Customer Reviews

The Racing Driver (Driving)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Denis Jenkinson uses his motorcycle side-car racing experience and his work with Sterling Moss as his navigator during his record run in winning the 1955 Mille Miglia race in the Mercedes-Benz 300SLR to describe with practical examples how to drive fast safely. Sterling Moss ranks within the five most talented race car drivers of all time. Denis Jenkinson combines his sensitivity to the nuances of driving fast smoothly with his grounding in practical engineering and physics. He explains the dynamics of automobilies at speed, the need for concentration, acute vision, and situational awareness with practical experiences of driving fast on one thousand kilometers of two-lane Italian roads. This book is uniquely appropriate to learning the art of driving smoothly and quickly on public roads

Whether you are a student of motorsport, or just interested in fast driving, this is quite simply THE reference book. It's the original, and the best.

Many will find DSJ's style somewhat dry and almost academic. Don't expect any laughs. But there is SO much valuable information packed into such a short volume, that it's solid value - no waffle ! From driver psychology (Jenks was first to coin the term "10/10ths") to vehicle dynamics at speed, all the essential knowledge is in here.

No race or rally driver worth his salt should ever step into the cockpit before reading this book.

Fascinating account of a guy that rode with the best race car drivers (as a navigator on public road courses) and motorcycle riders (in a side car). Explains his personal point of view as to why he would put his life in the hands of others. Admits he was not at the driver's talent level then humbly gives what seems an objective point of view explaining why they were so great. Written with a slight personal element that makes you feel like you are there. One of the best historical type books by a person who did it and apparently did NOT rely on ghost writers to tell it in the vein of today's fan type vanity books. In its own way as good as Mark Donohue's "The Unfair Advantage".

Gives a great explanations of power oversteer which hangs the rear end of the car out to help steer it through a turn as was used in racing by only the best drivers in his period of history.

Owned a copy as a young man. Got another copy when that one became too dog-eared to use.