Go Ahead - Take the Wheel [Paperback]

Dave Gran (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2009

Do you ever dream of racing? If you have the desire to drive in wheel-to-wheel road racing events, but do not know how to make this sport a reality, this book is a must-read. "Go Ahead - Take the Wheel" describes the process for you to easily get off the sidelines and begin participating in motorsports from autocrossing, high performance driving events, time trials, to wheel-to-wheel club racing. Have you ever wondered exactly how much it will cost to participate in these various forms of racing? This book actually lays it all out with actual costs, what's needed versus items that would be "nice to have", and various budgets. In this book you will learn how to: Race on your budget - from economy to extravagant; maximize "seat time" - get the most racing for your buck (including free track time!); modify your car to produce the greatest amount of gains; overcome the most common obstacles; gain racing experience before you have a racecar; build your own racecar on a realistic budget; become a front-running driver. Not only is this book extremely informative, it's also fun to read. So stop watching & start racing!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Buying this book will save you a ton of wasted expense and aggravation and get you on the track sooner with less hassle. So if you've had those "I could be a racer!" notions and are thinking of going to the next step, your first step is buying this book. He's just captured it all in a book that's so worth its $17 price of admission." Motortrend --Motortrend

"This is a guide to getting on the track easily, cheaply, and safely. In short, it's the perfect book for the newbie who's interested in starting a road racing career." Grassroots Motorsports Magazine --Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

"Whether as a hobby or as a potential career, Go Ahead - Take the wheel gives you everything you need to know to get started in racing." Michael Andretti --Michael Andretti

Dave Gran takes the guesswork out of getting started in road racing, providing a comprehensive step-by-step process. --Road & Track Magazine

I suggest you pick up a copy of "Go Ahead -- Take the Wheel," by Dave Gran. Gran is an SCCA racer who's been through all the mental and physical machinations you have or will go through as you contemplate getting into the racing game. He's just captured it all in a book that's so worth its price of admission. --Motortrend

About the Author

Dave Gran knows first-hand what it takes for the average person to begin participating in motorsports on a reasonable budget, and what the common obstacles are as he has done it himself. Gran actively races in autocross, high performance driving events, and wheel-to-wheel Club Racing. During the course of several years, he has grown into a nationally competitive amateur racecar driver within his racing car class. The author began instructing novices on racing techniques and how to enter the world of racing over five years ago and is sought to instruct for multiple racing organizations.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Dragon Publishing; 2nd - Updated in 2009 edition (March 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0977786005
• ISBN-13: 978-0977786008
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #537,069 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #93 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Extreme Sports

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Book!, September 22, 2006

By 

Leungevity - See all my reviews

This review is from: Go Ahead - Take the Wheel (Paperback)

I've always wanted to race, but always thought it was out of my reach financially. Who can afford to race? Those people are rich! At least that is what I thought until I bought this book. This book shows you how to start racing on a budget that the average working person, like me, can afford!

Thanks to Dave, I'm still enjoying days at the racetrack, but now people are watching me instead of the other way around! Go ahead, take the wheel, it's intoxicating.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great starting point, August 23, 2007

By 

Mr. Ed (Dayton, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Go Ahead - Take the Wheel (Paperback)

If you think that you want to race, but you don't know where to begin, this is a very good book to start out with.
No fluff, straight forward, ways to get you involved in wheel to wheel racing.
Mostly geared towards SCCA, but easily adaptable to different clubs in your region.
Even if you are not ready to take your care out on the track, Dave Gran offers insight to other ways to volunteer to work the track and work with some of the crews out there now.
Sure you knew that is what you needed to do, but he tells you how to get yourself there.
He offered solutions to get involved into the racing that I was looking for, and saved me a great deal of time trying to find out how to go about it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a must read for anyone interested in getting into club racing., April 13, 2007

By 

Scott L. Neville - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Go Ahead - Take the Wheel (Paperback)

Road racing is possible at just about any age. I got my racing license at age 47 in 2003...I REALLY wish Dave Gran's book was around when I first started out as it would have shortened my learning curve significantly. Getting into road racing has been one of the most awesome things I have ever done. Racing can be an affordable hobby and Dave's book will show you how to do it on your budget!

Scott Neville
NASA SpecE30