Favourite driver biography ?

What is your favourite driver biography ? I've read a few, and the guys who competed in past years seem to have a hell of a lot more interesting stories to tell than the current crop.

I became a fan of Niki Lauda after reading his. I liked James Hunt's as well. I read Andretti's but it was a very old one, before he was WDC.

I very much enjoyed Alain Prost's first volume of his autobiography (I read it in French) called "Life in the Fast Lane" as I remember. He writes some very funny stuff about his early life, such as the fact that his Grandmother told him if he wanted to mess about with cars, he should buy a garage; and that even after he was a champion in a couple of lower formulae, his mother would not let him drive when she was in the car! He also said that when he went in for gas once on the way home from a race, the attendant said something rude about Alain Prost, thinking he (Prost) was the other guy; and a cop who pulled him over for speeding asked him, "Who'd you think you are, Alain Prost?"

I've recently read Mansell's book and found it tedious for the most part ... the man does spend a lot of time in search for someone to blame, and if I were his wife I'd have chloroformed him. But yes, it is an interesting book.

As for bios, the one I've liked best of all is Gerry Donaldson's bio of Gilles, followed closely by his bio of James Hunt. He is insightful and very clear-eyed in describing them both, "warts and all" without the simpering most biographers of Senna seem to descend to, or any intent to trash them - just telling us who they were.

Wow! Looks like I have somewhere to start :) I hope everyone else will add their input to this topic.

Liz, I remember reading in the local paper that when Senna got a tug on the M25 after leaving Heathrow for McLaren's base in a hire car, the plod enquired, 'who do you think you are, Nigel Mansell ?!' :D Ouch!

For a knowing giggle, try Alan Jones' autobiography.

It outraged so many people when it came out, and it's still worth reading for his outrageous opinions even now.

Apart from young Mr Villeneuve, I don't think there's a driver in the current crop who hasn't been nobbled by mediocrity and PR-speak.

I have just finished reading the words of Mel Kenyon, probably the best oval racer ever in America. The book is entitled "A Hand for the Wheel: The Mel Kenyon Story". It is very uplifting after all of the pain and glory he has had through his 50 years of racing (he just won a race two weeks ago in Ft. Wayne, Indiana). If you get a chance read this one, it might open your eyes about how oval racing got started in America.

May I reccomend Champions! by Christopher Hilton and John Blunsden.

It contains Bios of the first 7 British Champions. Hawthorne, Hill, Clark, Surtees, Stewart, Hunt and Mansell. Very readable!

Although not a driver Bio. another book that is a must is "Life at the Limit" the Autobiography of Prof. Sid Watkins.

KC: didnt know there was a bio of Mel Kenyon. I met him at Indy a few years back. What a great guy.

Thanks!

I very much enjoyed "Stirling Moss / My Cars, My Career", by Stirling himself and Doug Nye: Stirling's career through his racing cars, rally cars, record-breaking cars, his impressions 'bout them... and a comprehensive Racing Record.

"Grand Prix Greats / A personal appreciation of 25 famous Formula 1 drivers", by Nigel Roebuck: fascinating reading, inside view of racing personalities.

Last but no least, the memoirs and biographies of those involved in racing through the second half of thirties: "Racing the Silver Arrows / Mercedes-Benz versus Auto Union 1934-1939", writed by Chris Nixon... thoroughly recommended.

I'll second the nomination for "Stirling Moss - My Cars, My Career" an enjoyable, informative and useful book, and check out the diary entry for his accident at the Belgian GP.

Don't forget "All Arms and Elbows" by Innes Ireland, and "Touch Wood" by Duncan Hamilton. Both are flamboyant accounts of larger than life characters with a highly developed sense of joie de vivre.

One of the first motorsport books I bought was 'Phil Hill, Yankee Champion' by William F. Nolan, the SF writer of Logan's Run who wrote a lot of motorsport books.
Another one I'm very proud of to have in my possession is 'Mon Ami Mate' by Chris Nixon.
It describes the careers of Mike Hawthorn and Peter Collins.
The copy I have is signed by Chris Nixon, Louise Collins and Jean Howard.
Then there's 'Rosemeyer!' another book by Chris Nixon. He wrote it with the help of Elly Beinhorn, Bernd Rosemeyer's wife.
'Encyclopedia of Auto Racing Greats' by Robert Cutter and Bob Fendell is another one I recommend.
It's the most comprehensive collection of auto racing biographies I know of.
There are 550 biographies of drivers in all sorts of motorsport.

I read my championship year Damons 1996 review of his year book. It was a good insite into the life of a man under the stress he was. He was no Senna or Schumacher or Fangio but he was a driver with an aim and a personality and his book helped show that to me.

I want to read some more racing books soon, I paid big bucks for Jacques photo book from 97 full of excellent photography but not much text.

"Adventure On Wheels"...John Fitch
He was primarily a sportscar racer. He also did a few Grands Prix in the mid'50s. The only US driver ever chosen by Neubauer for the Mecedes-Benz team. Won the Tourist Trophy with Stirling...co-driver with ill-fated Levegh at '55 LeMans...Alpine Rally winner...Sebring and on and on. Very good book, but getting hard to find.

I liked the Phil Hill book, "Yankee Champion", done with William Nolan who, btw, also served as "done with" on the Fitch book.

"My Cars/My Career" Great. Unique.

"Speed With Style"..Peter Revson/Leon Mandel. Good one. Chapters alternate between: "In Peter's Words"/"In Mandel's Words".

Indy-type:
"They Call Me Mister 500"..Andy Granatelli. Fun read. Interesting "life" of the Brothers/Granatelli.

"Indy 500 Mechanic"..Clint Brawner. Long-time chief mechanic. Mario's co-chief in '69. Lots of stories about those who drove for him.

THere are so many great biographies of motorsport people out there but for pure entertainment and an insight into what F1 was about when it was fun and not so much of a business as it is now then it has to be the James Hunt Biography. A superb read. In rallying the Ari Vatenan biography "To hell and Back" is also a superb read.