As the winter evenings draw closer and the different motorsport championships begin to wrap up, I'm sure most of us will be looking for different ways to keep ourselves entertained during the off-season. As Speedhunters we cover a lot of events, ranging from wildly different scenes. One thing I learned during the summer is how little I know outside of Drifting / Rallying / Fords. I'm aiming to change this over the winter by studying up on the past eras of motorsport and the different scenes and lifestyles that I'm a little bit shall we say, less educated in.
What I'm asking is, regardless of your automotive creed, what one book could you not live without or has made an impact on how you see things ?
-
Paddy
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Go Like Hell is a really good book about Ford and Ferrari at Le Mans in the 60's. Highly recommended
I recommend the book Abarth: All Car's as well
I've got a great cars' books collection too!
There is one book that particularly changed my way of thinking, it is called "The Anatomy & Development of the Sports Prototype Racing Car" by Ian Bamsey. Not only does this book give a brief history of sports car and sports prototype racing, but it does it along side pages of technical data about the inner workings of these great cars. This book will not only teach you some history, it will teach you about every part of these cars and how they work specifically. But be warned this book is very technical and does not cater to people without a firm grasp on mechanics and math. That being said I am sure that doesn't apply to you Patrick, this book would be perfect.
Maximum Boost, by Corky Bell.
amazon has it for less than 25 bucks.
I think one of the coolest books that I have in my library right now is the NASCAR Vault. It isn't in the standard "novel" format like most books are but it tells the complete history of NASCAR and it even has reproduction tickets, booklets, ect that go along with the stories. And I do have to agree with Matt go like hell is a great book.
"Inside IMSA's Legendary GTP Race Cars: The Prototype Experience"
Highly-detailed technical review of the rise and fall of Grand Touring Prototype. Lots of pictures and good writing to boot.
I recommend:
1) Cosmic Motors,
2) The Hot Rod Art Book,
3) Start your engines,
3 design based books but they got me through my degree and make amazing reading and are very inspirational! Failing that...epic toilet reading...
Apart from Richard Dredge's "Concept Cars" and Jonhathan Wood's "The Ultimate History of Fast Cars", i don't really own any other automotive books...
On the other hand, a lot of manga series changed my way to look at things. I mean stuff like Initial D, Wangan Midnight, Shakotan Boogie, OverRev!, Capeta... I mean, there's a lot of series that cover a lot of styles and scenes of the automotive world.
If i had to choose only one though, definetely Initial D since it introduced me to drifting back when i was a kid.
book?
BTW I couldn't live without "British Touring Car Racing", "Rally" and "Cosworth"...
The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams.
Best book ever.
initial D definitely changed my life drasticaly... but i know thats not what your looking for. ive read a bunch of books on driving techniques, but for car culture in general got no suggestions.
this is really cool, id be even cooler if a list could be posted on recomended books on car design , car cultures and driving techniques. Id love to find interesting books as well
http://www.flickr.com/photos/grabau/2112027894/in/set-72157604011024504/
We have shelves of these books. Bill collects them.
Oh wow that is a copy of Rally Cars by Reinhard Klein all the way on the left. That thing is the holy grail of rally car books. I was lucky enough to peruse a copy at a local speed shop and it definitely lives up to all the hype.
Going Faster! Mastering the Art of Race Driving
Tune to Win - Carroll Smith
Growing up I found comfort reading Stephen King - Christine. Morbid I know, but the idea of a car killing anyone who messed with it or its owner was awesome to me. The book is FAR more frightening than the movie, by far. Its worth a read!
I have Go Like Hell as well, as one of my all-time favourite motoring books.
Honestly though? Hard Driving: The Wendell Scott Story. Yes it's about the first black stockcar driver managing to perservere in what was a racist sport... But for me it was more about going racing with almost no money and managing to perservere, with nothing but passion. It's a story that's rare these days, and reads very well.
hmmm?? my collection of Autocourse books - a massive reference guide to all things fast and four wheeled! - don't tell the missus..
Rally & Rally Cars... you have Rally in that picture. They are expensive books but they really are definitive.
A fantastic sixties driving manual written by Giancarlo Baghetti. Fantastic period pictures and proper explanations of how to drive cars without syncromesh, ABS, radial tyres or traction control.
The Porsche 911 Story by the late Paul Frère is required reading.
Oh and you can't go wrong with Karl Ludwigsen's Excellence Was Expected, the Porsche Bible.
I don't know of any books out there for oval dirt racing, but if you could find them then read them! NASCAR on dirt and drifting... Doesn't get much better than that!
Definitely the bosozoku style coloring book I made!
It is not something that to read or color, it is more the experience I got from making something innocent for "fun" to have my son play with it. It sold out in 24 hours. Amazing!
I'm just having it reprinted and I'm very curious what that will do.
In the case of literature I think Haruki Marukami's books influenced me most lately.
Hi t_s,
Btw Karl Ludvigsen's and Jurgen Barth's Porsche book what do you prefer?
Thanks
Walter Rohl diary or Ring Of Fire by Rick Broadbent , both good
London? Sth like "The Motor Book Shop". am I wrong?
Hi Nalves, I've got the Barth book on order, as soon as I've taken the required year to read through it all I'll let you know!
Unfair Advantage by Mark Donohue
This is my list:
http://www.amazon.com/lm/R1SLBCKVUZ78LT/