Cars and Racing

Books about car culture and auto racing, from Formula 1 to the insights of weekend track day aficionados. Stories about racers and technical investigations into the techniques and mechanics of speed.
Updated December 14, 2022
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The art of racing in the rain : a novel
Stein, Garth
Paper Book
The New York Times bestselling novel from Garth Stein--a heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope--a captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life . . . as only a dog could tell it. "Splendid." --People "The...
Harry Truman's excellent adventure : the true story of a great American road trip
Algeo, Matthew.
Paper Book
On June 19, 1953, Harry Truman got up early, packed the trunk of his Chrysler New Yorker, and did something no other former president has done before or since: he hit the road. No Secret Service protection. No traveling press. Just Harry and his childhood sweetheart Bess, off to visit old...
Driving like crazy : thirty years of vehicular hellbending, celebrating America the way it's supposed to be-- with an oil well in every backyard, a Cadillac Escalade in every carport, and the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank mowing our lawn
O'Rourke, P. J.
Paper Book
A collection spanning thirty years, chronicling famed humorist and gearhead P. J. O'Rourke's love affair with the automobile from mid-twentieth century to now--from heyday to sickbay.
Go like hell : Ford, Ferrari, and their battle for speed and glory at Le Mans
Baime, A. J.
Paper Book
By the early 1960s, the Ford Motor Company, built to bring automobile transportation to the masses, was falling behind. Young Henry Ford II, who had taken the reins of his grandfather's company with little business experience to speak of, knew he had to do something to shake things up....
Legendary story about cars.
How to build a car
Newey, Adrian
Paper Book
'Adrian has a unique gift for understanding drivers and racing cars. He is ultra competitive but never forgets to have fun. An immensely likeable man.' Damon Hill The worldâe(tm)s foremost designer in Formula One, Adrian Newey OBE is arguably one of Britainâe(tm)s greatest engineers...
Faster : how a Jewish driver, an American heiress, and a legendary car beat Hitler's best
Bascomb, Neal
Paper Book
Winner of the Motor Press Guild Best Book of the Year Award & Dean Batchelor Award for Excellence in Automotive Journalism  For fans of The Boys in the Boat and In the Garden of Beasts, a pulse-pounding tale of triumph by an improbable team of...
Winning is not enough : the autobiography
Stewart, Jackie
Paper Book
One of the most highly regarded names in racing, Sir Jackie Stewart is the winner of three F1 World Championships and 27 Grand Prix races, and is ranked in the top five drivers of all time. In the 1960s and 1970s, with his black cap, sideburns, and aviator...
My Mercedes is not for sale : from Amsterdam to Ouagadougou : an auto-misadventure across the Sahara
Bergeijk, Jeroen van
Paper Book
"Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz?"--Janis Joplin A journalist's intrepid endeavor to sell his used car abroad results in a high-spirited and revealing look at West Africa. "Look, there's my car," I say, pointing at my Mercedes in the parking...
The mechanic's tale : life in the pit-lanes of Formula One
Matchett, Steve
Paper Book
A fascinating insider's look at life behind-the-scenes at Formula One. 'An essential read' AUTOSPORT 'A must for the real inside story' FORMULA 1 RACING 'Recommended for anyone interested in F1 on the inside' MOTORING NEWS...
Taken for a ride : how Daimler-Benz drove off with Chrysler
Vlasic, Bill.
Paper Book
It was the deal heard round the world. In May 1998, a stunning $36 billion merger was announced by Chrysler, the all-American automaker, and Daimler-Benz, the German manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz luxury sedans. The Wall Street Journal christened the deal "the biggest industrial merger of all time...
Going faster! : mastering the art of race driving : the Skip Barber Racing School
Lopez, Carl
Paper Book
This complete racer's reference is the perfect resource for all drivers from novice to expert. The fundamentals of fast driving are revealed in this definitive how-to book for racers. You will find the competition-proven methods of instructors and of professional drivers that will give you the know...
The limit : life and death on the 1961 Grand Prix Circuit
Cannell, Michael T.
Paper Book
In The Limit, Michael Cannell tells the enthralling story of Phil Hill-a lowly California mechanic who would become the first American-born driver to win the Grand Prix-and, on the fiftieth anniversary of his triumph, brings to life a vanished world of glamour, valor, and daring. ...
Porsche 911 story
Frère, Paul
Paper Book
The chariot makers : assembling the perfect Formula 1 car
Matchett, Steve
Paper Book
Join Steve Matchett, racing broadcaster, columnist, and longtime Formula 1 mechanic for the championship Benetton team, on a quest to build the ultimate racing machine. During a fogbound evening in an airport lounge, Matchett and some fellow enthusiasts began a discussion of racecar design, a...
Ludicrous : the unvarnished story of Tesla Motors
Niedermeyer, Edward
Paper Book
Tesla is the most exciting car company in a generation . . . but can it live up to the hype? Tesla Motors and CEO Elon Musk have become household names, shaking up the staid auto industry by creating a set of innovative electric vehicles that have wowed the marketplace and defied...
The car : the rise and fall of the machine that made the modern world
Appleyard, Bryan
Paper Book
A spirited, insightful exploration of our favorite machine and it's cultural impact on society over the past one hundred and fifty years. More than any other technology, cars have transformed American popular culture. Cars have created vast wealth as well as novel dreams of...
Against death and time : one fatal season in racing's glory years
Yates, Brock
Paper Book
Yates tells the story of the reckless, dispossessed young men who raced during the fatal 1955 season at Indianapolis Speedway--not for fame or money, because there was none--but for the sheer unvarnished hell of it.
Driving in competition
Johnson, Alan
Paper Book
Ultimate speed secrets : the complete guide to high-performance and race driving
Bentley, Ross
Paper Book
Performance and racing drivers constantly seek ways to sharpen their skills and lower their lap times. Ultimate Speed Secrets is the indispensable tool to help make you faster, whatever your driving goals.   Professional race driver and coach...
Inner speed secrets : Race driving skills, techniques and strategies
Bentley, Ross
Paper Book
Maximize your driving ability with tips from the experts! Based on performance seminars conducted by the authors for race car drivers, this informative guide helps you consistently perform at your highest level. Chapters discuss: The Driver - The Ultimate Management System; Inner Race Driving;...
Inside Shelby American wrenching and racing with Carroll Shelby in the 1960s
Morton, John
Ebook
"More than just a well-written telling of Morton's early racing career . . . an incredible, no-holds-barred look into the goings-on at Shelby American." --Classic MotorsportsIn the late 1950s, a young John Morton was transfixed with sports car racing. His dreams of...
Boundless : the rise, fall, and escape of Carlos Ghosn
Kostov, Nick
Paper Book
Now an Apple TV+ limited series, Wanted: The Escape of Carlos Ghosn The unprecedented rise and catastrophic fall of one of the world's most feared and admired business executives--Carlos Ghosn--a remarkable story of innovation, hubris, alleged crimes, and daring international...
Ayrton Senna : a tribute
Rendall, Ivan.
Paper Book
Survival of the fastest : weed, speed, and the 1980s drug scandal that shocked the sports world
Lanier, Randy
Paper Book
**Winner of the Best Book Award by the Motor Press Guild** The high-octane, Seabiscuit-meets-Scarface story of how Randy Lanier became a 1980s international sports star, soaring through the ranks of car racing while holding a dark...
Indy 500 mechanic
Brawner, Clint.
Paper Book
Fast guys, rich guys, and idiots
Moses, Sam
Paper Book
The Brown Bullet : Rajo Jack's drive to integrate auto racing
Poehler, Bill
Paper Book
The powers-that-be in 1920s auto racing, namely the American Automobile Association's Contest Board, barred everyone who wasn't a white male from the sport. But Dewey Gatson, a black man who went by the name Rajo Jack, drove into the center of "outlaw" auto racing in California, refusing to let...
Speed secrets : winning autocross techniques
Bentley, Ross
Paper Book
With its solo set-up, more subdued speeds, and endlessly varying events and courses, autocross is the easiest, safest,  and least expensive way to get into motorsports.  Anyone with a helmet and a car can do it.  Of course, it doesn't hurt to have some driving skills, which is...
RX-7 : the new Mazda RX-7 and Mazda rotary engine sports cars
Yamaguchi, Jack K.
Paper Book
Speed secrets 5 : the complete driver
Bentley, Ross
Paper Book
In this ultra-competitive motorsports scene, to succeed in any form of racing, a driver must be more than fast. This handbook provides insights that help aspiring racers reach their potential in their quest to become well-rounded racers. It is intended for the aspiring professional or ambitious...
The racing & high-performance tire : using the tires to tune for grip and balance
Haney, Paul.
Paper Book
Following up on his first two books, Inside Racing Technology and Inside Racing: A Season with the PacWest CART Team, Paul Haney presents a new book revealing the complexities of tires, how the influence vehicle dynamics, and how to use tires in the engineering of racing and high-performance cars....
Speed secrets 6 : the perfect driver
Bentley, Ross
Paper Book
In this ultra-competitive motorsports scene, to succeed in any form of racing, a driver must be more than fast. This handbook provides insights that help aspiring racers reach their potential in their quest to become well-rounded racers. It is intended for the aspiring professional or ambitious...

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