these books. Guarantee that the instructor will take it from you and start reading it himself.

Tchau, and happy reading.

Excellent! I now have a shopping list. The books by Gould on Clark and Prost on Competition driving will probably be my first purchases.

Another good one that hasn't been mentioned is Drive To Win, Caroll Smith (he's also got one called Engineer to Win but that's a bit dated)

Also, I forgot to put some background info on the Steve Matchett book up above. For those not familiar with Matchett, he's one of the three commentators on SpeedTV's F1 broadcast and was a chief mechanic for Benetton during the Schumacher/Brawn days.

[Persevere 0]

Mercedes-Benz W196: Last of the Silver Arrows (1986) by Michael Reidner- Fine study of the all-conquering 1954/1955 car, with a closing chapter on the 300SLR.

Bruce McLaren: The Man and His Racing Team (update from 1995) by Eoin S. Young- Solid work on an exceptional man.

McLaren: The Grand Prix, Can-Am & Indy Cars (update from 1988) by Doug Nye- Good overview of the team from it's humble beginnings.

Classic Racing Cars (1991) by Doug Nye & Geoff Goddard- Very good history of the front-engined F1 cars from 1946 to their swansong in 1960/61.

Chaparral: Complete History... (1992) by Richard Falconer & Doug Nye- Wonderful, evocative history of the innovative cars by Jim Hall.

The Complete History of Grand Prix Motor Racing (1990 edition) by Adriano Cimarosti- Very good reference work to have on your book shelf.

Maserati: Sports, Racing & GT Cars From 1926 (revised 1992 edition) by Richard Crump & Rob de la Rive Box- Well-detailed and many fine photos.

Aston Martin: The Post-War Competition Cars (1991) by Anthony Pritchard- There aren't many books out there about A.M.; this one's a keeper.

The Anatomy & Development of the Sports Prototype Racing Car (1991) by Ian Bamsey- Very technical approach for those so inclined.

[Shani 0]

Cars

...the movie