How many F1 books are titled as an afterthought? There are plenty of biographies on my bookshelf with cheesy titles like “Life in the Fast Lane” and “Driven to Win”. But “Winning is not Enough” is not just a casual pun. It’s a theme that runs right through the core of an autobiography of a … Continue reading “Winning is not enough: the autobiography” (Jackie Stewart, 2007)
Reviews articles archive
Video games, books, videos and more reviews for motorsport fans.
“Lewis Hamilton – The Story So Far” (Gareth Rogers, 2007)
Posted onAnother unofficial Lewis Hamilton biography hits the shelves before he’s even finished his first season of F1. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the book won’t be worth reading – after all, Hamilton did years of racing before he even reached F1. Sadly, “The Story So Far” is a weak effort that doesn’t even expand our … Continue reading “Lewis Hamilton – The Story So Far” (Gareth Rogers, 2007)
The Ben Evans column: Better DVDs, please
Posted onI missed Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix because I like to sleep in the tiny hours of the morning. Unfortunately my girlfriend then dragged me out of the house for a country walk and so I missed the repeat as well… As a result my motor sport viewing on Sunday was reduced to a quick spin … Continue reading The Ben Evans column: Better DVDs, please
“Fangio: The Life behind the Legend” (Gerald Donaldson, 2003)
Posted onFive world championships, 24 wins from 51 starts – benchmarks that for decades the Formula 1 fraternity thought un-surpassable. They have been beaten now, but his victory strike rate and sheer total of championships won – second only to Michael Schumacher – will remain etched in the pages of history. But anyone who came to … Continue reading “Fangio: The Life behind the Legend” (Gerald Donaldson, 2003)
Working the Wheel reviewed
F1 reviews
Posted onMartin Brundle’s first and thus far only book is his tour around the great motor racing circuits of the world.
“Racers” (Richard Williams, 1997)
Posted onAt the end of every year comes the inevitable rush of season review annuals. Bright, glossy, heavy, and most of them completely pointless apart from the instalments of the venerable Autocourse. “Racers” is in effect a review of the 1996 season, but with several crucial differences: It is written as straight narrative, with not a … Continue reading “Racers” (Richard Williams, 1997)
“Champion: Fangio” (DVD, 2002)
Posted onIt’s fifty years since Juan Manuel Fangio won his fifth and final world championship. It took until 2003 for Michael Schumacher to surpass his haul of championship victories. He may have raced at the dawn of the world championship but a fair amount of footage of the great Argentinian’s career does exist. Plenty of which … Continue reading “Champion: Fangio” (DVD, 2002)
“Ferrari: The Grand Prix Cars (new ed.)” (Alan Henry, 1989)
Posted onBooks on Ferrari are ten a penny. But most of the titles about the famous Italian marque are glossy ‘coffee table’ pieces with plenty of pretty pictures but little in the way of style. So I was very happy to come across this very substantial book by Alan Henry. What it lacks it gloss it … Continue reading “Ferrari: The Grand Prix Cars (new ed.)” (Alan Henry, 1989)
“Lewis Hamilton: A Dream Comes True” (Brian Belton, 2007)
Posted onYes, that’s right, it’s the first biography of Lewis Hamilton and it’s out before the season’s even finished. It’s written by Brian Belton, a youth worker who met a young Hamilton and has kept an eye on the British star’s career for more than ten years. He says he’s written the book from a fan’s … Continue reading “Lewis Hamilton: A Dream Comes True” (Brian Belton, 2007)
“Michael Schumacher: The edge of greatness” (James Allen, 2007)
Posted onPast titles with the word ‘Schumacher’ on the spine vary from half-decent to downright awful. But ITV F1 commentator James Allen’s new book on Michael Schumacher took me by surprise. Unfortunately Schumacher has not deigned to be interviewed for the “The Edge of Greatness”. Undeterred, Allen nonetheless collared Schumacher’s former team mates Eddie Irvine and … Continue reading “Michael Schumacher: The edge of greatness” (James Allen, 2007)
Five Hamilton books for Xmas market
Posted onThe Lewis Hamilton cash-in machine is running full steam with five biographies of the 22 year-old to hit the shelves in time for Xmas. And one of them even claims to know how the world championship will turn out. For attention-grabbing jacket quotes, it’s hard to beat this: Thrown in at the deep end ‘on … Continue reading Five Hamilton books for Xmas market
“Against All Odds” (Eoin Young & James Hunt, 1977)
Posted onHaving entered a snowmobile race at the start of the year under the name ‘James Hunt’, Kimi Raikkonen used the name again to disguise his presence at a recent party – at which he also arrived dressed as a gorilla. Party animal Hunt would have approved. But Raikkonen will also want to emulate Hunt’s 1976 … Continue reading “Against All Odds” (Eoin Young & James Hunt, 1977)
More essential & cheap summer reads for F1 fans
Posted onAfter last week’s five must-read F1 summer paperbacks went down so well I thought I’d pick out another five. Once again these are all titles I’ve read and can wholeheartedly recommend – and you can pick them up for pennies from our affiliate partner.
“Formula One 1974: Down to the last race” (DVD)
Posted onThink of F1 racing in the 1970s and you imagine bizarre-looking cars with fat rear wheels, daubed in the gaudy colours of their sponsors. Unpredictable races, down-to the wire championship battles, and a different winner each weekend. In 1974, that wasn’t far from the truth, and this excellent DVD captures the spirit of those heady … Continue reading “Formula One 1974: Down to the last race” (DVD)
Essential & cheap summer reads for F1 fans
Posted onThe three-week summer break follows the next Grand Prix in Hungary. If you’re heading off on holiday a stack of summer paperbacks is essential for those long days at the beach. Here’s a selection of five of my favourites from biographies to general topics. Plus you can pick them up at bargain prices from F1Fanatic’s … Continue reading Essential & cheap summer reads for F1 fans
“Brooklands: The official centenary history” (David Venables, 2007)
Posted onBuilt in 1907, Brooklands was the first purpose built banked racing circuit. Although it never held a round of the F1 World Championship, it holds an important place in motor racing history. Timed to coincide with its centenary this new book from Haynes covers not just the decades of motor racing that took place at … Continue reading “Brooklands: The official centenary history” (David Venables, 2007)
“Graham Hill Scrapbook 1929-1966” (Philip Porter, 2007)
Posted onI had the fortune to meet the author of this book, Philip Porter, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed a few weeks ago. He explained how this series of books had begun as a means of publishing some of Stirling Moss’s extensive collection of racing mementoes, including his diaries. The Stirling Moss scrapbook is now … Continue reading “Graham Hill Scrapbook 1929-1966” (Philip Porter, 2007)
“Unraced… Formula One’s lost cars” (Sam Collins, 2007)
Posted on“The Ford Cosworth DFV” (Andrew Noakes, 2007)
Posted onFormula 1 as we know it today could not possibly exist without the Ford Cosworth DFV. How would the likes of McLaren and Williams fared without an affordable, reliable engine unit on which to build the foundations of their success? The DFV appeared in 1967 and variations of it were still being used two decades … Continue reading “The Ford Cosworth DFV” (Andrew Noakes, 2007)
“1982” (Christopher Hilton, 2007)
Posted onThe 1994 season was F1’s last annus horribilis. Before that came the horrors of 1982. Two drivers died and another was horrifically injured, Suddenly F1’s champions were leaving the sport in droves, and the cars were brutal death traps. Between the trauma on the track and political chaos off it, it’s a wonder 1982 hasn’t … Continue reading “1982” (Christopher Hilton, 2007)