Book Reviews

Route 66

Perhaps you’ve dreamed of hitting the road to see America in all of its back roads glory. Maybe you’ve even dreamed of doing Route 66 in its entirety along the way. Well, that’s exactly what Sal Santoro and Bob Walton did; as they made their way from New Jersey to Santa Monica, California in a 1968 Cadillac. Fortunately for us, they took plenty of pictures and notes along their way across the “Mother Road” so they could chronicle their adventures in Route 66: The People – The Places – The Dream. A Must Read for anyone who’s ever thought of getting their kicks on Route 66.

Porsche Sounds

There’s audio books, and then there’s Porsche Sounds earbooks. Deter Landenburger of the Porsche Museum has created an amazing Porsche book capturing the sounds of the most famous Porsche Sports Cars throughout the years. From the Number One Roadster, to the new Panamera Turbo, this book has it all. The recordings are so fine, that you can almost feel these great cars as they roar past you. And once you’ve had enough listening, and want to start doing, Deter has also included two other CDs, a collection of great performance driving music, and an elegant CD that waltzes you down the road. Besides these great recordings, this collector quality earbook is a staggering collection of photographs from the Porsche Museum archives, covering almost all of the Porsche cars ever made. Written in both German and English, this book is a must read for any Porsche-phile. After all, there really is no substitute for the sound of a Porsche!

Rare Finds

We’ve all fantasized about finding that super rare car in a barn somewhere. And while many of those stories that you hear are just that, fantasies, author Jerry Heasely documents 30 real accounts in his book “Jerry Heasley’s Rare Finds”. Jerry has tracked down many unexpected discoveries through the years, and written about them for magazines such as Mustang Monthly, Vette, and Muscle Car Review. Each story is packed full of history, and includes lots of color pictures that document the uncovering of these rare pieces of American metal. Making this book  a true Must Read for all of you car spotters out there.

Art of Harley-Davidson

Not sure which Harley is your favorite? Well, the “Art of the Harley-Davidson Motorcycle” will help you resolve that dilemma. Covering over 100 Harleys from the early 1900s to today, every page is filled with artistic color and black-and-white photos, all shot by Harley-Davidson photographer David Blattel. Chapters are organized by bike type, and listed chronologically. Each bike is accompanied by a historical and factual profile written by Dain Gingerelli. Whether you’re looking for your next touring bike, or just want to brush up on classic army spec Harleys, your eyes won’t let you put this book down!

Team Lotus in Formula 1

With 79 victories under their belt, Lotus is the fourth most successful team in the history of Grand Prix racing.  And by witnessing the Team Lotus story first hand, author Hartmut Lehbrink and photographer Rainer W. Schlegelmilch have documented the motor racing story of the prestigious Norfolk marque from its beginning, all the way to the season’s final race in 2010. With conversations, interviews, and a series of spectacular and emotional images, you’ll find everything you want to know about the team.

Also included are two data discs packed with a Lotus Racing video documentary, the best of  Lotus Racing audio podcasts, and more than 100 exclusive images to tie it all together.  If you’re a Lotus enthusiast or a Formula 1 fan, you simply can’t miss out on a book like this.

Mazda & Le Mans

The Mazda Motor Company has an illustrious heritage both on the road and on the track. “Never Stop Challenging!” documents Mazda’s racing history, with the primary focus on the brand’s victory in the 1991 Le Mans endurance race, the only outright win of the 24-hour event by a Japanese brand. Written by legendary Mazda race car driver Pierre Dieudonné, motor sports fans will be enthralled with the glorious images and intimate details of winning at Le Mans. The book also highlights through photos and prose the legendary Mazda rotary engine. So kick back and buff up on your Mazda performance history with “Never Stop Challenging!”

Mustang Boss 302 History

Of all the legendary names in Ford Mustang history, only one truly separates itself from the rest of the pack – Boss. The Boss cars were clearly distinguished from their less potent stable mates by their racebred engines, standard front spoiler, and never-before seen graphics. Now, for the 2012 model year, Ford has finally revived the esteemed model, and to mark this historic occasion, Mustang historian, Donald Farr, has written a complete history of the Boss 302, Mustang Boss 302: From Racing Legend to Modern Muscle Car. Filled with incredible photographs, race history and first-hand accounts from the people who created the original Boss, this book is a must have for any fan of American muscle.