Product Description

"I tried hard to concentrate. To go faster, I had to find the car's limits and then take it up there on every corner in a smooth, fluid rhythm.
Rick called it 'being in the zone.'
That was where I'd find the speed I knew this car was waiting to deliver."

Eddie Stewart and his team have vaulted up the points standings of the North America Formula Atlantic Series. After his victory in Toronto, a win in Miami will give the rookie driver the overall points title. Just before the big race, Eddie is offered a long-term deal and a huge sum of money to drive for another team. But the offer comes with a price. . .

Product Description
In Switzerland preparing for the biggest auto race in Europe, the reader is approached by someone from the gambling circuit and offered a lot of money to throw the race. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Behind The Wheel
Uh-oh!Something is behind the wheel.I know it will cause trouble in the race.I like this book a lot. ... Read more

Product Description

Throughout the course of his three-month, 7,000-mile odyssey through Castro’s Cuba, Christopher Baker—thanks to his attention-getting vehicle—enjoyed instant entrée to a people both deprived of and obsessed by chrome and motorized wheels.

Baker’s dazzling narrative introduces readers to a tremendous variety of Cubans in this penetrating and spellbinding travelogue—from tobacco growers and prostitutes to fishermen and impassioned dissidents. Revealing a vivacious people in the throes of a slow and painful transition, Baker takes us through his own gradual but profound change of heart about Castro’s regime. Mi Moto Fidel is a rare work of warmhearted humor and considerable insight that mines the depths of Cuba’s troubled history and politics...and shines an unprecedented light on this stubbornly enigmatic country.

Customer Reviews (35)

First-rate
This is a very, very good book. It's even-handed, both praising and criticizing Cuba. It's fun. It's engaging. It's fascinating. It's interesting. I finished it with a much-better take on Cuba than I had going into it.

Cuba is a touchy subject. Lots of people on the Left prefer to overlook the negative, the fact of its being a police state. People on the Right see only the negative, but there are some positives. The author began his tour, he tells us, with a relatively positive view of Cuba. He finished it, three months later, far more conflicted.

Noteworthy is the sexual angle. As he notes at the end of the book, he was a single male on a motorcycle on a libertine island. He took advantage of the many opportunities for getting naked with good-looking women. More power to him. In the same situation, I would have done likewise.

It's amusing to read the fuddy-duddy reviews here, 99 percent from women, I wager, on this aspect of the book. I doubt I've seen so many tsk-tsks in one place in quite a while.

One thing that really stood out was, in spite of the author mentioning all the photos he snapped along the way, there are very few included in the book, and those that are included mostly are not very interesting. Shame.

He also came down with some nagging affliction about a third of the way into the tour. It even included coughing up blood. Cuban doctors along the way were clueless. So much for their famed medical system. The author mentions that the affliction, whatever it was, did not totally clear up until a year later. What was that affliction? He never tells us. I remain curious.

But, aside from the quibbles, this is one great and informative read. Buy it or, better yet, buy two and give one to a friend. A guy friend, not a gal. You'll just get a tsk-tsk from her.

Good Reading
In contrast to Mr. Baker's later book on Cuban Automobiles which I found a bit "less than expected", this one leaves out most of the pictures and is a fascinating account that makes excellent reading.Too much sex for a travel book? Try traveling as a single male with some signs of wealth and experience how often you will be propositioned. Even in my age bracket I have been told that I should always have a lady companion and that this could be immediately arranged. He accurately depicts the sweaty tourists, the double standards, the unfriendly government officials (Why does Cuba often sound like Mexico?) and the whole thing is just tremendous fun to read. Buy one for yourself, and a couple for your friends to give away.

Great travel book
I happen to love great travel books and this was fantastic. It has beenfew years since I read this book but it was a fast and fun read. You get a real sense of the culture and the country. The book was always moving and that is what i like about travel books.

A Great Ride!
Mr. Baker's book is riveting, entertaining, and educational. I am Cuban born and had visited Cuba prior to the "special period". Mr. Baker's account is fair and balanced and highlights the Castro regime's failures and accomplishments. For anyone wishing to find out what it is like in Cuba - look no further! It is a fabulous read.

Good book
Although Baker is an unapologetic womanizer and takes avantage of many women who obviously want him so as to escape Cuba, the book is interesting in that it highlights many of the failures of the cuban revolution;the prostitution, bad food.Meanwhile, he catches the friendliness of the people. ... Read more

Product Description
The year 1997 saw the arrival of a new Grand Prix team bearing the name of Jackie Stewart. This book provides the background to the initial decision to join the Formula One business, gets behind the scenes, and describes the hardships and high points. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Racing Stewart
I've been a fan of the wee Scott for many years following his career first as a driver and now as an entrant. One cannot imagine the problems faced by someone wanting to enter the competitive world of Formula One motor racinguntil you read this book.

A very informative account of the conception,launch and first year of a brand new Grand Prix race team. The book isextremely well written and supplemented by beautiful photography in bothb&w and colour.

Now that Stewart Grand Prix has been bought out byJaguar, this book is a must for any Formula One fan and provides a muchvalued documentary of this era of Grand Prix history.

Fantastic!
I read a lot of books for research on starting a Race team, this is one of the best books I chose!!This book takes you though the in's and out's and up's and down's of starting Stewart Ford.A lot of books give WAY too muchdetail, this one is just right, it gives the reader (race fan) just theright amount of content and excitement in the text followed by wonderfulcolor and black and white photos.If you were not a Stewart Ford fanbefore, this book will at least make you have a little pull for them comerace day.If you are interested in how it all started this is a greatbook, I couldn't put it down, it kept me going from front cover to back...I'll be looking for them this race year!

Read into the making of a Grand Prix team, from scratch
As fan of the Stewart Grand prix team, this book was the number one book on my christmas list last year. Here, a grand prix team opens it's doors to you, and shows you around. The whole book charts the first year of theStewart Team in the world of F1. Described to you are the problems,barriers and hinderances in the way of setting up a grand prix team fromnext to nothing. It also re-accounts the moments of joy and greatacheivement the team had in it's first year. "The" book for anysupporter of the new guys in F1. ... Read more

Product Description
Rising star Eddie Stewart is on the starting grid of one of the greatest races in the world, the Indianapolis 500.With an innovative new car, an international sponsor, and the support of a talented team, Eddie seems to have everything he needs for success. But he soon discovers that he will have to deal with much more than the risks of wheel-to-wheel racing at over 200 miles per hour. A mysterious series of crashes threatens to end Eddie's dream before it even begins. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A deftly written novel
Driving in the Indianapolis 500 with a custom made Formula race care was also Eddie Stewart's big dream. When Eddie's dream comes true with an innovative new Formula racing care, an international sponsor to fund it all, and a top notch track team to help him, there is only one problem left. Eddie discovers there's the crushing G (gravity) forces that come with high-speed racing. Complicating things further is a series of mysterious and dangerous crashes to threaten Eddie's big dream with possible catastrophic results! A deftly written novel, "G Force" is highly recommended reading and a popular addition to both school and community library collections.

Cute little book
I am a big fan of books written for the younger generation, in the hopes that they will develop a love of reading.That is why I love reviewing books for children - hopefully I can help to get the word out there a little bit.

G-Force by Anthony Hampshire is a great little book and I thought it was extremely well done.Mainly geared towards boys, this book takes an up close look at the world of racing and Indy 500.Intriguing and fun and I like the subject matter - one that is sure to interest many young boys and hopefully get them to read more.

Easy to read, nice big letters and short little pargraphs.The only thing - there are no pictures.Otherwise, this is a great little book. ... Read more

Product Description
Adventure racing is a combination of two or more endurancedisciplines, including orienteering (if an orienteering mapis used) and/or navigation (when non-orienteering maps areused), cross-country running, mountain biking, paddling andclimbing and related rope skills. An expedition event canspan ten days or more while sprints can be completed in amatter of hours. There is typically no dark period duringraces, irrespective of length; competitors must choose ifor when to rest.Adventure racing historically requiredteams to be of a specified size and to include both men andwomen, but many races no longer restrict team size andinclude single-sex divisions. Some also include age-basedcategories. ... Read more

Product Description
Orienteering - History of orienteering, Orienteering map,Control point (orienteering), Ski-orienteering, Amateurradio direction finding, Mounted orienteering, Rogaining,Adventure racing, Fell running, InternationalOrienteeringFederation, Gaiters, Relay race, O-Ringen, Jukola relay,British Orienteering Federation ... Read more

Product Description
In the 200-mile-per-hour world of championship stock car racing, if you aren't the first man to the flag, all the talent and promise in the world ain't worth a bucket of spit.

"Rocket Rob" Wilder is everything the fans and those inside big-time car racing knew he could be: daring, polished, talented, and a sure threat to win. His meteoric rise to the top of the tough Grand National division, as well as his thrilling, crowd-pleasing showdowns with some of the other young racers, promise even more success. But you can't bake a pie with nothing but promise. In order to prove he really is the real deal, Wilder is going to have to make the jump into the big league. And that means racing-and beating-the likes of Dale Earnhardt, Mark Martin, and Jeff Gordon.

Does the Rocket have what it takes?

First to the Flag continues the saga of the men who risk it all to be the first under the checkered flag.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

This is a big leap forward and yet still on the same level
I have read every book of the series from the beginning up until this one with the exception of Young Guns the one before this one, and yet I didn't really miss anything. I found this book to be just as easy going as the style it is written in and like the rest just as clean. One thing I did miss was the linking of the modern day legends with the roles of the book. If you have read the others you know what I mean as in Richard Petty talking to the likes of Jodell and Bubba and Joe. Maybe they will get back to that in the new one which I have now. Other then that I have one more thing to say. Buy the book and enjoy it you want be let down

Best book of the Rolling Thunder series so far!
Greetings!Mike Irwin of the StockCarFans Newsletters here...

I just finished book #6 of the Rolling Thunder series, "First to the Flag".

The book tells the tale of "Rocket" Rob Wilder, ayoung racer discovered at a small out-of-the-way track by the legendaryJodell Lee himself.The discovery gets Rob a job driving in the GrandNational series for car owner Billy Winton, formerly "headwrench" for Jodell's Cup team.The Winton Racing Team has a highlyvisible software firm, Ensoft, as primary sponsor. Ensoft's head ofmarketing is Michelle Fagan, who just might have a crush on young Wilder. For some reason, though, Michelle introduces Rob to her cute blonde sister,Christy.Rob and Christy hit it off right away, and become "anitem".

The book follows the path of "Rocket" Rob andWinton Racing through the Grand National season, including Rob's first tripto Daytona to race in the Daytona 300.Will Rob be able to handle the highspeeds and drafting?How long will it be until he visits Victory Lane? Will the ol' green-eyed monster mean Rob has to choose between twoattractive sisters?Read the book and find out!

Of all the books in thisgreat "Rolling Thunder" series, I liked this one the most.Thestory moves along at a good pace, and the characters are well-developed. The book is extremely clean, and I recommend it for all ages.There is nobad language or adult situations, other than some drinking that ol'moonshine, and some kissing at the door at the end of a date.The book issuspenseful, and exciting, with a little romance and intrigue thrown in forthose who enjoy those elements. ... Read more

Product Description
The heroes venture to the desperate capital of the failing jungle colony Sargava to supply for an overland journey to Saventh-Yhi, the lost Azlanti City of Seven Spears. There they become embroiled in intrigue with the Pathfinder Society, the Aspis Consortium merchant league, the Pirate Lords of the Shackle Isles, and the deadly Red Mantis assassins, rivals who also seek to plunder the lost city for their own purposes. With enemy factions hot on their heels, tons of unexpected encounters, and a waiting tribe of monkey-men, will the heroes survive the Screaming Jungle to reach the lost city of Saventh-Yhi before it's too late? A Pathfinder Roleplaying Game adventure for 4th-level characters, this volume continues the highly anticipated Serpent's Skull Adventure Path, in which the heroes fight their way through a treacherous jungle to discover and plunder an ancient lost city. This volume contains a gazetteer of the Sargavan port city of Eleder and an overview of Gozreh, dualistic god of nature and the sea, by Sean K Reynolds. Plus five all-new monsters in the Pathfinder Bestiary, new fiction in the Pathfinder Journal, and more! ... Read more

Product Description
Unlike the Iditarod, the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race isn't for moneyed adventurers with a fanciful interest in mushing. The race, billed as the toughest in the world, crosses 1,000 miles of forbidding land between Whitehorse and Fairbanks, Alaska, and pits man, woman, and dog against the nastiest that nature has to offer. In Racing the White Silence, Canadian journalist Adam Killick follows the racers and their dogs for two weeks, taking us not only into the heartland of the Yukon and Alaska, but into the minds of the extraordinary people who dare to race. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent book, excellent topic
This book is well written... the kennel he was working with is also quite an amazing place... the dogs are fortunate to be there, as was the handler.Nice job and thanks for sharing your experiences with us.Too bad it's out of print now.

Racing The White Silence
A who will do it, who will win it, adventure tale that informs, enthralls and engages the reader in one of the worlds last true natural challenges. I didn't want it to end!

Racing The White Silence
Racing the White Silence: On the Trail of the Yukon Quest
Adam Killick

"Nature has many tricks wherewith she convinces man of his finity- the ceaseless flow of the tides, the fury of the storm, the shock of the earthquake, the long roll of heaven's artillery- but the most tremendous, the most stupefying of all, is the passive phase of the White Silence. All movement ceases, the sky clears, the heavens are as brass; the slightest whisper seems sacrilege, and man becomes timid, affrightened at the sound of his own voice."
Jack London, The White Silence, 1899

Jack London, like all good authors, wrote of what he knew, the North. It is in London's world that this book is based. Its' author, Adam Killick, from Winnipeg, hired on as an assistant-dog handler in the 2001 Yukon Quest so that he could study it and learn what drew the world's best mushers to it. After all, the Quest's prize money is much less than the famous Iditerod; what drew these mushers to this race?
Along the way he found his answer.

The Yukon Quest alternates directions from year to year depending on ice conditions on the trail. It traverses the unforgiving terrain between Whitehorse, Yukon, and Fairbanks, Alaska. "Following the Quest, on these remote parts of the trail, is like belonging to some exclusive club in which only lack of sleep...and a predilection for standing around at 30 or 40 below for hours...earns you membership." Along the way Killick discovered that the people on the trail were very supportive and helpful; that "the spirit of community and sharing is at the heart of the Yukon Quest." Besides, "the community of the North stands on a realization that, whatever one's creed, religion, ethics, or circumstances, there will come a time when you'll need someone else's help." It is this sense of community that draws the mushers to this race, the one dog-sled race that "has remained true to the Northern Spirit in which it was founded."

Killick follows the 2001 edition of the Quest as it continues down the trail. As he does so, he introduces the reader to the many varied characters that make up the contestants and organizers of this little-publicized race. This makes the book an interesting read that examines the many of the ins and outs of dog-sled racing. Killick helps the reader to visualize the country of the "White Silence" that his race passes through. Racing The White Silence is an excellent true-life book that will keep you turning pages until the end of the trail.

2002. Easy reading. Young-adult content. 270 pages. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

I could have done better
Just because the writer was a doctor does not lend creditablility to the information. It was terrible. Way to juvenile.
I have a small team of racers that I support. Three sisters from a family of eight(8) kids. So, I support the three (3) oldest to the tune of 15-16K in 2006. We have six race bikes and two practice bikes. Our biggest supporter is a local mechanic that donates his time for free. I am able to do quit a bit of the maintance, but not the big stuff. We drive 140 miles round trip across Phoenix friday afternoons to get to our track. That is a story into it's self. We have won three races, but it's mostly for me to spoil some kids that their parents are not able to because of the size of the family. So I help a little.
I contacted Amazon for a return label to return this book, and I am still waiting.
"Mr.B"

I couldnt put it down!
this is one of the best books i have ever read.I bought it and once i started i couldnt stop,it was soo amazing! If you can,you should deffinitely buy this book,it is so worth it. You will love it,and your kids will love it,your whole family will love it!

good book
I don't even like to read, but I read this book in one night. ... Read more

Product Description
"You know how it feels...the power of the motors vibrating in your chest, stunning your ears, your heart pumping in your throat, the grit of spent tire rubber in your mouth. You know how it feels from the grandstand? Just imagine how it feels to the ole boy behind the wheel of one of those monsters. Just imagine!"

It's the mid-1950s, and Elvis is King. Jodell Bob Lee has been raised up in his grandfather's moonshine business. But the boy dreams of something much bigger than clawing out a living on a dirt farm and outrunning federal revenuers. He dreams of racing stock cars. It only takes a few races before Jodell is hooked, and before long he and his mechanic cousin, Joe Baker, and best friend, Bubba Baxter, are facing the like of Junior Johnson, Ned Jarrett, and Lee Petty. His motto: always finish first, no matter what.

The explosion of stock car racing as the number one spectator sport in America roars to life in this pedal-to-the-metal story of Jodell Lee's triumphant rise to fame and fortune.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Fun Story, Good History
I have read the entire series thus far (#7) and have enjoyed the story line and the realism of NASCAR racing.These books won't win any prizes, but they do a good job of relaying the excitement of NASCAR.The story is somewhat predictable at times, but it is still good and moves along nicely.I think what I enjoyed the most is the history that has been added to the stories.The history is basically all factual (with the exception of the fictional characters), from the roots of stock car racing to the Young Guns of today.I only wish the history would have continued through the 70's and 80's instead of skipping from '69 to the late 90's.Overall though I kept waiting for the next one to arrive to find out what was next.

This book helped make me a racing fan!
As a relative newcomer to stock car racing, I picked up this book because I thought I might better be able to enjoy watching races if I had a sense of the history of the sport, and if I could get some idea of what it islike for the racers.This book did a fantastic job of both.I don't knowwhat it's really like, driving in a stock car race, but I can't imagine itfeels much different from the way these authors describe it.

When I readthe Rolling Thunder books, I find myself getting really caught up in theemotions of the race.I root for Jodell to win, and find myself gettingupset when he loses the lead or it looks like he might get in an accident. I also can't wait to see what happens next in the characters' personallives.That wouldn't happen if the authors didn't do such a great job ofcreating likeable, three-dimensional characters.

The Rolling Thunderseries might not ever be remembered in the annals of great literature, butthey provide a good, solid couple of hours of entertainment.As I canattest, you don't have to be a racing fan to enjoy the books, though afterreading one you just might find yourself wanting to watch a real race.Forme, these books are like potato chips: they're quick and easy to devour,and as soon as you're finished, you want another one.

ENJOYABLE READING, COULD NOT STOP UNTIL FINISHED
HAVING ATTENDED RACES FOR 34 YEARS IN THE SOUTHEAST STARTING AT AGE 12, THIS BOOK IS VERY REALISTIC. PURCHASED THREE ADDITIONAL COPIES FOR FRIENDS IN THE RACING COMMUNITY. LOOKING FORWARD TO READING THE ENTIRE SERIES.

Fun read
Found this to be a good lunch time read. Light and enjoyable for anyone who has ever been around a southern or midwest dirt track.Have just ordered number 2 and anticipate another good time.

Poorly written, but still fun to read if you are a real fan
No surprises here.Everything is rather predictable.This is NASCAR's answer to Harlequin Romance novels.Just as women like Harlequin Romance novels despite poor writing, stock car fans will like thisbook.

Characters are rather one dimensional and very very predictable(gee, is Bubba going for food again?).The dialog is extremely stilted. Names of real race car drivers are thrown in for fun (wonder if royaltiesare paid?) but you will know the outcome before you reach that page. Considering the early days of the sport, it would have been interesting ifthe promoter screwed Jodell Lee out of his winnings.At least that wouldhave been a plot twist (albeit the first and only plot twist).

Still afun read for at the beach or when your mind is in neutral (or perhapsreverse). ... Read more