Customer Reviews

Porsche High-Performance Driving Handbook: Porsche Rear-Engine 911, 930, 959, 356, 914, Front-Engine 924, 944, 928, 968, and 917!

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

To me, this book seems inadequate. The book describes Vic's career, and that's fine: he's an accomplished driver. The pictures are neat, and the older exotics he drove are interesting. It's a neat history describing Porsche's racing heritage.

But it offers so little advice on driving, the book feels like a waste for someone who wants to learn performance driving.

It's not a driving manual: there's little theory, and sometimes the anectdotes lead nowhere: they don't provide a lesson!

And it's not a Porsche manual, in that the author offers very little advice on setting up the kinds of Porsches that entry-level drivers race today.

I think you're better off with Bob Bondurant's book, or one of the similar titles.

Okay so I don't have a Porsche. I'm comfortable with that fact, and I'm not made at people who have one unlike other reviewers of this book. And what's up with going on and on slamming the rich people? If you a true racing fan and more specifically a rally fan you'll love this book. Like the title says, which other reviewers seem to forget, it is a HIGH-PERFORMANCE driving book that just happens to be done in Porsches. The author explains in easy to understand terms the principles of race and rally car vehicle dynamics and techniques to maximize these principles. He will present a topic maybe say maximum braking on various types of conditions, explain the techniques and the theory, and then tell some great story about his rally or race days which shows you a real-world application of what he was talking about. I bought this book a long time ago, lost it, and now have bought it again. It is one of my favorites both for its great stories, pictures (Vic got a 917 so sideways at Le Mans in the rain its a wonder he didn't crash it), and the basic principles that it conveys simply and effectively. This is a great beginners book on how to drive fast, and a great rally fans book with its stories. If you understand what this book is saying, and I guaruntee you will drive better and faster.

Just remember the other guys are just jealous.

Vic's book is an excellent starting point for any Porsche driver of any model. Nicely balanced between technical concepts and real-life examples, it stays interesting throughout. His emphasis on smoothness throughout the book echoes what you'll hear again and again at any instructed PCA Driving Event. It is a great preparation to becoming seriously involved in driving events and is equally valuable for having fun and being safe on the street. By no means is it the most complete or exhaustive book on the topic; rather, it is a marvelous and exciting introduction.

I've purchased this book for the second time after my first copy (signed by Vic himself) was lost by a friend. As other reviewers have noted, the book might not deliver quite what one expects. The title may be at fault, and it was possibly chosen by the publisher more than the author. But if you read the book for its insights into 1960s and early 70s sports car racing and rallying, you won't be disappointed. Elford brings an unusual blend of technical expertise, first-hand knowledge, and good writing skills to the task. It can be inspirational to know that the source of this driving advice was the real deal, someone who thundered around the 'green hell' of the Nurburgring fast enough to win it twice, and who earned the nickname 'quick Vic' while dragging around the slowest car (Cooper) on the F1 grid.

Another reviewer objects to there being so much Elford in this book. But instead think of this as a memoir with tons of advice and instruction thrown in. Elford himself (from someone who knew him) was much too modest to tell his story without trying to make it useful to others. In the end it doesn't matter what kind a car you drive. His attitude and insights in high performance driving situations are worth understanding. He may or may not make you a faster driver, but he'll probably make you a wiser one.

This book is simply not worth the money. I fully agree with the reviewers who said this book is good for stories ... but useless for teaching you how to drive fast. The practical tips are very few and far between. To be honest, most enthusiasts can give you more useful pointers over a pint of beer than you can get reading this book.

If you want to drive fast: practice in your own car (safely) and get yourself some hands-on teaching. If you want to sit yourself on a couch and hypnotize yourself into thinking you can drive faster, read this book.

The reason I give 2 stars instead of one is because the stories ARE pretty entertaining. And the pictures are better than in Bondurants book ... But come on: that's not why you're thinking about buying this book, is it ?

Elford's style is easy to follow and fun to read. Nice balance of anecdotes and applications. Easy to follow diagrams and well suited to those not looking for track advice. Good, practical advice for the everyday situations. Good value for money.

Great pictures and history lesson. If you want to read up on Porsche racing history, a little bit of driving tips, and a nice coffee table book, then this is a good book.

For a more serious driving technique book, especially if you already know quite a bit about performance driving, I would suggest looking elsewhere. The best driving technique book I have found so far is the Skip Barber, the art of race driving book. However, it can be a little heavy and complicated if you are only looking for a casual easy reading book.

I ordered this book, read it, then read it again. Its real help is scarce, and the self-agrandizing stories get dull quick. I've thrown it away.

I, as others, found the book a little too much "Vic Elford Racing Memoirs" and too brief on technique and explanation. Each chapter begins with a fairly long anecdote from Vic's racing days and you have to slog through that in order to get to the part where he's talking about you and not himself. It's an interesting read, don't get me wrong -- especially if you drive a Porsche. Just not as much meat as you might be expecting. For that, look at Ross Bentley's series.

Vic's book is about high performance driving. It would be great for the marque if all Porsche drivers who cannot attend Porsche driving school studied this book.

I am reading the book online. The pages have been scanned, it helps to go through the pictures first, then come back, and piece together the text. Although the book is full of the cars he drove, high performance driving is not specifically about driving Sports cars, and he mentions Taruffi's formula used in Formula 1.

There is no great skill required to go fast in a straight line. Anyone can do it. Going round corners is something else. ~ Vic Elford

The larger the radius of a corner, the faster you can drive around it, and the less stress you place on the car at a given speed. Porsche owners probably represent the largest group of people who need advanced high performance training.

It use to be that people studied high performance driving just to increase their chances of staying alive. High performance driving is not so much a survival skill any longer, as an art. Now a days, with air bags, seat belts, and traction control, driving fast brings pleasure, relaxation, and joy.

Look for balance and smoothness in car designs, and on the road. Accelerating, braking, or cornering a tire can only do 100% of something. Getting the most out of any type of car is what this book is about.

He takes us on a lap in a Porsche 917 the fastest racing car ever built. It is through this history of cars and racing that Vic takes us with some of the latest driving techniques. He leaves us with the feeling that he has not scratched the surface of special techniques and methods that he uses everyday driving Porsches.

If you are dreaming of buying a high performance car, you should consider Vic's insight about cars, accessories, and their effect on driving before you make up your mind. Whether it is organized racing, or being pursued by strangers on the road. Driving well involves smoothness, balance, and anticipating transitions.

The Technique of Motor Racing (Driving)