The Fastest Men on Earth [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

~ Peter J.R. Holthusen (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Peter Holthusen recalls the challenges, dangers, disappointments, tragedies and triumphs that have characterized record-breaking attempts from the very beginning. Holthusen reconsiders the famous careers of Frenchman Camille Jenatzy and Leon Serpollet William K. Vanderbilt Jr., the Honorable Charles Rolls, Henry Ford, Barney Oldfield and Louis Chevrolet, who were among the great sporting legends of their time and he relives the more recent rivalries of a later generation. He asks why these exceptional individuals are prepared to risk their lives and their fortunes in order to become the fastest man on earth.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 216 pages
• Publisher: Sutton Publishing; illustrated edition edition (October 25, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0750922036
• ISBN-13: 978-0750922036
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 7.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,048,033 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The most inaccurate book ever written on the subject, November 2, 2001

By	N. Sheppard - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a review of two halves:

The text is hopelessly inaccurate, and can by no means claim to be a definitive work. The story about the Budweiser car is just plain wrong.
Still, Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

The photographs are wonderful, although most are inaccurately credited as being copyright the author. This is not the case, and it is unhelpful to the reader, that the correct photo source is unavailable.
Buy this book for the illustrations alone.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Peter J.R. Holthusen books are full of lies and inacraces, June 9, 2003

By	ky michaelson (Bloomington, Minnesota) - See all my reviews

I am very disapointed in the inaccuracies of the Peter Holthusen's Land Speed Record book. His book states on page 198 that on July 7, 1977 a rocket car named 'The Michaelson Rocket Car' with a 13,000 lb thrust rocket engine driven by Kitty O'Neil made a record attempt and that was she was so disapointed with the speed, that I sold the car to Sammy Miller for $80,000.
The truth is that neither Kitty O'Neil or I ever ran our land speed record. The car was not named The Michaelson Rocket car.

The car never had a 13,000 lb rocket engine it. In fact the car never had a engine in it. The fact is the car was stolen from kitty O'Neil's shop in Filmore, Califonia in 1979. These are just a few of the inaccuracies and lies that Mr Holthusen wrote in his febale attempt to record history. Mr. Holthusen owes me an apology along with Kitty O'Neil and every one else who has paid to read his trash.
Ky Michaelson
the-rocketman.com

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a special few, August 24, 2000

By A Customer

Without doubt one of the finest and most comprehensive books I have personally seen on the subject of the quest for ultimate speed on land. From the days of the early twentieth century to the ultimate achievement of attaining the speed of sound on the desert of Nevada Mr Holthusen not only informs the reader but shows in pictures, drawings, and more, the diffuclty and challenges faced by a special few who dared to challenge the laws of nature in the race for the Land Speed Record. A must read for those who follow this subject