Book Reviews
Reviews of the latest media that interest motoring enthusiasts.
The Complete Book of Shelby Automobiles
The Ford Mustang is an American icon among high performance automobiles, but it was legendary racecar driver Carroll Shelby that secured the car's unprecedented reputation. Although most make this connection between man and machine, few besides true enthusiasts recognize Shelby's vast contributions to the world of American muscle cars in general. The… Read More
Snake vs. Mongoose
Today Hot Wheels is a household name, but the toy's embodiment of high-speed thrills was jump-started in the 1970s by the racing careers of Don the Snake Prudhomme and Tom the Mongoose McEwen. In Snake vs. Mongoose, published by Motorbooks, author Tom Madigan rediscovers the drivers who engineered drag racing's first ever, non-automotive, corporate … Read More
Motion Performance: Tales of a Muscle Car Builder
New York-based Baldwin-Motion Performance Group built some of the fastest Chevys the golden age of muscle ever saw; big-bore Bow Tie creations which included fire-breathing Camaros, Chevelles, and Corvettes. But they didn't get the recognition they deserved from the contemporary motor press. To set the record straight, Baldwin-Motion PR guru and former VETTE… Read More
Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman
Fans of Paul Newman's legendary performances on the silver screen may not be aware that he was also a legend on the racetrack. Following his passing in September 2008, the time was right for Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman, a book which takes its title from the 1968 film in which Newman starred. Written by Motor Trend editor Matt Stone and freelance… Read More
Legendary Race Cars
There is no sport that touts the symbiotic relationship between man and machine like race car driving. And Legendary Race Cars author and photographer Basem Wasef beautifully captures this high speed pursuit in all its glory and emotion; emotion that ranges from courage to fear, elation, to humiliation. Through vivid human detail, and a collection of fantastic… Read More
It’s Only Original Once: Unrestored Classic Cars
A flawless restoration turns heads, but an unrestored classic car can be an absolute show stopper. "It's Only Original Once: Unrestored Classic Cars" explores the allure of the unmolested original. Among the cars captured in the over 500 colored photographs is a '57 Corvette wearing its first and only coat of paint it ever had. And a 1960 Mercury Montclair… Read More
Indianapolis Motor Speedway: 100 Years of Racing
In 1909, four men purchased 320 acres of Indiana farmland for $500, beat out a loop of hard-pack, and called it the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Since then, it has become the most recognizable venues in racing. In anticipation of the Speedway's hundredth anniversary, Ralph Kramer penned Indianapolis Motor Speedway: 100 Years of Racing, a book of pictures to… Read More
Three Points of Contact
People often forget that on the track, even as cars themselves become faster and more complex, the driver's most potent weapon is himself. Jeffrey Zwart's book of photographs, Three Points of Contact is a beautiful and fitting homage to twenty-four of the greatest contemporary drivers, or rather to their hands, eyes and feet. The title of the book is taken… Read More
Porsche: Sixty Years
Of all the marques available throughout automotive history, few have inspired more books than Porsche, and Porsche: Sixty Years by Randy Leffingwell is one of the best yet. It presents the history of this iconic sports car brand, from humble beginnings to world wide success, in thorough but always easy to read detail. It then illustrates every model and… Read More
Shelby Cars In Detail
Big coffee table books about famous cars are a dime a dozen, and few of them, even the cheap ones, are rarely worth their asking price. But Shelby Cars In Detail, by Frank Barrett and Boyd Jaynes, is not only one of the most expensive that we've ever seen, it's also one of the best. $149.95 buys you a massive book presenting 26 significant machines from the… Read More