The Technique of Motor Racing (Driving) [Hardcover]

Piero Taruffi (Author)

Book Description

Series: Driving | Publication Date: April 2003

In his prophetic foreword to "The Technique of Motor Racing," Fangio anticipates the importance Piero Taruffi's book would have for a generation of new drivers. Trained as both a racing driver and an industrial engineer, Taruffi provides a unique perspective on the art and science of motor racing. He drove for the work teams of Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Mercedes-Benz, and others, in a career that spanned over 25 years and was crowned by his victory in the 1957 Mille Miglia. First published in 1959, "The Technique of Motor Racing" has become the standard by which other driving texts are measured.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"As a title, this famous work is now 30 years old; as a book, it's an all-new edition that should take most aspiring racing drivers and fast road drivers, right up to the 21st century." -- Road & Track Magazine

Product Details

• Hardcover: 126 pages
• Publisher: Bentley Publishers (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0837602289
• ISBN-13: 978-0837602288
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #305,225 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 in Books > Professional & Technical > Automotive > Driver's Education

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Art and Science of Motor Racing!!, January 2, 2003

By 

-oo0(GoldTrader)0oo- (Honolulu) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Technique of Motor Racing (Driving) (Hardcover)

The Technique of Motor Racing
by Piero Taruffi

Aloha,
Thirty years ago I was a driver for the "Jim Russell International Racing Driving School" out at Willow Springs, CA USA. One of the greatest times in my life. Jim Russell (JRS) at that time had schools simultaneously on five continents. We taught in so many languages that we did not have a textbook of our own. JRS was busy training movie stars and World Champions for Formula One Race Car Driving. JRS put students in single seaters from day one! We use to order Taruffi's by the case. It had been "The Book!" for over ten years and was very hard to find. I think Harry Morrow would get them for us from England. They would sell out every time. We could not keep them on the shelf.

I use the principles I learned every time I take to the road. I believe it has helped make me a safer and definitely faster better Motor Vehicle Driver. Probably contributed to my long life, considering I am in the habit of winning on or off the track.

For decades I did not see Taruffi at all. Sometimes I would pick them up in old bookstores. I am glad for the sake of all future drivers that someone has had the wisdom to keep Taruffi in publication. Just the fact that it is around after all these years should tell you something.

Even today, you will seldom see them sold used. You will never see them sold cheap. Many driving books are about the author. Some are about street driving. Taruffi is pure Racing!! How you can drive a car faster. The essence of driving. I do not see how things could have changed enough to invalidate anything Taruffi has had to say. Decide for yourself, you can always return it.

If you have read every book on Motor Racing ever published. You will find The Technique of Motor Racing not only has a lot to offer you. It may just be the most compact bit of Racing Knowledge you have ever found in one place.

Pass Um`
-ooO-(GoldTrader)-Ooo-

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book about cornering!, November 27, 2004

By 

Maxim Masiutin (Chisinau, Republic of Moldova) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Technique of Motor Racing (Driving) (Hardcover)

This book, first published in 1959, is mostly devoted to cornering, and this is the best publication about turns on flat surfaces with high adhesion, used in sport racing, and this information is still valid.

It has a pretty little chapter on physical training of a driver, with the schemes gymnastic exercises recommended for a motorist.

The details of driving position and handling of a steering wheel are mentioned, but not covered well enough.

Nevertheless, the cornering is explained fairly well, in 69 pages full of formulas, schemes and illustrations.

If you need a deeper text-book about fast and safe cornering, which is not only applicable to sport but also to driving on public road, and which covers slippery surfaces like ice, snow and dirt, I would have recommended a published work by Professor Tsygankov.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A marvelous technical manual for race driving., August 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Technique of Motor Racing (Driving) (Hardcover)

Signor Taruffi, a Civil Engineer, was one of the great race drivers of the 1950's. His engineering background gave him the precision in writing, as well as in driving. Charming, hand-drawn diagrams in this book make the well-written text even easier to grasp. There are plenty of photographs that show famous tracks and great drivers of the past. Oh and, Signora Taruffi's beautiful too....