Customer Reviews

Drive to Win: The Essential Guide to Race Driving

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first got this book with I was only a kid doing DE's and track days. At that time I found the book to be helpful but way too advanced for me. Now 2 years later with karting races and Skip Barber I often find myself re-reading sections of the book and understanding more. I won't be surprised to re-read it again as I get deeper into the skippy school race series.

Quite a book that have always been there with me throughout my new born racing life.

Very important reading for anyone who claims to know anything about race car driving. From going through and understanding what was said (and I was helped immensely by reading a couple of the more technical volumes Mr. Smith has written), I was able to increase my ability to consistently drive closer to the edge.

If you already own a copy of this bible, and you want a new one, I've found it's possible to get signed copies directly from Carroll if you look online hard enough!

Obviously, this book is a stand-out in motorsport history, as far as technique and promotion of understanding what really goes on in a driver's helmet, behind the wheel of a beast he's trying to tame. (Then again, if you've read Mr. Smith's other books, you know there's no reason for that much struggle). For any motorsport finatic, officionado, or simply someone who is interested in it all, CHECK OUT THIS BOOK. You will learn a lot and be able to associate with what's being said. This book is worth about 500 hours of seat-time to a newbie in this game.

Carroll Smith does an excellent job of laying everything out on the table in this book. He does a great job of giving insite to less glories sections of racing. Highly recommend.

Mr. Smith explains why corner entry is the most important phase of any corner. But it was his explanation of the corner exit technique that helped me the most. He delves into this subject more than any other book I've read. And he explains why it is so important to lap times. After tuning my car's chassis to deliver the recommended exit attitude, I took the car to Texas World Speedway for a lapping session. As I exited turn two I nearly let go of the steering wheel and raised my fist into the air and yelled YAHOO! It was FAST! And you know it as soon as you hit it. You won't need the stopwatch. If you're not applying the principles in this book, you won't beat anyone who is. My highest possible recommendation.

I have read 3 books about racecar driving recently, they are 1. Speed secret 2. Think to win 3. Drive to win. In these books, "Speed secret" is the most simple one like a introduction of racing drive; "Think to win" is a little more complex, let you know how thinking leads to win; "Drive to win" let you understand more way to analysis driving. It contains almost everything what a professional racedriver must know. If you want to master in driving, must read it. My suggestion is to buy another book about this topic and compare two opinions-you will find which old tale is wong (or you can say, not complete).

Then you're not going to be a RACECAR Driver!

Or more specifically a road racer. NASCAR maybe, but not road racing.Sorry it's a sad but very true fact. How many American drivers are there right now in CART? 3(2000 season). See Carroll's point? I tell you the man speaks the truth! The first part of this book is on how hopeless it is for you to become a race car driver. Not really, he just tells you cold what it takes to become an F-1 racer. Win world in karts, Formula Ford 1600 (in England of course), then F3, F300, then the big time F-1. You need funding at all of these levels, something I don't have, but a 125cc shifter cart is plenty fast for me. Even Indy car drivers say that 125 shifter's are the most like Indy cars. It's the biggest bang for your buck, trust me.

The rest of the book describes the basics of race car driving. Picking the line, reference points, braking, trail braking, cornering and powering out of the corners. It's a good book, it helps you get through the basics, and take more of a scientific approach towards driving. This book is great, but "Tune to Win" is at least 50% better than this one if a little (very little) more advanced but tons more helpful. Also I think Skip Barber's book is more thorough on the subject, but ALL of Carrol's books are good, this one is no exception. There is more tid bits of practical tips and tricks in this book than you could accumulate in you whole life. Buy this book, and then get a real job. ;)

This book has better information than Bondurant's book, which is geared for beginners. Lots of basic stuff as well as advanced techniques with a little bit of tuning thrown in to inform the reader how a car reacts to driver input. Great insight into what a racecar driver goes through, but at the beginning of the book I got the feeling like Smith was saying "don't try to become a race car driver cause there are lots of guys better than you in Europe" which is true, but I also don't need someone to tell me that the sky is blue.

Drive to Win and Tune to Win are unequivocally the two best books available about racing. If you're not applying the principles in these two books, you won't beat anyone who is. My highest possible recommendation.

As the author stresses this is not a book about the technique of driving. It is rather a book about all that surrounds a race driver and that he must know about. In this aspect it is a great book as it is comprehensive, easy to read and extremely entertaining.

Carroll Smith outlines all the skills and attributes that it takes to be a first class driver. There are sections on race craft, fitness both mental and physical, chassis tuning, tire selection, data acquisition, and general tuning concepts. A well-written and informative book for the race car driver both experienced and novice. Unlike some of the other books that I have read in this category, it was entertaining and informative as opposed to the "text book" style that seems to be so common!