Breaking the Limits, 25 Dec 2007
I just can't get enough of Sam telling his storys from the old days. Excellent book.

Breaking the Limits, 13 Nov 2003
This book just confirms that Sam Ermolenko is a living legend!! And as his career continues, i wonder if we can look forward to a breaking the limits 2.

Long live the legend that is Sudden Sam Ermolenko!

Breaking the Limits, breaks the mold!, 03 Sep 2003
I could not put this book down, I read it from front to back (the best way I have found) in four days, that was with working full-time too!
It is the best insight into a speedway riders life that I have ever read, Sam holds nothing back in this book!
It is a real must for any motor sport fan.

Excellent book by a wonderful rider, 20 Jul 2003
Having long been a fan of Sudden Sam, I was very excited at the prospect of reading about his life on and off the track, and I was not disappointed. This book charts Sam's life from childhood and the thrills (and spills) of his career. I found it so exciting that I was barely able to put the book down. All in all, an excellent read and a must for any speedway fan.

excellent read on one of the best speedway riders, 29 Jun 2003
Having always been a fan of Sudden Sam, I found this book both informative and exciting. It charts his life from childhood, through disasters and finaly to glory. It also gave a blast from the past to me because I actually witnessed some of the events that happened. This book really is a must for the speedway fan and especially for those who rate Sam as one of the best.

Breaking the Limits, 25 Dec 2007
I just can't get enough of Sam telling his storys from the old days. Excellent book.

Breaking the Limits, 13 Nov 2003
This book just confirms that Sam Ermolenko is a living legend!! And as his career continues, i wonder if we can look forward to a breaking the limits 2.

Long live the legend that is Sudden Sam Ermolenko!

Breaking the Limits, breaks the mold!, 03 Sep 2003
I could not put this book down, I read it from front to back (the best way I have found) in four days, that was with working full-time too!
It is the best insight into a speedway riders life that I have ever read, Sam holds nothing back in this book!
It is a real must for any motor sport fan.

Excellent book by a wonderful rider, 20 Jul 2003
Having long been a fan of Sudden Sam, I was very excited at the prospect of reading about his life on and off the track, and I was not disappointed. This book charts Sam's life from childhood and the thrills (and spills) of his career. I found it so exciting that I was barely able to put the book down. All in all, an excellent read and a must for any speedway fan.

excellent read on one of the best speedway riders, 29 Jun 2003
Having always been a fan of Sudden Sam, I found this book both informative and exciting. It charts his life from childhood, through disasters and finaly to glory. It also gave a blast from the past to me because I actually witnessed some of the events that happened. This book really is a must for the speedway fan and especially for those who rate Sam as one of the best.

Readable, concise and informative history, 19 Dec 2004
For a long time I've wanted a good full-length history of Coventry Climax engines and this fits the bill perfectly. It covers the full history of the Godiva (FPE), FW, FWM and FPF fours, FWMV V8 and FWMW flat-16, right from their conception to their racing career (or to their demise without racing, in the case of the Godiva and the flat-16). The stories of the company, of Leonard Lee and of Walter Hassan are interwoven with technical details of the engines, and a lot of works photographs and dyno sheets accompany the text. There are some good tales of the unsung heroes in the Experimental and Racing departments too.

Not a lavish book, but told with enthusiasm and crisply written, this book tells the story lucidly and gives a good insight into how Coventry-Climax briefly became the most successful racing engine manufacturer in the world.

Recommended to anyone with an interest in engines and engineering.

Breaking the Limits, 25 Dec 2007
I just can't get enough of Sam telling his storys from the old days. Excellent book.

Breaking the Limits, 13 Nov 2003
This book just confirms that Sam Ermolenko is a living legend!! And as his career continues, i wonder if we can look forward to a breaking the limits 2.

Long live the legend that is Sudden Sam Ermolenko!

Breaking the Limits, breaks the mold!, 03 Sep 2003
I could not put this book down, I read it from front to back (the best way I have found) in four days, that was with working full-time too!
It is the best insight into a speedway riders life that I have ever read, Sam holds nothing back in this book!
It is a real must for any motor sport fan.

Excellent book by a wonderful rider, 20 Jul 2003
Having long been a fan of Sudden Sam, I was very excited at the prospect of reading about his life on and off the track, and I was not disappointed. This book charts Sam's life from childhood and the thrills (and spills) of his career. I found it so exciting that I was barely able to put the book down. All in all, an excellent read and a must for any speedway fan.

excellent read on one of the best speedway riders, 29 Jun 2003
Having always been a fan of Sudden Sam, I found this book both informative and exciting. It charts his life from childhood, through disasters and finaly to glory. It also gave a blast from the past to me because I actually witnessed some of the events that happened. This book really is a must for the speedway fan and especially for those who rate Sam as one of the best.

Readable, concise and informative history, 19 Dec 2004
For a long time I've wanted a good full-length history of Coventry Climax engines and this fits the bill perfectly. It covers the full history of the Godiva (FPE), FW, FWM and FPF fours, FWMV V8 and FWMW flat-16, right from their conception to their racing career (or to their demise without racing, in the case of the Godiva and the flat-16). The stories of the company, of Leonard Lee and of Walter Hassan are interwoven with technical details of the engines, and a lot of works photographs and dyno sheets accompany the text. There are some good tales of the unsung heroes in the Experimental and Racing departments too.

Not a lavish book, but told with enthusiasm and crisply written, this book tells the story lucidly and gives a good insight into how Coventry-Climax briefly became the most successful racing engine manufacturer in the world.

Recommended to anyone with an interest in engines and engineering.

Great detail of wonderful machinery, 10 Oct 2008
A well-written and mostly very accurate account of the Tri-5's with good photography of most models if not all variants. Good detailed coverage on the Nomad series.Recommended.

Breaking the Limits, 25 Dec 2007
I just can't get enough of Sam telling his storys from the old days. Excellent book.

Breaking the Limits, 13 Nov 2003
This book just confirms that Sam Ermolenko is a living legend!! And as his career continues, i wonder if we can look forward to a breaking the limits 2.

Long live the legend that is Sudden Sam Ermolenko!

Breaking the Limits, breaks the mold!, 03 Sep 2003
I could not put this book down, I read it from front to back (the best way I have found) in four days, that was with working full-time too!
It is the best insight into a speedway riders life that I have ever read, Sam holds nothing back in this book!
It is a real must for any motor sport fan.

Excellent book by a wonderful rider, 20 Jul 2003
Having long been a fan of Sudden Sam, I was very excited at the prospect of reading about his life on and off the track, and I was not disappointed. This book charts Sam's life from childhood and the thrills (and spills) of his career. I found it so exciting that I was barely able to put the book down. All in all, an excellent read and a must for any speedway fan.

excellent read on one of the best speedway riders, 29 Jun 2003
Having always been a fan of Sudden Sam, I found this book both informative and exciting. It charts his life from childhood, through disasters and finaly to glory. It also gave a blast from the past to me because I actually witnessed some of the events that happened. This book really is a must for the speedway fan and especially for those who rate Sam as one of the best.

Readable, concise and informative history, 19 Dec 2004
For a long time I've wanted a good full-length history of Coventry Climax engines and this fits the bill perfectly. It covers the full history of the Godiva (FPE), FW, FWM and FPF fours, FWMV V8 and FWMW flat-16, right from their conception to their racing career (or to their demise without racing, in the case of the Godiva and the flat-16). The stories of the company, of Leonard Lee and of Walter Hassan are interwoven with technical details of the engines, and a lot of works photographs and dyno sheets accompany the text. There are some good tales of the unsung heroes in the Experimental and Racing departments too.

Not a lavish book, but told with enthusiasm and crisply written, this book tells the story lucidly and gives a good insight into how Coventry-Climax briefly became the most successful racing engine manufacturer in the world.

Recommended to anyone with an interest in engines and engineering.

Great detail of wonderful machinery, 10 Oct 2008
A well-written and mostly very accurate account of the Tri-5's with good photography of most models if not all variants. Good detailed coverage on the Nomad series.Recommended.

There's nothing like this, 25 Sep 2007
To be very honest there are very few motoring writers who can write well. And there seems only to have been one who could writing outstandingly well. LJK Setright was that one. This fine book is quite probably unique because it's a towering monument to a rich understanding of motor vehicles showing most clearly why an intelligent, cultured person might find them a worthy object of contemplation.

"Drive On!" rises above the mass of crass prose offered in the name of motoring journalism. Setright combines in a nearly unearthly fashion a monumental general erudition with a highly scholarly understanding of cars and the cultural forces that drove their development. It's an odd-shaped lens through which to view history, the car, but it makes for a perfectly valid one. And since the car has shaped us as much as we have shaped it, then understanding the car can help us understand the journey society has taken since the car became commonplace.

Possibly you won't agree with some of Setright's more libertarian views but he explains them well. Setright liked his guns and his Balkan Sobranie cigarettes, seeing both as rational choices of free individuals. So, you can see why the car fascinated him so much. There is naturally then a satisfactory concordance with his views on whom we elect and on the expression of our political will in how we elect to travel.

Setright explains with rare lucidity not just the engineering developments but the meaning of them. For example, speed interests Setright less than the quality of that speed and its linear control. His acute perceptions of how controls are to be understood contrasts with contemporary motoring writers who show little sensitivity to this. His comments on the rise of mass manufacturing offer a genuinely fascinating angle on the social history of the late industrial revolution. His pages on the role of General Motors and Ford Motor Company during WW2 ought to be read by anyone interested in the strange alliances made in times of conflict. This episode is a footnote in history I doubt these companies are interested in broadcasting further. Setright wrote the book for anyone with a curious mind and whether your interest is, technology, history or even sociology you'll find this book deserves a prominent position on your bookshelf.

As Setright writes in his introduction, "See how it strikes you."

a masterpiece, 27 Jun 2005
this book deals with technical, global history, social change, in fact anything relevant to motoring. reading this book, you understand how the freedom that affordable private motoring produced has shaped society. LJK setright writes beatifully, and details why and when the technical milestones (disc brakes, front wheel drive, automatic transmission etc.) were introduced.
the book is richly written; in the 8 pages on air conditioning/heating the book veers of into the history of hone refrigeration and transnational chilled food transport.
there is more than enough to interest any car enthusiast; particularly if the engineering part of cars interests you.
it is well illustrated

An elegant dissertation, 03 Jan 2004
Anyone who was a regular reader of CAR magazine from 1966 until a year or two ago will need no introduction to the erudition, wit, and idiosyncratic style of LJKS. Which is now to be found in various newspapers. Look up a few of his articles on the internet and you'll see what I mean.

If you want to know the true meaning of the motor car, read this. On the way you will learn about the car's relationship to the French and American revolutions and discover that almost everything you thought you knew is wrong. I discovered that my school motto is a quote from Virgil's Aeneid - cf Chapter 3.

This is a serious and highly readable work well worth the investment.

Breaking the Limits, 25 Dec 2007
I just can't get enough of Sam telling his storys from the old days. Excellent book.

Breaking the Limits, 13 Nov 2003
This book just confirms that Sam Ermolenko is a living legend!! And as his career continues, i wonder if we can look forward to a breaking the limits 2.

Long live the legend that is Sudden Sam Ermolenko!

Breaking the Limits, breaks the mold!, 03 Sep 2003
I could not put this book down, I read it from front to back (the best way I have found) in four days, that was with working full-time too!
It is the best insight into a speedway riders life that I have ever read, Sam holds nothing back in this book!
It is a real must for any motor sport fan.

Excellent book by a wonderful rider, 20 Jul 2003
Having long been a fan of Sudden Sam, I was very excited at the prospect of reading about his life on and off the track, and I was not disappointed. This book charts Sam's life from childhood and the thrills (and spills) of his career. I found it so exciting that I was barely able to put the book down. All in all, an excellent read and a must for any speedway fan.

excellent read on one of the best speedway riders, 29 Jun 2003
Having always been a fan of Sudden Sam, I found this book both informative and exciting. It charts his life from childhood, through disasters and finaly to glory. It also gave a blast from the past to me because I actually witnessed some of the events that happened. This book really is a must for the speedway fan and especially for those who rate Sam as one of the best.

Readable, concise and informative history, 19 Dec 2004
For a long time I've wanted a good full-length history of Coventry Climax engines and this fits the bill perfectly. It covers the full history of the Godiva (FPE), FW, FWM and FPF fours, FWMV V8 and FWMW flat-16, right from their conception to their racing career (or to their demise without racing, in the case of the Godiva and the flat-16). The stories of the company, of Leonard Lee and of Walter Hassan are interwoven with technical details of the engines, and a lot of works photographs and dyno sheets accompany the text. There are some good tales of the unsung heroes in the Experimental and Racing departments too.

Not a lavish book, but told with enthusiasm and crisply written, this book tells the story lucidly and gives a good insight into how Coventry-Climax briefly became the most successful racing engine manufacturer in the world.

Recommended to anyone with an interest in engines and engineering.

Great detail of wonderful machinery, 10 Oct 2008
A well-written and mostly very accurate account of the Tri-5's with good photography of most models if not all variants. Good detailed coverage on the Nomad series.Recommended.

There's nothing like this, 25 Sep 2007
To be very honest there are very few motoring writers who can write well. And there seems only to have been one who could writing outstandingly well. LJK Setright was that one. This fine book is quite probably unique because it's a towering monument to a rich understanding of motor vehicles showing most clearly why an intelligent, cultured person might find them a worthy object of contemplation.

"Drive On!" rises above the mass of crass prose offered in the name of motoring journalism. Setright combines in a nearly unearthly fashion a monumental general erudition with a highly scholarly understanding of cars and the cultural forces that drove their development. It's an odd-shaped lens through which to view history, the car, but it makes for a perfectly valid one. And since the car has shaped us as much as we have shaped it, then understanding the car can help us understand the journey society has taken since the car became commonplace.

Possibly you won't agree with some of Setright's more libertarian views but he explains them well. Setright liked his guns and his Balkan Sobranie cigarettes, seeing both as rational choices of free individuals. So, you can see why the car fascinated him so much. There is naturally then a satisfactory concordance with his views on whom we elect and on the expression of our political will in how we elect to travel.

Setright explains with rare lucidity not just the engineering developments but the meaning of them. For example, speed interests Setright less than the quality of that speed and its linear control. His acute perceptions of how controls are to be understood contrasts with contemporary motoring writers who show little sensitivity to this. His comments on the rise of mass manufacturing offer a genuinely fascinating angle on the social history of the late industrial revolution. His pages on the role of General Motors and Ford Motor Company during WW2 ought to be read by anyone interested in the strange alliances made in times of conflict. This episode is a footnote in history I doubt these companies are interested in broadcasting further. Setright wrote the book for anyone with a curious mind and whether your interest is, technology, history or even sociology you'll find this book deserves a prominent position on your bookshelf.

As Setright writes in his introduction, "See how it strikes you."

a masterpiece, 27 Jun 2005
this book deals with technical, global history, social change, in fact anything relevant to motoring. reading this book, you understand how the freedom that affordable private motoring produced has shaped society. LJK setright writes beatifully, and details why and when the technical milestones (disc brakes, front wheel drive, automatic transmission etc.) were introduced.
the book is richly written; in the 8 pages on air conditioning/heating the book veers of into the history of hone refrigeration and transnational chilled food transport.
there is more than enough to interest any car enthusiast; particularly if the engineering part of cars interests you.
it is well illustrated

An elegant dissertation, 03 Jan 2004
Anyone who was a regular reader of CAR magazine from 1966 until a year or two ago will need no introduction to the erudition, wit, and idiosyncratic style of LJKS. Which is now to be found in various newspapers. Look up a few of his articles on the internet and you'll see what I mean.

If you want to know the true meaning of the motor car, read this. On the way you will learn about the car's relationship to the French and American revolutions and discover that almost everything you thought you knew is wrong. I discovered that my school motto is a quote from Virgil's Aeneid - cf Chapter 3.

This is a serious and highly readable work well worth the investment.

Sensible overview of sports car racing, 12 May 2005
A good introduction to sports car racing seen through the cars that have dominated it over the years. All the obvious classics are there, from pre-war Bentleys via front-engined Ferraris, Maseratis, Jaguars etc through the classic rear-engined prototypes of the sixties (Ford vs Ferrari vs Porsche) and seventies through the Group C era of Porsche vs Jaguar right up to the return of Bentley at Le Mans. Each article can only scratch the surface of the history of the fifty cars Pritchard has chosen to analyse, but the selection is (for the most part) a good one - the only gaping omission is that of the Audi R8 (odd since its Bentley "cousin" features) - and the histories give a good feel for who was racing and winning and what the opposition was at any point in the history of sports car racing. There are some good photographs and cutaway drawings, and overall, this is a welcome addition to the literature on sports car racing.

Breaking the Limits, 25 Dec 2007
I just can't get enough of Sam telling his storys from the old days. Excellent book.

Breaking the Limits, 13 Nov 2003
This book just confirms that Sam Ermolenko is a living legend!! And as his career continues, i wonder if we can look forward to a breaking the limits 2.

Long live the legend that is Sudden Sam Ermolenko!

Breaking the Limits, breaks the mold!, 03 Sep 2003
I could not put this book down, I read it from front to back (the best way I have found) in four days, that was with working full-time too!
It is the best insight into a speedway riders life that I have ever read, Sam holds nothing back in this book!
It is a real must for any motor sport fan.

Excellent book by a wonderful rider, 20 Jul 2003
Having long been a fan of Sudden Sam, I was very excited at the prospect of reading about his life on and off the track, and I was not disappointed. This book charts Sam's life from childhood and the thrills (and spills) of his career. I found it so exciting that I was barely able to put the book down. All in all, an excellent read and a must for any speedway fan.

excellent read on one of the best speedway riders, 29 Jun 2003
Having always been a fan of Sudden Sam, I found this book both informative and exciting. It charts his life from childhood, through disasters and finaly to glory. It also gave a blast from the past to me because I actually witnessed some of the events that happened. This book really is a must for the speedway fan and especially for those who rate Sam as one of the best.

Readable, concise and informative history, 19 Dec 2004
For a long time I've wanted a good full-length history of Coventry Climax engines and this fits the bill perfectly. It covers the full history of the Godiva (FPE), FW, FWM and FPF fours, FWMV V8 and FWMW flat-16, right from their conception to their racing career (or to their demise without racing, in the case of the Godiva and the flat-16). The stories of the company, of Leonard Lee and of Walter Hassan are interwoven with technical details of the engines, and a lot of works photographs and dyno sheets accompany the text. There are some good tales of the unsung heroes in the Experimental and Racing departments too.

Not a lavish book, but told with enthusiasm and crisply written, this book tells the story lucidly and gives a good insight into how Coventry-Climax briefly became the most successful racing engine manufacturer in the world.

Recommended to anyone with an interest in engines and engineering.

Great detail of wonderful machinery, 10 Oct 2008
A well-written and mostly very accurate account of the Tri-5's with good photography of most models if not all variants. Good detailed coverage on the Nomad series.Recommended.

There's nothing like this, 25 Sep 2007
To be very honest there are very few motoring writers who can write well. And there seems only to have been one who could writing outstandingly well. LJK Setright was that one. This fine book is quite probably unique because it's a towering monument to a rich understanding of motor vehicles showing most clearly why an intelligent, cultured person might find them a worthy object of contemplation.

"Drive On!" rises above the mass of crass prose offered in the name of motoring journalism. Setright combines in a nearly unearthly fashion a monumental general erudition with a highly scholarly understanding of cars and the cultural forces that drove their development. It's an odd-shaped lens through which to view history, the car, but it makes for a perfectly valid one. And since the car has shaped us as much as we have shaped it, then understanding the car can help us understand the journey society has taken since the car became commonplace.

Possibly you won't agree with some of Setright's more libertarian views but he explains them well. Setright liked his guns and his Balkan Sobranie cigarettes, seeing both as rational choices of free individuals. So, you can see why the car fascinated him so much. There is naturally then a satisfactory concordance with his views on whom we elect and on the expression of our political will in how we elect to travel.

Setright explains with rare lucidity not just the engineering developments but the meaning of them. For example, speed interests Setright less than the quality of that speed and its linear control. His acute perceptions of how controls are to be understood contrasts with contemporary motoring writers who show little sensitivity to this. His comments on the rise of mass manufacturing offer a genuinely fascinating angle on the social history of the late industrial revolution. His pages on the role of General Motors and Ford Motor Company during WW2 ought to be read by anyone interested in the strange alliances made in times of conflict. This episode is a footnote in history I doubt these companies are interested in broadcasting further. Setright wrote the book for anyone with a curious mind and whether your interest is, technology, history or even sociology you'll find this book deserves a prominent position on your bookshelf.

As Setright writes in his introduction, "See how it strikes you."

a masterpiece, 27 Jun 2005
this book deals with technical, global history, social change, in fact anything relevant to motoring. reading this book, you understand how the freedom that affordable private motoring produced has shaped society. LJK setright writes beatifully, and details why and when the technical milestones (disc brakes, front wheel drive, automatic transmission etc.) were introduced.
the book is richly written; in the 8 pages on air conditioning/heating the book veers of into the history of hone refrigeration and transnational chilled food transport.
there is more than enough to interest any car enthusiast; particularly if the engineering part of cars interests you.
it is well illustrated

An elegant dissertation, 03 Jan 2004
Anyone who was a regular reader of CAR magazine from 1966 until a year or two ago will need no introduction to the erudition, wit, and idiosyncratic style of LJKS. Which is now to be found in various newspapers. Look up a few of his articles on the internet and you'll see what I mean.

If you want to know the true meaning of the motor car, read this. On the way you will learn about the car's relationship to the French and American revolutions and discover that almost everything you thought you knew is wrong. I discovered that my school motto is a quote from Virgil's Aeneid - cf Chapter 3.

This is a serious and highly readable work well worth the investment.

Sensible overview of sports car racing, 12 May 2005
A good introduction to sports car racing seen through the cars that have dominated it over the years. All the obvious classics are there, from pre-war Bentleys via front-engined Ferraris, Maseratis, Jaguars etc through the classic rear-engined prototypes of the sixties (Ford vs Ferrari vs Porsche) and seventies through the Group C era of Porsche vs Jaguar right up to the return of Bentley at Le Mans. Each article can only scratch the surface of the history of the fifty cars Pritchard has chosen to analyse, but the selection is (for the most part) a good one - the only gaping omission is that of the Audi R8 (odd since its Bentley "cousin" features) - and the histories give a good feel for who was racing and winning and what the opposition was at any point in the history of sports car racing. There are some good photographs and cutaway drawings, and overall, this is a welcome addition to the literature on sports car racing.

Worth A Look, 15 Jan 2004
Given the significance of the 500cc F3 formula in post-war racing (rebirth of the sport; development of the rear-engine layout; Cooper, Moss, Collins, etc.) there is a real dearth of books on the subject.
At 35 pages, this was never going to be the definitive guide. But with stacks of photo's, this is a great little introduction to the basics of how the formula developed through the '40s and '50s. It covers the basic history, and highlights the characters (drivers and constructors) who featured, at the very least giving you ideas of where to find more information.

Well worth the cover price. The only reason I give it just three stars is that five would have to be the 500-page definitive history.

Breaking the Limits, 25 Dec 2007
I just can't get enough of Sam telling his storys from the old days. Excellent book.

Breaking the Limits, 13 Nov 2003
This book just confirms that Sam Ermolenko is a living legend!! And as his career continues, i wonder if we can look forward to a breaking the limits 2.

Long live the legend that is Sudden Sam Ermolenko!

Breaking the Limits, breaks the mold!, 03 Sep 2003
I could not put this book down, I read it from front to back (the best way I have found) in four days, that was with working full-time too!
It is the best insight into a speedway riders life that I have ever read, Sam holds nothing back in this book!
It is a real must for any motor sport fan.

Excellent book by a wonderful rider, 20 Jul 2003
Having long been a fan of Sudden Sam, I was very excited at the prospect of reading about his life on and off the track, and I was not disappointed. This book charts Sam's life from childhood and the thrills (and spills) of his career. I found it so exciting that I was barely able to put the book down. All in all, an excellent read and a must for any speedway fan.

excellent read on one of the best speedway riders, 29 Jun 2003
Having always been a fan of Sudden Sam, I found this book both informative and exciting. It charts his life from childhood, through disasters and finaly to glory. It also gave a blast from the past to me because I actually witnessed some of the events that happened. This book really is a must for the speedway fan and especially for those who rate Sam as one of the best.

Readable, concise and informative history, 19 Dec 2004
For a long time I've wanted a good full-length history of Coventry Climax engines and this fits the bill perfectly. It covers the full history of the Godiva (FPE), FW, FWM and FPF fours, FWMV V8 and FWMW flat-16, right from their conception to their racing career (or to their demise without racing, in the case of the Godiva and the flat-16). The stories of the company, of Leonard Lee and of Walter Hassan are interwoven with technical details of the engines, and a lot of works photographs and dyno sheets accompany the text. There are some good tales of the unsung heroes in the Experimental and Racing departments too.

Not a lavish book, but told with enthusiasm and crisply written, this book tells the story lucidly and gives a good insight into how Coventry-Climax briefly became the most successful racing engine manufacturer in the world.

Recommended to anyone with an interest in engines and engineering.

Great detail of wonderful machinery, 10 Oct 2008
A well-written and mostly very accurate account of the Tri-5's with good photography of most models if not all variants. Good detailed coverage on the Nomad series.Recommended.

There's nothing like this, 25 Sep 2007
To be very honest there are very few motoring writers who can write well. And there seems only to have been one who could writing outstandingly well. LJK Setright was that one. This fine book is quite probably unique because it's a towering monument to a rich understanding of motor vehicles showing most clearly why an intelligent, cultured person might find them a worthy object of contemplation.

"Drive On!" rises above the mass of crass prose offered in the name of motoring journalism. Setright combines in a nearly unearthly fashion a monumental general erudition with a highly scholarly understanding of cars and the cultural forces that drove their development. It's an odd-shaped lens through which to view history, the car, but it makes for a perfectly valid one. And since the car has shaped us as much as we have shaped it, then understanding the car can help us understand the journey society has taken since the car became commonplace.

Possibly you won't agree with some of Setright's more libertarian views but he explains them well. Setright liked his guns and his Balkan Sobranie cigarettes, seeing both as rational choices of free individuals. So, you can see why the car fascinated him so much. There is naturally then a satisfactory concordance with his views on whom we elect and on the expression of our political will in how we elect to travel.

Setright explains with rare lucidity not just the engineering developments but the meaning of them. For example, speed interests Setright less than the quality of that speed and its linear control. His acute perceptions of how controls are to be understood contrasts with contemporary motoring writers who show little sensitivity to this. His comments on the rise of mass manufacturing offer a genuinely fascinating angle on the social history of the late industrial revolution. His pages on the role of General Motors and Ford Motor Company during WW2 ought to be read by anyone interested in the strange alliances made in times of conflict. This episode is a footnote in history I doubt these companies are interested in broadcasting further. Setright wrote the book for anyone with a curious mind and whether your interest is, technology, history or even sociology you'll find this book deserves a prominent position on your bookshelf.

As Setright writes in his introduction, "See how it strikes you."

a masterpiece, 27 Jun 2005
this book deals with technical, global history, social change, in fact anything relevant to motoring. reading this book, you understand how the freedom that affordable private motoring produced has shaped society. LJK setright writes beatifully, and details why and when the technical milestones (disc brakes, front wheel drive, automatic transmission etc.) were introduced.
the book is richly written; in the 8 pages on air conditioning/heating the book veers of into the history of hone refrigeration and transnational chilled food transport.
there is more than enough to interest any car enthusiast; particularly if the engineering part of cars interests you.
it is well illustrated

An elegant dissertation, 03 Jan 2004
Anyone who was a regular reader of CAR magazine from 1966 until a year or two ago will need no introduction to the erudition, wit, and idiosyncratic style of LJKS. Which is now to be found in various newspapers. Look up a few of his articles on the internet and you'll see what I mean.

If you want to know the true meaning of the motor car, read this. On the way you will learn about the car's relationship to the French and American revolutions and discover that almost everything you thought you knew is wrong. I discovered that my school motto is a quote from Virgil's Aeneid - cf Chapter 3.

This is a serious and highly readable work well worth the investment.

Sensible overview of sports car racing, 12 May 2005
A good introduction to sports car racing seen through the cars that have dominated it over the years. All the obvious classics are there, from pre-war Bentleys via front-engined Ferraris, Maseratis, Jaguars etc through the classic rear-engined prototypes of the sixties (Ford vs Ferrari vs Porsche) and seventies through the Group C era of Porsche vs Jaguar right up to the return of Bentley at Le Mans. Each article can only scratch the surface of the history of the fifty cars Pritchard has chosen to analyse, but the selection is (for the most part) a good one - the only gaping omission is that of the Audi R8 (odd since its Bentley "cousin" features) - and the histories give a good feel for who was racing and winning and what the opposition was at any point in the history of sports car racing. There are some good photographs and cutaway drawings, and overall, this is a welcome addition to the literature on sports car racing.

Worth A Look, 15 Jan 2004
Given the significance of the 500cc F3 formula in post-war racing (rebirth of the sport; development of the rear-engine layout; Cooper, Moss, Collins, etc.) there is a real dearth of books on the subject.
At 35 pages, this was never going to be the definitive guide. But with stacks of photo's, this is a great little introduction to the basics of how the formula developed through the '40s and '50s. It covers the basic history, and highlights the characters (drivers and constructors) who featured, at the very least giving you ideas of where to find more information.

Well worth the cover price. The only reason I give it just three stars is that five would have to be the 500-page definitive history.

Good for the beginner, 01 Feb 2002
I brought this book when i started out in the sport. As i used to race motorbikes, i thought i could treat karts the same.....this book taught me otherwise, and i haven't looked back...

It is a bit dated now, but the principles descibed are solid.
I'd recommend it to anyone starting out in the sport.

Breaking the Limits, 25 Dec 2007
I just can't get enough of Sam telling his storys from the old days. Excellent book.

Breaking the Limits, 13 Nov 2003
This book just confirms that Sam Ermolenko is a living legend!! And as his career continues, i wonder if we can look forward to a breaking the limits 2.

Long live the legend that is Sudden Sam Ermolenko!

Breaking the Limits, breaks the mold!, 03 Sep 2003
I could not put this book down, I read it from front to back (the best way I have found) in four days, that was with working full-time too!
It is the best insight into a speedway riders life that I have ever read, Sam holds nothing back in this book!
It is a real must for any motor sport fan.

Excellent book by a wonderful rider, 20 Jul 2003
Having long been a fan of Sudden Sam, I was very excited at the prospect of reading about his life on and off the track, and I was not disappointed. This book charts Sam's life from childhood and the thrills (and spills) of his career. I found it so exciting that I was barely able to put the book down. All in all, an excellent read and a must for any speedway fan.

excellent read on one of the best speedway riders, 29 Jun 2003
Having always been a fan of Sudden Sam, I found this book both informative and exciting. It charts his life from childhood, through disasters and finaly to glory. It also gave a blast from the past to me because I actually witnessed some of the events that happened. This book really is a must for the speedway fan and especially for those who rate Sam as one of the best.

Readable, concise and informative history, 19 Dec 2004
For a long time I've wanted a good full-length history of Coventry Climax engines and this fits the bill perfectly. It covers the full history of the Godiva (FPE), FW, FWM and FPF fours, FWMV V8 and FWMW flat-16, right from their conception to their racing career (or to their demise without racing, in the case of the Godiva and the flat-16). The stories of the company, of Leonard Lee and of Walter Hassan are interwoven with technical details of the engines, and a lot of works photographs and dyno sheets accompany the text. There are some good tales of the unsung heroes in the Experimental and Racing departments too.

Not a lavish book, but told with enthusiasm and crisply written, this book tells the story lucidly and gives a good insight into how Coventry-Climax briefly became the most successful racing engine manufacturer in the world.

Recommended to anyone with an interest in engines and engineering.

Great detail of wonderful machinery, 10 Oct 2008
A well-written and mostly very accurate account of the Tri-5's with good photography of most models if not all variants. Good detailed coverage on the Nomad series.Recommended.

There's nothing like this, 25 Sep 2007
To be very honest there are very few motoring writers who can write well. And there seems only to have been one who could writing outstandingly well. LJK Setright was that one. This fine book is quite probably unique because it's a towering monument to a rich understanding of motor vehicles showing most clearly why an intelligent, cultured person might find them a worthy object of contemplation.

"Drive On!" rises above the mass of crass prose offered in the name of motoring journalism. Setright combines in a nearly unearthly fashion a monumental general erudition with a highly scholarly understanding of cars and the cultural forces that drove their development. It's an odd-shaped lens through which to view history, the car, but it makes for a perfectly valid one. And since the car has shaped us as much as we have shaped it, then understanding the car can help us understand the journey society has taken since the car became commonplace.

Possibly you won't agree with some of Setright's more libertarian views but he explains them well. Setright liked his guns and his Balkan Sobranie cigarettes, seeing both as rational choices of free individuals. So, you can see why the car fascinated him so much. There is naturally then a satisfactory concordance with his views on whom we elect and on the expression of our political will in how we elect to travel.

Setright explains with rare lucidity not just the engineering developments but the meaning of them. For example, speed interests Setright less than the quality of that speed and its linear control. His acute perceptions of how controls are to be understood contrasts with contemporary motoring writers who show little sensitivity to this. His comments on the rise of mass manufacturing offer a genuinely fascinating angle on the social history of the late industrial revolution. His pages on the role of General Motors and Ford Motor Company during WW2 ought to be read by anyone interested in the strange alliances made in times of conflict. This episode is a footnote in history I doubt these companies are interested in broadcasting further. Setright wrote the book for anyone with a curious mind and whether your interest is, technology, history or even sociology you'll find this book deserves a prominent position on your bookshelf.

As Setright writes in his introduction, "See how it strikes you."

a masterpiece, 27 Jun 2005
this book deals with technical, global history, social change, in fact anything relevant to motoring. reading this book, you understand how the freedom that affordable private motoring produced has shaped society. LJK setright writes beatifully, and details why and when the technical milestones (disc brakes, front wheel drive, automatic transmission etc.) were introduced.
the book is richly written; in the 8 pages on air conditioning/heating the book veers of into the history of hone refrigeration and transnational chilled food transport.
there is more than enough to interest any car enthusiast; particularly if the engineering part of cars interests you.
it is well illustrated

An elegant dissertation, 03 Jan 2004
Anyone who was a regular reader of CAR magazine from 1966 until a year or two ago will need no introduction to the erudition, wit, and idiosyncratic style of LJKS. Which is now to be found in various newspapers. Look up a few of his articles on the internet and you'll see what I mean.

If you want to know the true meaning of the motor car, read this. On the way you will learn about the car's relationship to the French and American revolutions and discover that almost everything you thought you knew is wrong. I discovered that my school motto is a quote from Virgil's Aeneid - cf Chapter 3.

This is a serious and highly readable work well worth the investment.

Sensible overview of sports car racing, 12 May 2005
A good introduction to sports car racing seen through the cars that have dominated it over the years. All the obvious classics are there, from pre-war Bentleys via front-engined Ferraris, Maseratis, Jaguars etc through the classic rear-engined prototypes of the sixties (Ford vs Ferrari vs Porsche) and seventies through the Group C era of Porsche vs Jaguar right up to the return of Bentley at Le Mans. Each article can only scratch the surface of the history of the fifty cars Pritchard has chosen to analyse, but the selection is (for the most part) a good one - the only gaping omission is that of the Audi R8 (odd since its Bentley "cousin" features) - and the histories give a good feel for who was racing and winning and what the opposition was at any point in the history of sports car racing. There are some good photographs and cutaway drawings, and overall, this is a welcome addition to the literature on sports car racing.

Worth A Look, 15 Jan 2004
Given the significance of the 500cc F3 formula in post-war racing (rebirth of the sport; development of the rear-engine layout; Cooper, Moss, Collins, etc.) there is a real dearth of books on the subject.
At 35 pages, this was never going to be the definitive guide. But with stacks of photo's, this is a great little introduction to the basics of how the formula developed through the '40s and '50s. It covers the basic history, and highlights the characters (drivers and constructors) who featured, at the very least giving you ideas of where to find more information.

Well worth the cover price. The only reason I give it just three stars is that five would have to be the 500-page definitive history.

Good for the beginner, 01 Feb 2002
I brought this book when i started out in the sport. As i used to race motorbikes, i thought i could treat karts the same.....this book taught me otherwise, and i haven't looked back...

It is a bit dated now, but the principles descibed are solid.
I'd recommend it to anyone starting out in the sport.

From a dream to a reality and back to a dream again!, 02 Jan 2007
The subject matter - Oulton Park 50's to 70's - is of great interest to many in British and international motorsport. The research done was obviously extensive. However, the finished product is very poor. Many of the photo captions are incorrect (if there is a caption at all). And, I must ask, 'did anyone proof read this book before it went to print?' (I have never seen so many errors in a book!).

I enjoyed reading this book because of my connections with the track and the period, but it leaves a lot to be desired from a writing stand-point.