Archive for Items Categorized 'Racing, Rally', only excerpts shown, click title for full entry.

For Flux Sake: Beer, Fags and Opposite-Lock 

by Ian Flux with Matt James

This British driver belongs to the baby boomer generation, the last one to be able to immerse itself in racing without guilt, regret, or even a backward glance. This account of a racer’s life is endearing, frank, shocking, funny and fast-paced—just like its author.

A History of Auto Racing in New England

Dick Berggren, editor

Unless you live there you probably had no idea how long ago racing started in that region. This excellent book connects many dots that extend far beyond those six states.

Norbert Singer – My Racing Life with Porsche 1970–2004

by Norbert Singer & Wilfried Müller

He almost became a rocket scientist. He almost went to Opel instead of Porsche. His very first assignment helped win Le Mans at a crucial time. No looking back now—his entire career was spent at Porsche, which would go on to win 16 overall race victories with cars in which he played a key role.

The Last Lap, The Mysterious Demise of Pete Kreis at the Indianapolis 500

by William T. Walker Jr.

On the one hand it was called “the strangest death in all racing history” because no observable causes were found. On the other hand, unobservable forces may/did/could have put so much agony into a man’s soul that going over the edge, flying into the sky, crashing into a tree, was the only sure way to find peace.

24 HOURS, 100 Years of Le Mans 

by Richard Williams

How far can you go, nowadays, pretty much nonstop, in 24 hours? Oh, about 3200 miles—an inconceivable number a hundred years ago when this epic endurance race was first held.

Racing With Roger Penske, A History of a Motorsport Dynasty

by Sigur E. Whitaker

Dynasty implies succession but The Captain, after several years as a race car driver, built his empire from scratch and is still involved in many of its aspects. “Most successful” describes most his accomplishments, and this book seems much too small to do them justice.

Raoul ‘Sonny’ Balcaen

by Raoul ‘Sonny’ Balcaen III

You may not know the name, or even how to pronounce it (hint: it’s of Belgian origin) but you would recognize the cars and the people you’ll encounter in this memoir justly subtitled “My Exciting True Life Story.” He could take a car apart by the age of 11 and he’s not stopped since.

NASCAR 75 Years

by Pearce, Hembree, Crandall, Creed

No matter what you think about the racing action, as an organization and business NASCAR is an uncommon success with staying power. What started as 40 races in the first season has grown to over 1,500 sanctioned events in multiple countries.

Racing the Silver Arrows

by Chris Nixon

Two German teams dominated Grand Prix racing because of their technical superiority made possible by enormous government investment into the racing programs but also the companies overall because of their military value.

Forty Six: The Birth of Porsche Motorsport

by Bill Wagenblatt (Editor)

Right in time for the 100th anniversary of the race at which this car won its class as Porsche’s first postwar works entry this book tells its colorful story in forensic detail. How the provenance of the car was proven is amazing, and it raises the bar for “doing right” by historically important vehicles.

Superbears—The Story of Hesketh Racing

by James Page

Need something to do on the weekends? Got a pile of money? Why, let’s start a racing team! It’s 1972. Their caterer had better credentials than their—unemployed—driver. The opposition laughed, but not for long.

Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo, Porsche 1952–1982

by Patrick Dasse & Maurice Louche

More photo album than rally analysis, these books will suck you in! Cars, people, interesting locations—and buckets o’ snow. Obviously all seen through Porsche-colored glasses.