|
Browse categories
Formula One & Other Motor Racing
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
Customer Reviews
Not yet Byrned out!, 20 Nov 2008
An excellent and personal view of one man,s motor racing career.Do not expect a race by race account but instead get the inside story of a meteoric rise to success and an even quicker fall from the spotlight in the competitive world of British and then European racing.
To say he got screwed by McLaren would be an understatement!
There are,however,some hilarious accounts of racing in the early 80,s
Buy it!
An incredible read - what a story!, 16 Sep 2008
Just extraordinary. What a fantastic read. If you could imagine an unlikely cross between Angela's Ashes and Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas with a loose motor racing backdrop, this is it. It has you in hysterics one moment, full of sadness the next. The most amazing sports biography I've ever read. In fact even if it was a work of fiction, it would still work. If you never buy another book again, you must buy this one.
Loved the book, what a read I couldn't put it down., 11 Sep 2008
I loved the book, gripping from the beginning and a great read all through. The Racing stuff is very interesting but it's not just a book about racing the strange characters that Tommy encounters through his life you just couldn't make up!
Full throttle racing, money, steeling, sex, drugs and rock and roll (without the rock and roll).
Hurricane Byrne!, 05 Sep 2008
This is some journey!
Barely believable, 'Crashed and Byrned' somehow twists through the apposite worlds of grubby 1970's O'Connell street, the 1982 Las Vegas Grand Prix and a seedy mansion in drug addled Mexico. Why? Because Tommy Byrne was chasing his quest to make the motor racing world realise that he was the most naturally gifted racing driver of his generation (and that is no idle boast by the way). And what is more, this book does it in a kind of surreal innocence that would be quite at home in a Hunter S.Thompson yarn!
Tommy Byrne will generally only be known to racing people but his story is so unique that he and his adventures will be enjoyed by those who have never seen a motor race in their lives before. This story will surely become a classic alternative to the bland and colourless publications that modern sports stars often produce.
It wasn't so much that Tommy was anti establishment it was more like he created his own establishment and then whether it was his fault or not, trashed it in a bright haze of his own brilliance and confidence. This had an uncanny knack of rubbing people up the wrong way. Ron Dennis was one of these people, so was Ayrton Senna. Years before Eddie Irvine was getting a slap from the great Brazilian champion, another and more gifted urchin from the Emerald Isle was getting under Ayrton's skin! Put bluntly, if John Lydon and Phil Lynott had raised a bastard child that took up motor racing, then his name would have been Tommy Byrne.
The anecdotes are told in a fabulously honest and more often than not comic fashion. There is no self pity and no 'what ifs'. These are left to the reader, who by the end of it are likely to ask these questions quietly to themselves. His 'tell it, how he saw it' descriptions of situations and people are quite superb, brutally honest and tremendously funny. In these days of wretched PR sheen this book takes you back to an era when genius 'literally' stole. It's sports answer to 'The filth and the fury!'
Put together in a simple and effective way by Mark Hughes, who proves that he is as subtly adept at translating these unforgettable memories of racings greatest roguish lost talent' as he is of acutely detailing the weekly technical and strategic aspects of the current Grand Prix scene in Autosport magazine. Hughes also offers an oversight to Byrne's memories, dipping in to the likes of Gary Anderson and Ron Dennis himself, for a revisionist perspective twenty five years on from 'Hurricane Byrne.'!
Above all, it tells of an ambitious and talented young man who was fighting a desperate and constantly losing battle to be accepted by an elitist sport that even by the standards of the early 1980's found Tommy Byrne just too much of a risk. It cannot be recommended highly enough.
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
Customer Reviews
Not yet Byrned out!, 20 Nov 2008
An excellent and personal view of one man,s motor racing career.Do not expect a race by race account but instead get the inside story of a meteoric rise to success and an even quicker fall from the spotlight in the competitive world of British and then European racing.
To say he got screwed by McLaren would be an understatement!
There are,however,some hilarious accounts of racing in the early 80,s
Buy it!
An incredible read - what a story!, 16 Sep 2008
Just extraordinary. What a fantastic read. If you could imagine an unlikely cross between Angela's Ashes and Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas with a loose motor racing backdrop, this is it. It has you in hysterics one moment, full of sadness the next. The most amazing sports biography I've ever read. In fact even if it was a work of fiction, it would still work. If you never buy another book again, you must buy this one.
Loved the book, what a read I couldn't put it down., 11 Sep 2008
I loved the book, gripping from the beginning and a great read all through. The Racing stuff is very interesting but it's not just a book about racing the strange characters that Tommy encounters through his life you just couldn't make up!
Full throttle racing, money, steeling, sex, drugs and rock and roll (without the rock and roll).
Hurricane Byrne!, 05 Sep 2008
This is some journey!
Barely believable, 'Crashed and Byrned' somehow twists through the apposite worlds of grubby 1970's O'Connell street, the 1982 Las Vegas Grand Prix and a seedy mansion in drug addled Mexico. Why? Because Tommy Byrne was chasing his quest to make the motor racing world realise that he was the most naturally gifted racing driver of his generation (and that is no idle boast by the way). And what is more, this book does it in a kind of surreal innocence that would be quite at home in a Hunter S.Thompson yarn!
Tommy Byrne will generally only be known to racing people but his story is so unique that he and his adventures will be enjoyed by those who have never seen a motor race in their lives before. This story will surely become a classic alternative to the bland and colourless publications that modern sports stars often produce.
It wasn't so much that Tommy was anti establishment it was more like he created his own establishment and then whether it was his fault or not, trashed it in a bright haze of his own brilliance and confidence. This had an uncanny knack of rubbing people up the wrong way. Ron Dennis was one of these people, so was Ayrton Senna. Years before Eddie Irvine was getting a slap from the great Brazilian champion, another and more gifted urchin from the Emerald Isle was getting under Ayrton's skin! Put bluntly, if John Lydon and Phil Lynott had raised a bastard child that took up motor racing, then his name would have been Tommy Byrne.
The anecdotes are told in a fabulously honest and more often than not comic fashion. There is no self pity and no 'what ifs'. These are left to the reader, who by the end of it are likely to ask these questions quietly to themselves. His 'tell it, how he saw it' descriptions of situations and people are quite superb, brutally honest and tremendously funny. In these days of wretched PR sheen this book takes you back to an era when genius 'literally' stole. It's sports answer to 'The filth and the fury!'
Put together in a simple and effective way by Mark Hughes, who proves that he is as subtly adept at translating these unforgettable memories of racings greatest roguish lost talent' as he is of acutely detailing the weekly technical and strategic aspects of the current Grand Prix scene in Autosport magazine. Hughes also offers an oversight to Byrne's memories, dipping in to the likes of Gary Anderson and Ron Dennis himself, for a revisionist perspective twenty five years on from 'Hurricane Byrne.'!
Above all, it tells of an ambitious and talented young man who was fighting a desperate and constantly losing battle to be accepted by an elitist sport that even by the standards of the early 1980's found Tommy Byrne just too much of a risk. It cannot be recommended highly enough.
amazing, 20 Oct 2008
Being a big valentino rossi fan i had to get this book when it come out i also got once each for my brothers as i wanted to keep mine i have read it a few times and we all loved the book. It is a great book for any bike fan not just a rossi or moto gp fan. I have read a few other books like this but i think this is one of the best i have read in a while with the ups and down twist and turns.
Brill read, 26 Apr 2008
I am not a reader at all, infact it can take me up to a year to read any book i have picked up in the past, but this book is brill, i read it in 2 days!!! a record for me!! This books give a great insight to the man who is the doctor and what actually happened with honda!!! i have read alot of moto gp & BSB books and the only one that kinda comes close is the HIZZY book!!!
Any Vale fan needs to read this book, cant wait for more Rossi books to come out!!!
Great funny informative read., 08 Sep 2006
Ok first off there are a few reviews here that moan about it not always being overly grammatically correct or about its not translated very well etc, granted this is no Pulitzer prize winning book but you would expect that id have thought from Rossi, Ill let his riding impress me not his writing skills! . If your looking to find out about the guy in his own(ish) words, his childhood antics, his love of riding, his character then this is a great book. It's a very light read and seeing the living legend on screen full of personality the book seems to come across in the same way. It is very informative about a few issues, the ongoing comical, for want of a better word, relationship with Biaggi and the issues with Honda that made decision to move to an other factory easy. Someone below moaned about his talking about this in to much detail but as most fans will agree this was probably one of the biggest "why" questions the man himself has made us all ask. This book explains in great and funny detail the transition, the expectations he placed on his existing team with HRC at the time and Yamaha. All in all Id say if you're a Rossi fan you will most likely enjoy this light hearted read. Definitely worth a nosey for a good laugh none the less.
Vale like he is?, 04 Sep 2006
You will certainly like this book if you're a Vale fan and know who he is and for what he stands. Those looking for indepth an technical analysis of motorcycle racing will be disappointed. Vale clearly has an ego, but the way how he expresses his views (and of course his phenomenal talent as a motorcycle racer) makes this book fun to read.
Already a Legend at 27, what more do u want?, 31 Aug 2006
I have to agree with the last reviewer, why are people knocking this book?
I thought it was great, and yes some things are lost in translation, but if the whole book was written in Vale's charming broken english, people would soon be complaining about that!
I thought it still showed what a cheeky spirited person he is, as we all can tell whenever he's interviewed.I laughed at the little escapades he tells of what he and his mates got up to back home, and his meticulous planning of his on-track pranks to entertain the crowd. A lot of sports personalities autobiographies can become weighed down with technical jargon and statistics, but this one for me, especially as i'm not an expert on motorbikes or racing, was very enjoyable.
I first became a fan of Valentino because i was forced to watch motoGP by my boyfriend, and being half-italian i would instantly pick the italian in any sport to cheer for, but at the end of the race when he'd won and was interviewed i LOVED HIM!
Vale is such a big character, and an even bigger natural talent, anyone who has not finished reading this book, please give it another go, it really is an entertaining read!
Thanks Vale, When's the next instalment??!
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
Customer Reviews
Not yet Byrned out!, 20 Nov 2008
An excellent and personal view of one man,s motor racing career.Do not expect a race by race account but instead get the inside story of a meteoric rise to success and an even quicker fall from the spotlight in the competitive world of British and then European racing.
To say he got screwed by McLaren would be an understatement!
There are,however,some hilarious accounts of racing in the early 80,s
Buy it!
An incredible read - what a story!, 16 Sep 2008
Just extraordinary. What a fantastic read. If you could imagine an unlikely cross between Angela's Ashes and Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas with a loose motor racing backdrop, this is it. It has you in hysterics one moment, full of sadness the next. The most amazing sports biography I've ever read. In fact even if it was a work of fiction, it would still work. If you never buy another book again, you must buy this one.
Loved the book, what a read I couldn't put it down., 11 Sep 2008
I loved the book, gripping from the beginning and a great read all through. The Racing stuff is very interesting but it's not just a book about racing the strange characters that Tommy encounters through his life you just couldn't make up!
Full throttle racing, money, steeling, sex, drugs and rock and roll (without the rock and roll).
Hurricane Byrne!, 05 Sep 2008
This is some journey!
Barely believable, 'Crashed and Byrned' somehow twists through the apposite worlds of grubby 1970's O'Connell street, the 1982 Las Vegas Grand Prix and a seedy mansion in drug addled Mexico. Why? Because Tommy Byrne was chasing his quest to make the motor racing world realise that he was the most naturally gifted racing driver of his generation (and that is no idle boast by the way). And what is more, this book does it in a kind of surreal innocence that would be quite at home in a Hunter S.Thompson yarn!
Tommy Byrne will generally only be known to racing people but his story is so unique that he and his adventures will be enjoyed by those who have never seen a motor race in their lives before. This story will surely become a classic alternative to the bland and colourless publications that modern sports stars often produce.
It wasn't so much that Tommy was anti establishment it was more like he created his own establishment and then whether it was his fault or not, trashed it in a bright haze of his own brilliance and confidence. This had an uncanny knack of rubbing people up the wrong way. Ron Dennis was one of these people, so was Ayrton Senna. Years before Eddie Irvine was getting a slap from the great Brazilian champion, another and more gifted urchin from the Emerald Isle was getting under Ayrton's skin! Put bluntly, if John Lydon and Phil Lynott had raised a bastard child that took up motor racing, then his name would have been Tommy Byrne.
The anecdotes are told in a fabulously honest and more often than not comic fashion. There is no self pity and no 'what ifs'. These are left to the reader, who by the end of it are likely to ask these questions quietly to themselves. His 'tell it, how he saw it' descriptions of situations and people are quite superb, brutally honest and tremendously funny. In these days of wretched PR sheen this book takes you back to an era when genius 'literally' stole. It's sports answer to 'The filth and the fury!'
Put together in a simple and effective way by Mark Hughes, who proves that he is as subtly adept at translating these unforgettable memories of racings greatest roguish lost talent' as he is of acutely detailing the weekly technical and strategic aspects of the current Grand Prix scene in Autosport magazine. Hughes also offers an oversight to Byrne's memories, dipping in to the likes of Gary Anderson and Ron Dennis himself, for a revisionist perspective twenty five years on from 'Hurricane Byrne.'!
Above all, it tells of an ambitious and talented young man who was fighting a desperate and constantly losing battle to be accepted by an elitist sport that even by the standards of the early 1980's found Tommy Byrne just too much of a risk. It cannot be recommended highly enough.
amazing, 20 Oct 2008
Being a big valentino rossi fan i had to get this book when it come out i also got once each for my brothers as i wanted to keep mine i have read it a few times and we all loved the book. It is a great book for any bike fan not just a rossi or moto gp fan. I have read a few other books like this but i think this is one of the best i have read in a while with the ups and down twist and turns.
Brill read, 26 Apr 2008
I am not a reader at all, infact it can take me up to a year to read any book i have picked up in the past, but this book is brill, i read it in 2 days!!! a record for me!! This books give a great insight to the man who is the doctor and what actually happened with honda!!! i have read alot of moto gp & BSB books and the only one that kinda comes close is the HIZZY book!!!
Any Vale fan needs to read this book, cant wait for more Rossi books to come out!!!
Great funny informative read., 08 Sep 2006
Ok first off there are a few reviews here that moan about it not always being overly grammatically correct or about its not translated very well etc, granted this is no Pulitzer prize winning book but you would expect that id have thought from Rossi, Ill let his riding impress me not his writing skills! . If your looking to find out about the guy in his own(ish) words, his childhood antics, his love of riding, his character then this is a great book. It's a very light read and seeing the living legend on screen full of personality the book seems to come across in the same way. It is very informative about a few issues, the ongoing comical, for want of a better word, relationship with Biaggi and the issues with Honda that made decision to move to an other factory easy. Someone below moaned about his talking about this in to much detail but as most fans will agree this was probably one of the biggest "why" questions the man himself has made us all ask. This book explains in great and funny detail the transition, the expectations he placed on his existing team with HRC at the time and Yamaha. All in all Id say if you're a Rossi fan you will most likely enjoy this light hearted read. Definitely worth a nosey for a good laugh none the less.
Vale like he is?, 04 Sep 2006
You will certainly like this book if you're a Vale fan and know who he is and for what he stands. Those looking for indepth an technical analysis of motorcycle racing will be disappointed. Vale clearly has an ego, but the way how he expresses his views (and of course his phenomenal talent as a motorcycle racer) makes this book fun to read.
Already a Legend at 27, what more do u want?, 31 Aug 2006
I have to agree with the last reviewer, why are people knocking this book?
I thought it was great, and yes some things are lost in translation, but if the whole book was written in Vale's charming broken english, people would soon be complaining about that!
I thought it still showed what a cheeky spirited person he is, as we all can tell whenever he's interviewed.I laughed at the little escapades he tells of what he and his mates got up to back home, and his meticulous planning of his on-track pranks to entertain the crowd. A lot of sports personalities autobiographies can become weighed down with technical jargon and statistics, but this one for me, especially as i'm not an expert on motorbikes or racing, was very enjoyable.
I first became a fan of Valentino because i was forced to watch motoGP by my boyfriend, and being half-italian i would instantly pick the italian in any sport to cheer for, but at the end of the race when he'd won and was interviewed i LOVED HIM!
Vale is such a big character, and an even bigger natural talent, anyone who has not finished reading this book, please give it another go, it really is an entertaining read!
Thanks Vale, When's the next instalment??!
Absolutely brilliant, 01 Jun 2008
This one I have just finished has been an outstanding surprise, a wonderful portrait of a dense life.
Not just a biography but a real way of living, which captured me throughout the read, by both the anectdotes and the manner the narration is conduced.
I absolutely suggest it, I am definitely delighted!
An excellent book about a fascinating man, 14 Mar 2008
Of all the racing driver biographies I've read (only about a dozen, actually)this is a standout. Enhanced by the free 'VIBE' DVD, this gives a very readable, honest account of a fascinating life.
Sir Jackie's humanity, honesty and integrity are highlighted throughout the book. Apart from his experiences with family illnesses and the constant loss of friends and colleagues through racing, he has been a lucky man who has worked very, very hard to make his own luck.
I was priveleged to hear him speak at a book launch prior to the 2008 Australian Grand Prix, he spoke for half an hour but it seemed like five minutes. Thats's what this book is like; it was largely dictated by Sir Jackie himself, not just ghosted, and you can almost hear him reading it.
There are several parts of the book which will bring a lump to your throat, but that's to be expected.
It would have been good to have more photos, more information about his races, cars and rivals, but that would have occupied another 500 pages.
By the way, most of the video is from the 'Flying Scot' DVD which is one of the best motor racing/biography films ever made.
Highly recommended.
Jackie -The professional Business Man, 05 Mar 2008
The book is very well written , as we should expect , from someone like
Jackie Stewart .It shows clearly how he has planned his life ,even from the early days ,at the school , and working in the family business .How he began to think ahead of his time , in terms of secutity ,from the drivers and circuits points of view ;How he "loved" his friends-François Cevert and Ken Tyrrel -How he become the embassador of F1 , as a tv commentator and represantative of the major companies , like Ford ;How he faced and overcome Paul illness , and finnaly how his family is important to his life.
I truly recomend this book|
Inspirational, 13 Feb 2008
I have been a motor racing fan for 40 years and was lucky to see Sir Jackie race. Indeed my first Grand Prix was the epic battle at Silverstone between Jackie Stewart and Jochen Rindt. During that time I have read the autobiographies and biographies of all the greats involved in motor racing in various formulae. And, yes, if you are only interested in motor racing and nothing else, this book may not be to your taste. But this book is so much more than just another motor racing autobiography, which is not surprising considering that being a racing driver was less than 20% of Sir Jackie's life and being involved with Paul Stewart Racing and Stewart Grand Prix another 15%. This autobiography is about a man from a humble background who overcame learning difficulties to get to the top of two sports and then go on to become a very successful businessman. Yes, there is a bit of name dropping, but that is inevitable when describing a life that has involved so may famous and successful people. And to the reviewer who commented on Sir Jackie having the length of one his shirt sleeves tailored to allow his Rolex to be seen, it was merely used as an example of attention to detail was important in being successful. This book is a good, easy read and the lack of a ghost writer makes the reader feel that Sir Jackie is speaking to him in that so recognisable Scots accent. This book is simply an inspirational story of a great and highly successful man.
Too much of the wrong detail?, 24 Jan 2008
There's no denying how successful Mr Stewart has been in his driving and business career. For this he deserves (and gets) the upmost respect. However, this book suffers from a lack of editing and consequently he does tend to waffle on about all the people he's met and worked with, turning some parts late on in the book into a continuation of the 'acknowledgements' section. Do we really need to know all the people who worked as his employees or assistants?
I suspect that, like me, fans will relish the pages on his driving career, and I could have done with far more of that detail. (The section on Francois Cevert is extremely touching and well written).
But other details about his dogs, hobnobbing with the Royal family, or even how to have your shirt tailored to allow a Rolex to be seen at all times seem superfluous.
An autobiography doesn't have to cover EVERYTHING.
Fans of motor racing will enjoy the first two thirds of this book, but interest may wane a little towards the end.
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
Customer Reviews
Not yet Byrned out!, 20 Nov 2008
An excellent and personal view of one man,s motor racing career.Do not expect a race by race account but instead get the inside story of a meteoric rise to success and an even quicker fall from the spotlight in the competitive world of British and then European racing.
To say he got screwed by McLaren would be an understatement!
There are,however,some hilarious accounts of racing in the early 80,s
Buy it!
An incredible read - what a story!, 16 Sep 2008
Just extraordinary. What a fantastic read. If you could imagine an unlikely cross between Angela's Ashes and Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas with a loose motor racing backdrop, this is it. It has you in hysterics one moment, full of sadness the next. The most amazing sports biography I've ever read. In fact even if it was a work of fiction, it would still work. If you never buy another book again, you must buy this one.
Loved the book, what a read I couldn't put it down., 11 Sep 2008
I loved the book, gripping from the beginning and a great read all through. The Racing stuff is very interesting but it's not just a book about racing the strange characters that Tommy encounters through his life you just couldn't make up!
Full throttle racing, money, steeling, sex, drugs and rock and roll (without the rock and roll).
Hurricane Byrne!, 05 Sep 2008
This is some journey!
Barely believable, 'Crashed and Byrned' somehow twists through the apposite worlds of grubby 1970's O'Connell street, the 1982 Las Vegas Grand Prix and a seedy mansion in drug addled Mexico. Why? Because Tommy Byrne was chasing his quest to make the motor racing world realise that he was the most naturally gifted racing driver of his generation (and that is no idle boast by the way). And what is more, this book does it in a kind of surreal innocence that would be quite at home in a Hunter S.Thompson yarn!
Tommy Byrne will generally only be known to racing people but his story is so unique that he and his adventures will be enjoyed by those who have never seen a motor race in their lives before. This story will surely become a classic alternative to the bland and colourless publications that modern sports stars often produce.
It wasn't so much that Tommy was anti establishment it was more like he created his own establishment and then whether it was his fault or not, trashed it in a bright haze of his own brilliance and confidence. This had an uncanny knack of rubbing people up the wrong way. Ron Dennis was one of these people, so was Ayrton Senna. Years before Eddie Irvine was getting a slap from the great Brazilian champion, another and more gifted urchin from the Emerald Isle was getting under Ayrton's skin! Put bluntly, if John Lydon and Phil Lynott had raised a bastard child that took up motor racing, then his name would have been Tommy Byrne.
The anecdotes are told in a fabulously honest and more often than not comic fashion. There is no self pity and no 'what ifs'. These are left to the reader, who by the end of it are likely to ask these questions quietly to themselves. His 'tell it, how he saw it' descriptions of situations and people are quite superb, brutally honest and tremendously funny. In these days of wretched PR sheen this book takes you back to an era when genius 'literally' stole. It's sports answer to 'The filth and the fury!'
Put together in a simple and effective way by Mark Hughes, who proves that he is as subtly adept at translating these unforgettable memories of racings greatest roguish lost talent' as he is of acutely detailing the weekly technical and strategic aspects of the current Grand Prix scene in Autosport magazine. Hughes also offers an oversight to Byrne's memories, dipping in to the likes of Gary Anderson and Ron Dennis himself, for a revisionist perspective twenty five years on from 'Hurricane Byrne.'!
Above all, it tells of an ambitious and talented young man who was fighting a desperate and constantly losing battle to be accepted by an elitist sport that even by the standards of the early 1980's found Tommy Byrne just too much of a risk. It cannot be recommended highly enough.
amazing, 20 Oct 2008
Being a big valentino rossi fan i had to get this book when it come out i also got once each for my brothers as i wanted to keep mine i have read it a few times and we all loved the book. It is a great book for any bike fan not just a rossi or moto gp fan. I have read a few other books like this but i think this is one of the best i have read in a while with the ups and down twist and turns.
Brill read, 26 Apr 2008
I am not a reader at all, infact it can take me up to a year to read any book i have picked up in the past, but this book is brill, i read it in 2 days!!! a record for me!! This books give a great insight to the man who is the doctor and what actually happened with honda!!! i have read alot of moto gp & BSB books and the only one that kinda comes close is the HIZZY book!!!
Any Vale fan needs to read this book, cant wait for more Rossi books to come out!!!
Great funny informative read., 08 Sep 2006
Ok first off there are a few reviews here that moan about it not always being overly grammatically correct or about its not translated very well etc, granted this is no Pulitzer prize winning book but you would expect that id have thought from Rossi, Ill let his riding impress me not his writing skills! . If your looking to find out about the guy in his own(ish) words, his childhood antics, his love of riding, his character then this is a great book. It's a very light read and seeing the living legend on screen full of personality the book seems to come across in the same way. It is very informative about a few issues, the ongoing comical, for want of a better word, relationship with Biaggi and the issues with Honda that made decision to move to an other factory easy. Someone below moaned about his talking about this in to much detail but as most fans will agree this was probably one of the biggest "why" questions the man himself has made us all ask. This book explains in great and funny detail the transition, the expectations he placed on his existing team with HRC at the time and Yamaha. All in all Id say if you're a Rossi fan you will most likely enjoy this light hearted read. Definitely worth a nosey for a good laugh none the less.
Vale like he is?, 04 Sep 2006
You will certainly like this book if you're a Vale fan and know who he is and for what he stands. Those looking for indepth an technical analysis of motorcycle racing will be disappointed. Vale clearly has an ego, but the way how he expresses his views (and of course his phenomenal talent as a motorcycle racer) makes this book fun to read.
Already a Legend at 27, what more do u want?, 31 Aug 2006
I have to agree with the last reviewer, why are people knocking this book?
I thought it was great, and yes some things are lost in translation, but if the whole book was written in Vale's charming broken english, people would soon be complaining about that!
I thought it still showed what a cheeky spirited person he is, as we all can tell whenever he's interviewed.I laughed at the little escapades he tells of what he and his mates got up to back home, and his meticulous planning of his on-track pranks to entertain the crowd. A lot of sports personalities autobiographies can become weighed down with technical jargon and statistics, but this one for me, especially as i'm not an expert on motorbikes or racing, was very enjoyable.
I first became a fan of Valentino because i was forced to watch motoGP by my boyfriend, and being half-italian i would instantly pick the italian in any sport to cheer for, but at the end of the race when he'd won and was interviewed i LOVED HIM!
Vale is such a big character, and an even bigger natural talent, anyone who has not finished reading this book, please give it another go, it really is an entertaining read!
Thanks Vale, When's the next instalment??!
Absolutely brilliant, 01 Jun 2008
This one I have just finished has been an outstanding surprise, a wonderful portrait of a dense life.
Not just a biography but a real way of living, which captured me throughout the read, by both the anectdotes and the manner the narration is conduced.
I absolutely suggest it, I am definitely delighted!
An excellent book about a fascinating man, 14 Mar 2008
Of all the racing driver biographies I've read (only about a dozen, actually)this is a standout. Enhanced by the free 'VIBE' DVD, this gives a very readable, honest account of a fascinating life.
Sir Jackie's humanity, honesty and integrity are highlighted throughout the book. Apart from his experiences with family illnesses and the constant loss of friends and colleagues through racing, he has been a lucky man who has worked very, very hard to make his own luck.
I was priveleged to hear him speak at a book launch prior to the 2008 Australian Grand Prix, he spoke for half an hour but it seemed like five minutes. Thats's what this book is like; it was largely dictated by Sir Jackie himself, not just ghosted, and you can almost hear him reading it.
There are several parts of the book which will bring a lump to your throat, but that's to be expected.
It would have been good to have more photos, more information about his races, cars and rivals, but that would have occupied another 500 pages.
By the way, most of the video is from the 'Flying Scot' DVD which is one of the best motor racing/biography films ever made.
Highly recommended.
Jackie -The professional Business Man, 05 Mar 2008
The book is very well written , as we should expect , from someone like
Jackie Stewart .It shows clearly how he has planned his life ,even from the early days ,at the school , and working in the family business .How he began to think ahead of his time , in terms of secutity ,from the drivers and circuits points of view ;How he "loved" his friends-François Cevert and Ken Tyrrel -How he become the embassador of F1 , as a tv commentator and represantative of the major companies , like Ford ;How he faced and overcome Paul illness , and finnaly how his family is important to his life.
I truly recomend this book|
Inspirational, 13 Feb 2008
I have been a motor racing fan for 40 years and was lucky to see Sir Jackie race. Indeed my first Grand Prix was the epic battle at Silverstone between Jackie Stewart and Jochen Rindt. During that time I have read the autobiographies and biographies of all the greats involved in motor racing in various formulae. And, yes, if you are only interested in motor racing and nothing else, this book may not be to your taste. But this book is so much more than just another motor racing autobiography, which is not surprising considering that being a racing driver was less than 20% of Sir Jackie's life and being involved with Paul Stewart Racing and Stewart Grand Prix another 15%. This autobiography is about a man from a humble background who overcame learning difficulties to get to the top of two sports and then go on to become a very successful businessman. Yes, there is a bit of name dropping, but that is inevitable when describing a life that has involved so may famous and successful people. And to the reviewer who commented on Sir Jackie having the length of one his shirt sleeves tailored to allow his Rolex to be seen, it was merely used as an example of attention to detail was important in being successful. This book is a good, easy read and the lack of a ghost writer makes the reader feel that Sir Jackie is speaking to him in that so recognisable Scots accent. This book is simply an inspirational story of a great and highly successful man.
Too much of the wrong detail?, 24 Jan 2008
There's no denying how successful Mr Stewart has been in his driving and business career. For this he deserves (and gets) the upmost respect. However, this book suffers from a lack of editing and consequently he does tend to waffle on about all the people he's met and worked with, turning some parts late on in the book into a continuation of the 'acknowledgements' section. Do we really need to know all the people who worked as his employees or assistants?
I suspect that, like me, fans will relish the pages on his driving career, and I could have done with far more of that detail. (The section on Francois Cevert is extremely touching and well written).
But other details about his dogs, hobnobbing with the Royal family, or even how to have your shirt tailored to allow a Rolex to be seen at all times seem superfluous.
An autobiography doesn't have to cover EVERYTHING.
Fans of motor racing will enjoy the first two thirds of this book, but interest may wane a little towards the end.
Full Story?, 20 Jan 2008
I ask you how this can possibly be the "full story" when Hamilton has only started what promises to be a long and successful Formula 1 career. As well written and informative as this book may be, the title is absurd and amounts to an insult to sound thinking.
A different league ..., 20 Nov 2007
I was reading the F1 Fanatic website the other day and came across a cracking review of this book that signed-off with this: 'If you are thinking of getting a Hamilton book, please don't be duped into thinking the official book will automatically be the best option. "The Full Story" is a far better choice.'
Having now read both of them, I can categorically say that F1 Fanatic and The Telegraph (from the review I can see above) are unquestionably correct. Mark Hughes' book is excellent and blows Hamilton's ghostwritten offering out of the water.
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
Customer Reviews
Not yet Byrned out!, 20 Nov 2008
An excellent and personal view of one man,s motor racing career.Do not expect a race by race account but instead get the inside story of a meteoric rise to success and an even quicker fall from the spotlight in the competitive world of British and then European racing.
To say he got screwed by McLaren would be an understatement!
There are,however,some hilarious accounts of racing in the early 80,s
Buy it!
An incredible read - what a story!, 16 Sep 2008
Just extraordinary. What a fantastic read. If you could imagine an unlikely cross between Angela's Ashes and Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas with a loose motor racing backdrop, this is it. It has you in hysterics one moment, full of sadness the next. The most amazing sports biography I've ever read. In fact even if it was a work of fiction, it would still work. If you never buy another book again, you must buy this one.
Loved the book, what a read I couldn't put it down., 11 Sep 2008
I loved the book, gripping from the beginning and a great read all through. The Racing stuff is very interesting but it's not just a book about racing the strange characters that Tommy encounters through his life you just couldn't make up!
Full throttle racing, money, steeling, sex, drugs and rock and roll (without the rock and roll).
Hurricane Byrne!, 05 Sep 2008
This is some journey!
Barely believable, 'Crashed and Byrned' somehow twists through the apposite worlds of grubby 1970's O'Connell street, the 1982 Las Vegas Grand Prix and a seedy mansion in drug addled Mexico. Why? Because Tommy Byrne was chasing his quest to make the motor racing world realise that he was the most naturally gifted racing driver of his generation (and that is no idle boast by the way). And what is more, this book does it in a kind of surreal innocence that would be quite at home in a Hunter S.Thompson yarn!
Tommy Byrne will generally only be known to racing people but his story is so unique that he and his adventures will be enjoyed by those who have never seen a motor race in their lives before. This story will surely become a classic alternative to the bland and colourless publications that modern sports stars often produce.
It wasn't so much that Tommy was anti establishment it was more like he created his own establishment and then whether it was his fault or not, trashed it in a bright haze of his own brilliance and confidence. This had an uncanny knack of rubbing people up the wrong way. Ron Dennis was one of these people, so was Ayrton Senna. Years before Eddie Irvine was getting a slap from the great Brazilian champion, another and more gifted urchin from the Emerald Isle was getting under Ayrton's skin! Put bluntly, if John Lydon and Phil Lynott had raised a bastard child that took up motor racing, then his name would have been Tommy Byrne.
The anecdotes are told in a fabulously honest and more often than not comic fashion. There is no self pity and no 'what ifs'. These are left to the reader, who by the end of it are likely to ask these questions quietly to themselves. His 'tell it, how he saw it' descriptions of situations and people are quite superb, brutally honest and tremendously funny. In these days of wretched PR sheen this book takes you back to an era when genius 'literally' stole. It's sports answer to 'The filth and the fury!'
Put together in a simple and effective way by Mark Hughes, who proves that he is as subtly adept at translating these unforgettable memories of racings greatest roguish lost talent' as he is of acutely detailing the weekly technical and strategic aspects of the current Grand Prix scene in Autosport magazine. Hughes also offers an oversight to Byrne's memories, dipping in to the likes of Gary Anderson and Ron Dennis himself, for a revisionist perspective twenty five years on from 'Hurricane Byrne.'!
Above all, it tells of an ambitious and talented young man who was fighting a desperate and constantly losing battle to be accepted by an elitist sport that even by the standards of the early 1980's found Tommy Byrne just too much of a risk. It cannot be recommended highly enough.
amazing, 20 Oct 2008
Being a big valentino rossi fan i had to get this book when it come out i also got once each for my brothers as i wanted to keep mine i have read it a few times and we all loved the book. It is a great book for any bike fan not just a rossi or moto gp fan. I have read a few other books like this but i think this is one of the best i have read in a while with the ups and down twist and turns.
Brill read, 26 Apr 2008
I am not a reader at all, infact it can take me up to a year to read any book i have picked up in the past, but this book is brill, i read it in 2 days!!! a record for me!! This books give a great insight to the man who is the doctor and what actually happened with honda!!! i have read alot of moto gp & BSB books and the only one that kinda comes close is the HIZZY book!!!
Any Vale fan needs to read this book, cant wait for more Rossi books to come out!!!
Great funny informative read., 08 Sep 2006
Ok first off there are a few reviews here that moan about it not always being overly grammatically correct or about its not translated very well etc, granted this is no Pulitzer prize winning book but you would expect that id have thought from Rossi, Ill let his riding impress me not his writing skills! . If your looking to find out about the guy in his own(ish) words, his childhood antics, his love of riding, his character then this is a great book. It's a very light read and seeing the living legend on screen full of personality the book seems to come across in the same way. It is very informative about a few issues, the ongoing comical, for want of a better word, relationship with Biaggi and the issues with Honda that made decision to move to an other factory easy. Someone below moaned about his talking about this in to much detail but as most fans will agree this was probably one of the biggest "why" questions the man himself has made us all ask. This book explains in great and funny detail the transition, the expectations he placed on his existing team with HRC at the time and Yamaha. All in all Id say if you're a Rossi fan you will most likely enjoy this light hearted read. Definitely worth a nosey for a good laugh none the less.
Vale like he is?, 04 Sep 2006
You will certainly like this book if you're a Vale fan and know who he is and for what he stands. Those looking for indepth an technical analysis of motorcycle racing will be disappointed. Vale clearly has an ego, but the way how he expresses his views (and of course his phenomenal talent as a motorcycle racer) makes this book fun to read.
Already a Legend at 27, what more do u want?, 31 Aug 2006
I have to agree with the last reviewer, why are people knocking this book?
I thought it was great, and yes some things are lost in translation, but if the whole book was written in Vale's charming broken english, people would soon be complaining about that!
I thought it still showed what a cheeky spirited person he is, as we all can tell whenever he's interviewed.I laughed at the little escapades he tells of what he and his mates got up to back home, and his meticulous planning of his on-track pranks to entertain the crowd. A lot of sports personalities autobiographies can become weighed down with technical jargon and statistics, but this one for me, especially as i'm not an expert on motorbikes or racing, was very enjoyable.
I first became a fan of Valentino because i was forced to watch motoGP by my boyfriend, and being half-italian i would instantly pick the italian in any sport to cheer for, but at the end of the race when he'd won and was interviewed i LOVED HIM!
Vale is such a big character, and an even bigger natural talent, anyone who has not finished reading this book, please give it another go, it really is an entertaining read!
Thanks Vale, When's the next instalment??!
Absolutely brilliant, 01 Jun 2008
This one I have just finished has been an outstanding surprise, a wonderful portrait of a dense life.
Not just a biography but a real way of living, which captured me throughout the read, by both the anectdotes and the manner the narration is conduced.
I absolutely suggest it, I am definitely delighted!
An excellent book about a fascinating man, 14 Mar 2008
Of all the racing driver biographies I've read (only about a dozen, actually)this is a standout. Enhanced by the free 'VIBE' DVD, this gives a very readable, honest account of a fascinating life.
Sir Jackie's humanity, honesty and integrity are highlighted throughout the book. Apart from his experiences with family illnesses and the constant loss of friends and colleagues through racing, he has been a lucky man who has worked very, very hard to make his own luck.
I was priveleged to hear him speak at a book launch prior to the 2008 Australian Grand Prix, he spoke for half an hour but it seemed like five minutes. Thats's what this book is like; it was largely dictated by Sir Jackie himself, not just ghosted, and you can almost hear him reading it.
There are several parts of the book which will bring a lump to your throat, but that's to be expected.
It would have been good to have more photos, more information about his races, cars and rivals, but that would have occupied another 500 pages.
By the way, most of the video is from the 'Flying Scot' DVD which is one of the best motor racing/biography films ever made.
Highly recommended.
Jackie -The professional Business Man, 05 Mar 2008
The book is very well written , as we should expect , from someone like
Jackie Stewart .It shows clearly how he has planned his life ,even from the early days ,at the school , and working in the family business .How he began to think ahead of his time , in terms of secutity ,from the drivers and circuits points of view ;How he "loved" his friends-François Cevert and Ken Tyrrel -How he become the embassador of F1 , as a tv commentator and represantative of the major companies , like Ford ;How he faced and overcome Paul illness , and finnaly how his family is important to his life.
I truly recomend this book|
Inspirational, 13 Feb 2008
I have been a motor racing fan for 40 years and was lucky to see Sir Jackie race. Indeed my first Grand Prix was the epic battle at Silverstone between Jackie Stewart and Jochen Rindt. During that time I have read the autobiographies and biographies of all the greats involved in motor racing in various formulae. And, yes, if you are only interested in motor racing and nothing else, this book may not be to your taste. But this book is so much more than just another motor racing autobiography, which is not surprising considering that being a racing driver was less than 20% of Sir Jackie's life and being involved with Paul Stewart Racing and Stewart Grand Prix another 15%. This autobiography is about a man from a humble background who overcame learning difficulties to get to the top of two sports and then go on to become a very successful businessman. Yes, there is a bit of name dropping, but that is inevitable when describing a life that has involved so may famous and successful people. And to the reviewer who commented on Sir Jackie having the length of one his shirt sleeves tailored to allow his Rolex to be seen, it was merely used as an example of attention to detail was important in being successful. This book is a good, easy read and the lack of a ghost writer makes the reader feel that Sir Jackie is speaking to him in that so recognisable Scots accent. This book is simply an inspirational story of a great and highly successful man.
Too much of the wrong detail?, 24 Jan 2008
There's no denying how successful Mr Stewart has been in his driving and business career. For this he deserves (and gets) the upmost respect. However, this book suffers from a lack of editing and consequently he does tend to waffle on about all the people he's met and worked with, turning some parts late on in the book into a continuation of the 'acknowledgements' section. Do we really need to know all the people who worked as his employees or assistants?
I suspect that, like me, fans will relish the pages on his driving career, and I could have done with far more of that detail. (The section on Francois Cevert is extremely touching and well written).
But other details about his dogs, hobnobbing with the Royal family, or even how to have your shirt tailored to allow a Rolex to be seen at all times seem superfluous.
An autobiography doesn't have to cover EVERYTHING.
Fans of motor racing will enjoy the first two thirds of this book, but interest may wane a little towards the end.
Full Story?, 20 Jan 2008
I ask you how this can possibly be the "full story" when Hamilton has only started what promises to be a long and successful Formula 1 career. As well written and informative as this book may be, the title is absurd and amounts to an insult to sound thinking.
A different league ..., 20 Nov 2007
I was reading the F1 Fanatic website the other day and came across a cracking review of this book that signed-off with this: 'If you are thinking of getting a Hamilton book, please don't be duped into thinking the official book will automatically be the best option. "The Full Story" is a far better choice.'
Having now read both of them, I can categorically say that F1 Fanatic and The Telegraph (from the review I can see above) are unquestionably correct. Mark Hughes' book is excellent and blows Hamilton's ghostwritten offering out of the water.
Heartbreakingly funny, 27 Nov 2007
This book had me howling with laughter, and tears rolling down my cheeks. It's the sort of book that makes you realise the dedication (and finance) that is required to reach to top of the motorsport pyramid.
Spoilt by McCarthy's idiocy, 21 Sep 2007
This book came highly recommended, though I'm pleased to say I got my copy for nothing - there was a box full of them in my local Audi dealership and they gave me a copy.
While Perry's trials and tribulations during his search for an F1 drive are mildly amusing, his alarming recourse to physical violence when someone says something he doesn't like makes him out to be a complete idiot. I counted numerous occasions where someone said something which got to him, and his response was fisticuffs.
To say he does for motorsport writing what Bill Bryson does for travel writing is, I'm afraid, not the case. Bill Bryson is in another class - several above Perry.
Fantastic, 12 Jul 2007
I truly enlightening look into the life of a tallented motor racer and the struggles that these everyday people face to follow their dreams. Very inspiring to say the least, a must read for all enthusiasts alike.
Brilliant!, 06 Jul 2007
I knew before reading the book that Perry tried to qualify for F1 races in the Andrea Moda. At that time, I just thought he was one of those drivers without any talent who tried to make it in the F1 without any success.
The book however gave a total different view of Perry. I'm not sure if he had the talent to become one of the top F1 drivers, but he definitely had determination to make it into F1.
Despite all the setbacks, Perry never lost one thing: humour! And that makes the book a very good read.
Readable, 27 Oct 2006
I did enjoy this - I ended up sharing the frustration of Perry fighting his way through a struggle to race. I ended up admiring him despite having hated him when he was a commentator on Bernie's pay per view F1 digital channel.
It was very readable and even non racing fans would probably enjoy it, though may get lost through some of the technicalities of racing. I also ended up pitying those Perry pestered in his buldozer approach to getting into motor racing.
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
Customer Reviews
Not yet Byrned out!, 20 Nov 2008
An excellent and personal view of one man,s motor racing career.Do not expect a race by race account but instead get the inside story of a meteoric rise to success and an even quicker fall from the spotlight in the competitive world of British and then European racing.
To say he got screwed by McLaren would be an understatement!
There are,however,some hilarious accounts of racing in the early 80,s
Buy it! An incredible read - what a story!, 16 Sep 2008
Just extraordinary. What a fantastic read. If you could imagine an unlikely cross between Angela's Ashes and Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas with a loose motor racing backdrop, this is it. It has you in hysterics one moment, full of sadness the next. The most amazing sports biography I've ever read. In fact even if it was a work of fiction, it would still work. If you never buy another book again, you must buy this one. Loved the book, what a read I couldn't put it down., 11 Sep 2008
I loved the book, gripping from the beginning and a great read all through. The Racing stuff is very interesting but it's not just a book about racing the strange characters that Tommy encounters through his life you just couldn't make up!
Full throttle racing, money, steeling, sex, drugs and rock and roll (without the rock and roll). Hurricane Byrne!, 05 Sep 2008
This is some journey!
Barely believable, 'Crashed and Byrned' somehow twists through the apposite worlds of grubby 1970's O'Connell street, the 1982 Las Vegas Grand Prix and a seedy mansion in drug addled Mexico. Why? Because Tommy Byrne was chasing his quest to make the motor racing world realise that he was the most naturally gifted racing driver of his generation (and that is no idle boast by the way). And what is more, this book does it in a kind of surreal innocence that would be quite at home in a Hunter S.Thompson yarn!
Tommy Byrne will generally only be known to racing people but his story is so unique that he and his adventures will be enjoyed by those who have never seen a motor race in their lives before. This story will surely become a classic alternative to the bland and colourless publications that modern sports stars often produce.
It wasn't so much that Tommy was anti establishment it was more like he created his own establishment and then whether it was his fault or not, trashed it in a bright haze of his own brilliance and confidence. This had an uncanny knack of rubbing people up the wrong way. Ron Dennis was one of these people, so was Ayrton Senna. Years before Eddie Irvine was getting a slap from the great Brazilian champion, another and more gifted urchin from the Emerald Isle was getting under Ayrton's skin! Put bluntly, if John Lydon and Phil Lynott had raised a bastard child that took up motor racing, then his name would have been Tommy Byrne.
The anecdotes are told in a fabulously honest and more often than not comic fashion. There is no self pity and no 'what ifs'. These are left to the reader, who by the end of it are likely to ask these questions quietly to themselves. His 'tell it, how he saw it' descriptions of situations and people are quite superb, brutally honest and tremendously funny. In these days of wretched PR sheen this book takes you back to an era when genius 'literally' stole. It's sports answer to 'The filth and the fury!'
Put together in a simple and effective way by Mark Hughes, who proves that he is as subtly adept at translating these unforgettable memories of racings greatest roguish lost talent' as he is of acutely detailing the weekly technical and strategic aspects of the current Grand Prix scene in Autosport magazine. Hughes also offers an oversight to Byrne's memories, dipping in to the likes of Gary Anderson and Ron Dennis himself, for a revisionist perspective twenty five years on from 'Hurricane Byrne.'!
Above all, it tells of an ambitious and talented young man who was fighting a desperate and constantly losing battle to be accepted by an elitist sport that even by the standards of the early 1980's found Tommy Byrne just too much of a risk. It cannot be recommended highly enough. amazing, 20 Oct 2008
Being a big valentino rossi fan i had to get this book when it come out i also got once each for my brothers as i wanted to keep mine i have read it a few times and we all loved the book. It is a great book for any bike fan not just a rossi or moto gp fan. I have read a few other books like this but i think this is one of the best i have read in a while with the ups and down twist and turns. Brill read, 26 Apr 2008
I am not a reader at all, infact it can take me up to a year to read any book i have picked up in the past, but this book is brill, i read it in 2 days!!! a record for me!! This books give a great insight to the man who is the doctor and what actually happened with honda!!! i have read alot of moto gp & BSB books and the only one that kinda comes close is the HIZZY book!!!
Any Vale fan needs to read this book, cant wait for more Rossi books to come out!!! Great funny informative read., 08 Sep 2006
Ok first off there are a few reviews here that moan about it not always being overly grammatically correct or about its not translated very well etc, granted this is no Pulitzer prize winning book but you would expect that id have thought from Rossi, Ill let his riding impress me not his writing skills! . If your looking to find out about the guy in his own(ish) words, his childhood antics, his love of riding, his character then this is a great book. It's a very light read and seeing the living legend on screen full of personality the book seems to come across in the same way. It is very informative about a few issues, the ongoing comical, for want of a better word, relationship with Biaggi and the issues with Honda that made decision to move to an other factory easy. Someone below moaned about his talking about this in to much detail but as most fans will agree this was probably one of the biggest "why" questions the man himself has made us all ask. This book explains in great and funny detail the transition, the expectations he placed on his existing team with HRC at the time and Yamaha. All in all Id say if you're a Rossi fan you will most likely enjoy this light hearted read. Definitely worth a nosey for a good laugh none the less. Vale like he is?, 04 Sep 2006
You will certainly like this book if you're a Vale fan and know who he is and for what he stands. Those looking for indepth an technical analysis of motorcycle racing will be disappointed. Vale clearly has an ego, but the way how he expresses his views (and of course his phenomenal talent as a motorcycle racer) makes this book fun to read. Already a Legend at 27, what more do u want?, 31 Aug 2006
I have to agree with the last reviewer, why are people knocking this book?
I thought it was great, and yes some things are lost in translation, but if the whole book was written in Vale's charming broken english, people would soon be complaining about that!
I thought it still showed what a cheeky spirited person he is, as we all can tell whenever he's interviewed.I laughed at the little escapades he tells of what he and his mates got up to back home, and his meticulous planning of his on-track pranks to entertain the crowd. A lot of sports personalities autobiographies can become weighed down with technical jargon and statistics, but this one for me, especially as i'm not an expert on motorbikes or racing, was very enjoyable.
I first became a fan of Valentino because i was forced to watch motoGP by my boyfriend, and being half-italian i would instantly pick the italian in any sport to cheer for, but at the end of the race when he'd won and was interviewed i LOVED HIM!
Vale is such a big character, and an even bigger natural talent, anyone who has not finished reading this book, please give it another go, it really is an entertaining read!
Thanks Vale, When's the next instalment??! Absolutely brilliant, 01 Jun 2008
This one I have just finished has been an outstanding surprise, a wonderful portrait of a dense life.
Not just a biography but a real way of living, which captured me throughout the read, by both the anectdotes and the manner the narration is conduced.
I absolutely suggest it, I am definitely delighted! An excellent book about a fascinating man, 14 Mar 2008
Of all the racing driver biographies I've read (only about a dozen, actually)this is a standout. Enhanced by the free 'VIBE' DVD, this gives a very readable, honest account of a fascinating life.
Sir Jackie's humanity, honesty and integrity are highlighted throughout the book. Apart from his experiences with family illnesses and the constant loss of friends and colleagues through racing, he has been a lucky man who has worked very, very hard to make his own luck.
I was priveleged to hear him speak at a book launch prior to the 2008 Australian Grand Prix, he spoke for half an hour but it seemed like five minutes. Thats's what this book is like; it was largely dictated by Sir Jackie himself, not just ghosted, and you can almost hear him reading it.
There are several parts of the book which will bring a lump to your throat, but that's to be expected.
It would have been good to have more photos, more information about his races, cars and rivals, but that would have occupied another 500 pages.
By the way, most of the video is from the 'Flying Scot' DVD which is one of the best motor racing/biography films ever made.
Highly recommended. Jackie -The professional Business Man, 05 Mar 2008
The book is very well written , as we should expect , from someone like
Jackie Stewart .It shows clearly how he has planned his life ,even from the early days ,at the school , and working in the family business .How he began to think ahead of his time , in terms of secutity ,from the drivers and circuits points of view ;How he "loved" his friends-François Cevert and Ken Tyrrel -How he become the embassador of F1 , as a tv commentator and represantative of the major companies , like Ford ;How he faced and overcome Paul illness , and finnaly how his family is important to his life.
I truly recomend this book| Inspirational, 13 Feb 2008
I have been a motor racing fan for 40 years and was lucky to see Sir Jackie race. Indeed my first Grand Prix was the epic battle at Silverstone between Jackie Stewart and Jochen Rindt. During that time I have read the autobiographies and biographies of all the greats involved in motor racing in various formulae. And, yes, if you are only interested in motor racing and nothing else, this book may not be to your taste. But this book is so much more than just another motor racing autobiography, which is not surprising considering that being a racing driver was less than 20% of Sir Jackie's life and being involved with Paul Stewart Racing and Stewart Grand Prix another 15%. This autobiography is about a man from a humble background who overcame learning difficulties to get to the top of two sports and then go on to become a very successful businessman. Yes, there is a bit of name dropping, but that is inevitable when describing a life that has involved so may famous and successful people. And to the reviewer who commented on Sir Jackie having the length of one his shirt sleeves tailored to allow his Rolex to be seen, it was merely used as an example of attention to detail was important in being successful. This book is a good, easy read and the lack of a ghost writer makes the reader feel that Sir Jackie is speaking to him in that so recognisable Scots accent. This book is simply an inspirational story of a great and highly successful man. Too much of the wrong detail?, 24 Jan 2008
There's no denying how successful Mr Stewart has been in his driving and business career. For this he deserves (and gets) the upmost respect. However, this book suffers from a lack of editing and consequently he does tend to waffle on about all the people he's met and worked with, turning some parts late on in the book into a continuation of the 'acknowledgements' section. Do we really need to know all the people who worked as his employees or assistants?
I suspect that, like me, fans will relish the pages on his driving career, and I could have done with far more of that detail. (The section on Francois Cevert is extremely touching and well written).
But other details about his dogs, hobnobbing with the Royal family, or even how to have your shirt tailored to allow a Rolex to be seen at all times seem superfluous.
An autobiography doesn't have to cover EVERYTHING.
Fans of motor racing will enjoy the first two thirds of this book, but interest may wane a little towards the end. Full Story?, 20 Jan 2008
I ask you how this can possibly be the "full story" when Hamilton has only started what promises to be a long and successful Formula 1 career. As well written and informative as this book may be, the title is absurd and amounts to an insult to sound thinking. A different league ..., 20 Nov 2007
I was reading the F1 Fanatic website the other day and came across a cracking review of this book that signed-off with this: 'If you are thinking of getting a Hamilton book, please don't be duped into thinking the official book will automatically be the best option. "The Full Story" is a far better choice.'
Having now read both of them, I can categorically say that F1 Fanatic and The Telegraph (from the review I can see above) are unquestionably correct. Mark Hughes' book is excellent and blows Hamilton's ghostwritten offering out of the water. Heartbreakingly funny, 27 Nov 2007
This book had me howling with laughter, and tears rolling down my cheeks. It's the sort of book that makes you realise the dedication (and finance) that is required to reach to top of the motorsport pyramid. Spoilt by McCarthy's idiocy, 21 Sep 2007
This book came highly recommended, though I'm pleased to say I got my copy for nothing - there was a box full of them in my local Audi dealership and they gave me a copy.
While Perry's trials and tribulations during his search for an F1 drive are mildly amusing, his alarming recourse to physical violence when someone says something he doesn't like makes him out to be a complete idiot. I counted numerous occasions where someone said something which got to him, and his response was fisticuffs.
To say he does for motorsport writing what Bill Bryson does for travel writing is, I'm afraid, not the case. Bill Bryson is in another class - several above Perry. Fantastic, 12 Jul 2007
I truly enlightening look into the life of a tallented motor racer and the struggles that these everyday people face to follow their dreams. Very inspiring to say the least, a must read for all enthusiasts alike. Brilliant!, 06 Jul 2007
I knew before reading the book that Perry tried to qualify for F1 races in the Andrea Moda. At that time, I just thought he was one of those drivers without any talent who tried to make it in the F1 without any success.
The book however gave a total different view of Perry. I'm not sure if he had the talent to become one of the top F1 drivers, but he definitely had determination to make it into F1.
Despite all the setbacks, Perry never lost one thing: humour! And that makes the book a very good read.
Readable, 27 Oct 2006
I did enjoy this - I ended up sharing the frustration of Perry fighting his way through a struggle to race. I ended up admiring him despite having hated him when he was a commentator on Bernie's pay per view F1 digital channel.
It was very readable and even non racing fans would probably enjoy it, though may get lost through some of the technicalities of racing. I also ended up pitying those Perry pestered in his buldozer approach to getting into motor racing. What took him on the edge of greatness, 21 Nov 2007
An absorbing read with insights on what makes Shumacher great along with the fact that he is also human and to err is human even though he did it more than once. But it is understandable because to get to such level he probably wanted to go to any level to achieve victory and he did so with style and sometimes with mistakes. Majority of his critics are jealous because of his consistent victories even though he deserves genuine appreciation for his achievments. This book solidifies the fact that Shumacher is the greatest F1 drivers of modern times. Excellent book, don't let James' TV commentary put you off, 12 Oct 2007
I'm not a fan of James Allens ITV F1 commentary but don't let this put you off, this is an excellent book. It gives a great incite into the real Schumacher and uses quotes from conversations with Schumacher which gives the book a real feel of completeness, that it isn't just hearsay.
Highly recommended. The Edge of Greatness, 12 Oct 2007
Having read a lot of Schumacher books, I do not rate this as the best book out there. If you want an in depth book on Schumacher's life then read the book written by Christopher Hilton as it is more complete. James Allen's analysis is fairly good and the book is mostly compiled of quotes from everybody else in the paddock and very few are from Schumacher himself. In fact Schumacher is not even mentioned in the acknowledgments!
Easy to read nonetheless. A solid, interesting read., 29 Jun 2007
Good F1 biographies are pretty rare - many of them are hack jobs written by journalists that turn these things out by the dozen. Surprisingly, this is very good. I'm not a particularly big Schumacher fan, but this is an excellent slice of history from an era where Schumacher was at his most controversial, and captures him at Ferrari just before the Brawn-Byrne-Schumacher-Todt regime became utterly dominant in the sport. Recommended. Indespensable Book. An insight into the mind of Schumi., 07 Aug 2002
From the moment I picked this book up I knew I was addicted to it. No other book I have read on Schumi comes close to this. This book truly focuses on the mind, psychology and dicipline of the greatest driver of this era. It also explains the relationships between himself and the people around him in fine detail. For those who just love F1 or are Schumi fans, you have to read this one. I wouldn't have given it five stars since I am a critical person if the book was not that good. Go ahead, read it.
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
Customer Reviews
Not yet Byrned out!, 20 Nov 2008
An excellent and personal view of one man,s motor racing career.Do not expect a race by race account but instead get the inside story of a meteoric rise to success and an even quicker fall from the spotlight in the competitive world of British and then European racing.
To say he got screwed by McLaren would be an understatement!
There are,however,some hilarious accounts of racing in the early 80,s
Buy it! An incredible read - what a story!, 16 Sep 2008
Just extraordinary. What a fantastic read. If you could imagine an unlikely cross between Angela's Ashes and Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas with a loose motor racing backdrop, this is it. It has you in hysterics one moment, full of sadness the next. The most amazing sports biography I've ever read. In fact even if it was a work of fiction, it would still work. If you never buy another book again, you must buy this one. Loved the book, what a read I couldn't put it down., 11 Sep 2008
I loved the book, gripping from the beginning and a great read all through. The Racing stuff is very interesting but it's not just a book about racing the strange characters that Tommy encounters through his life you just couldn't make up!
Full throttle racing, money, steeling, sex, drugs and rock and roll (without the rock and roll). Hurricane Byrne!, 05 Sep 2008
This is some journey!
Barely believable, 'Crashed and Byrned' somehow twists through the apposite worlds of grubby 1970's O'Connell street, the 1982 Las Vegas Grand Prix and a seedy mansion in drug addled Mexico. Why? Because Tommy Byrne was chasing his quest to make the motor racing world realise that he was the most naturally gifted racing driver of his generation (and that is no idle boast by the way). And what is more, this book does it in a kind of surreal innocence that would be quite at home in a Hunter S.Thompson yarn!
Tommy Byrne will generally only be known to racing people but his story is so unique that he and his adventures will be enjoyed by those who have never seen a motor race in their lives before. This story will surely become a classic alternative to the bland and colourless publications that modern sports stars often produce.
It wasn't so much that Tommy was anti establishment it was more like he created his own establishment and then whether it was his fault or not, trashed it in a bright haze of his own brilliance and confidence. This had an uncanny knack of rubbing people up the wrong way. Ron Dennis was one of these people, so was Ayrton Senna. Years before Eddie Irvine was getting a slap from the great Brazilian champion, another and more gifted urchin from the Emerald Isle was getting under Ayrton's skin! Put bluntly, if John Lydon and Phil Lynott had raised a bastard child that took up motor racing, then his name would have been Tommy Byrne.
The anecdotes are told in a fabulously honest and more often than not comic fashion. There is no self pity and no 'what ifs'. These are left to the reader, who by the end of it are likely to ask these questions quietly to themselves. His 'tell it, how he saw it' descriptions of situations and people are quite superb, brutally honest and tremendously funny. In these days of wretched PR sheen this book takes you back to an era when genius 'literally' stole. It's sports answer to 'The filth and the fury!'
Put together in a simple and effective way by Mark Hughes, who proves that he is as subtly adept at translating these unforgettable memories of racings greatest roguish lost talent' as he is of acutely detailing the weekly technical and strategic aspects of the current Grand Prix scene in Autosport magazine. Hughes also offers an oversight to Byrne's memories, dipping in to the likes of Gary Anderson and Ron Dennis himself, for a revisionist perspective twenty five years on from 'Hurricane Byrne.'!
Above all, it tells of an ambitious and talented young man who was fighting a desperate and constantly losing battle to be accepted by an elitist sport that even by the standards of the early 1980's found Tommy Byrne just too much of a risk. It cannot be recommended highly enough. amazing, 20 Oct 2008
Being a big valentino rossi fan i had to get this book when it come out i also got once each for my brothers as i wanted to keep mine i have read it a few times and we all loved the book. It is a great book for any bike fan not just a rossi or moto gp fan. I have read a few other books like this but i think this is one of the best i have read in a while with the ups and down twist and turns. Brill read, 26 Apr 2008
I am not a reader at all, infact it can take me up to a year to read any book i have picked up in the past, but this book is brill, i read it in 2 days!!! a record for me!! This books give a great insight to the man who is the doctor and what actually happened with honda!!! i have read alot of moto gp & BSB books and the only one that kinda comes close is the HIZZY book!!!
Any Vale fan needs to read this book, cant wait for more Rossi books to come out!!! Great funny informative read., 08 Sep 2006
Ok first off there are a few reviews here that moan about it not always being overly grammatically correct or about its not translated very well etc, granted this is no Pulitzer prize winning book but you would expect that id have thought from Rossi, Ill let his riding impress me not his writing skills! . If your looking to find out about the guy in his own(ish) words, his childhood antics, his love of riding, his character then this is a great book. It's a very light read and seeing the living legend on screen full of personality the book seems to come across in the same way. It is very informative about a few issues, the ongoing comical, for want of a better word, relationship with Biaggi and the issues with Honda that made decision to move to an other factory easy. Someone below moaned about his talking about this in to much detail but as most fans will agree this was probably one of the biggest "why" questions the man himself has made us all ask. This book explains in great and funny detail the transition, the expectations he placed on his existing team with HRC at the time and Yamaha. All in all Id say if you're a Rossi fan you will most likely enjoy this light hearted read. Definitely worth a nosey for a good laugh none the less. Vale like he is?, 04 Sep 2006
You will certainly like this book if you're a Vale fan and know who he is and for what he stands. Those looking for indepth an technical analysis of motorcycle racing will be disappointed. Vale clearly has an ego, but the way how he expresses his views (and of course his phenomenal talent as a motorcycle racer) makes this book fun to read. Already a Legend at 27, what more do u want?, 31 Aug 2006
I have to agree with the last reviewer, why are people knocking this book?
I thought it was great, and yes some things are lost in translation, but if the whole book was written in Vale's charming broken english, people would soon be complaining about that!
I thought it still showed what a cheeky spirited person he is, as we all can tell whenever he's interviewed.I laughed at the little escapades he tells of what he and his mates got up to back home, and his meticulous planning of his on-track pranks to entertain the crowd. A lot of sports personalities autobiographies can become weighed down with technical jargon and statistics, but this one for me, especially as i'm not an expert on motorbikes or racing, was very enjoyable.
I first became a fan of Valentino because i was forced to watch motoGP by my boyfriend, and being half-italian i would instantly pick the italian in any sport to cheer for, but at the end of the race when he'd won and was interviewed i LOVED HIM!
Vale is such a big character, and an even bigger natural talent, anyone who has not finished reading this book, please give it another go, it really is an entertaining read!
Thanks Vale, When's the next instalment??! Absolutely brilliant, 01 Jun 2008
This one I have just finished has been an outstanding surprise, a wonderful portrait of a dense life.
Not just a biography but a real way of living, which captured me throughout the read, by both the anectdotes and the manner the narration is conduced.
I absolutely suggest it, I am definitely delighted! An excellent book about a fascinating man, 14 Mar 2008
Of all the racing driver biographies I've read (only about a dozen, actually)this is a standout. Enhanced by the free 'VIBE' DVD, this gives a very readable, honest account of a fascinating life.
Sir Jackie's humanity, honesty and integrity are highlighted throughout the book. Apart from his experiences with family illnesses and the constant loss of friends and colleagues through racing, he has been a lucky man who has worked very, very hard to make his own luck.
I was priveleged to hear him speak at a book launch prior to the 2008 Australian Grand Prix, he spoke for half an hour but it seemed like five minutes. Thats's what this book is like; it was largely dictated by Sir Jackie himself, not just ghosted, and you can almost hear him reading it.
There are several parts of the book which will bring a lump to your throat, but that's to be expected.
It would have been good to have more photos, more information about his races, cars and rivals, but that would have occupied another 500 pages.
By the way, most of the video is from the 'Flying Scot' DVD which is one of the best motor racing/biography films ever made.
Highly recommended. Jackie -The professional Business Man, 05 Mar 2008
The book is very well written , as we should expect , from someone like
Jackie Stewart .It shows clearly how he has planned his life ,even from the early days ,at the school , and working in the family business .How he began to think ahead of his time , in terms of secutity ,from the drivers and circuits points of view ;How he "loved" his friends-François Cevert and Ken Tyrrel -How he become the embassador of F1 , as a tv commentator and represantative of the major companies , like Ford ;How he faced and overcome Paul illness , and finnaly how his family is important to his life.
I truly recomend this book| Inspirational, 13 Feb 2008
I have been a motor racing fan for 40 years and was lucky to see Sir Jackie race. Indeed my first Grand Prix was the epic battle at Silverstone between Jackie Stewart and Jochen Rindt. During that time I have read the autobiographies and biographies of all the greats involved in motor racing in various formulae. And, yes, if you are only interested in motor racing and nothing else, this book may not be to your taste. But this book is so much more than just another motor racing autobiography, which is not surprising considering that being a racing driver was less than 20% of Sir Jackie's life and being involved with Paul Stewart Racing and Stewart Grand Prix another 15%. This autobiography is about a man from a humble background who overcame learning difficulties to get to the top of two sports and then go on to become a very successful businessman. Yes, there is a bit of name dropping, but that is inevitable when describing a life that has involved so may famous and successful people. And to the reviewer who commented on Sir Jackie having the length of one his shirt sleeves tailored to allow his Rolex to be seen, it was merely used as an example of attention to detail was important in being successful. This book is a good, easy read and the lack of a ghost writer makes the reader feel that Sir Jackie is speaking to him in that so recognisable Scots accent. This book is simply an inspirational story of a great and highly successful man. Too much of the wrong detail?, 24 Jan 2008
There's no denying how successful Mr Stewart has been in his driving and business career. For this he deserves (and gets) the upmost respect. However, this book suffers from a lack of editing and consequently he does tend to waffle on about all the people he's met and worked with, turning some parts late on in the book into a continuation of the 'acknowledgements' section. Do we really need to know all the people who worked as his employees or assistants?
I suspect that, like me, fans will relish the pages on his driving career, and I could have done with far more of that detail. (The section on Francois Cevert is extremely touching and well written).
But other details about his dogs, hobnobbing with the Royal family, or even how to have your shirt tailored to allow a Rolex to be seen at all times seem superfluous.
An autobiography doesn't have to cover EVERYTHING.
Fans of motor racing will enjoy the first two thirds of this book, but interest may wane a little towards the end. Full Story?, 20 Jan 2008
I ask you how this can possibly be the "full story" when Hamilton has only started what promises to be a long and successful Formula 1 career. As well written and informative as this book may be, the title is absurd and amounts to an insult to sound thinking. A different league ..., 20 Nov 2007
I was reading the F1 Fanatic website the other day and came across a cracking review of this book that signed-off with this: 'If you are thinking of getting a Hamilton book, please don't be duped into thinking the official book will automatically be the best option. "The Full Story" is a far better choice.'
Having now read both of them, I can categorically say that F1 Fanatic and The Telegraph (from the review I can see above) are unquestionably correct. Mark Hughes' book is excellent and blows Hamilton's ghostwritten offering out of the water. Heartbreakingly funny, 27 Nov 2007
This book had me howling with laughter, and tears rolling down my cheeks. It's the sort of book that makes you realise the dedication (and finance) that is required to reach to top of the motorsport pyramid. Spoilt by McCarthy's idiocy, 21 Sep 2007
This book came highly recommended, though I'm pleased to say I got my copy for nothing - there was a box full of them in my local Audi dealership and they gave me a copy.
While Perry's trials and tribulations during his search for an F1 drive are mildly amusing, his alarming recourse to physical violence when someone says something he doesn't like makes him out to be a complete idiot. I counted numerous occasions where someone said something which got to him, and his response was fisticuffs.
To say he does for motorsport writing what Bill Bryson does for travel writing is, I'm afraid, not the case. Bill Bryson is in another class - several above Perry. Fantastic, 12 Jul 2007
I truly enlightening look into the life of a tallented motor racer and the struggles that these everyday people face to follow their dreams. Very inspiring to say the least, a must read for all enthusiasts alike. Brilliant!, 06 Jul 2007
I knew before reading the book that Perry tried to qualify for F1 races in the Andrea Moda. At that time, I just thought he was one of those drivers without any talent who tried to make it in the F1 without any success.
The book however gave a total different view of Perry. I'm not sure if he had the talent to become one of the top F1 drivers, but he definitely had determination to make it into F1.
Despite all the setbacks, Perry never lost one thing: humour! And that makes the book a very good read.
Readable, 27 Oct 2006
I did enjoy this - I ended up sharing the frustration of Perry fighting his way through a struggle to race. I ended up admiring him despite having hated him when he was a commentator on Bernie's pay per view F1 digital channel.
It was very readable and even non racing fans would probably enjoy it, though may get lost through some of the technicalities of racing. I also ended up pitying those Perry pestered in his buldozer approach to getting into motor racing. What took him on the edge of greatness, 21 Nov 2007
An absorbing read with insights on what makes Shumacher great along with the fact that he is also human and to err is human even though he did it more than once. But it is understandable because to get to such level he probably wanted to go to any level to achieve victory and he did so with style and sometimes with mistakes. Majority of his critics are jealous because of his consistent victories even though he deserves genuine appreciation for his achievments. This book solidifies the fact that Shumacher is the greatest F1 drivers of modern times. Excellent book, don't let James' TV commentary put you off, 12 Oct 2007
I'm not a fan of James Allens ITV F1 commentary but don't let this put you off, this is an excellent book. It gives a great incite into the real Schumacher and uses quotes from conversations with Schumacher which gives the book a real feel of completeness, that it isn't just hearsay.
Highly recommended. The Edge of Greatness, 12 Oct 2007
Having read a lot of Schumacher books, I do not rate this as the best book out there. If you want an in depth book on Schumacher's life then read the book written by Christopher Hilton as it is more complete. James Allen's analysis is fairly good and the book is mostly compiled of quotes from everybody else in the paddock and very few are from Schumacher himself. In fact Schumacher is not even mentioned in the acknowledgments!
Easy to read nonetheless. A solid, interesting read., 29 Jun 2007
Good F1 biographies are pretty rare - many of them are hack jobs written by journalists that turn these things out by the dozen. Surprisingly, this is very good. I'm not a particularly big Schumacher fan, but this is an excellent slice of history from an era where Schumacher was at his most controversial, and captures him at Ferrari just before the Brawn-Byrne-Schumacher-Todt regime became utterly dominant in the sport. Recommended. Indespensable Book. An insight into the mind of Schumi., 07 Aug 2002
From the moment I picked this book up I knew I was addicted to it. No other book I have read on Schumi comes close to this. This book truly focuses on the mind, psychology and dicipline of the greatest driver of this era. It also explains the relationships between himself and the people around him in fine detail. For those who just love F1 or are Schumi fans, you have to read this one. I wouldn't have given it five stars since I am a critical person if the book was not that good. Go ahead, read it.
The definitive book of Senna's life., 24 Nov 2007
Ayrton Senna. The name conjures up many feelings in many people, the greatest ever driver? A vicious and uncompromising racer? a warm and kind individual of many depths? After reading this book the answer is obvious - He was all of that and more, Hilton writes in such a way that you understand everything about the man. Hilton has thoroughly researched his subject, and also speaks from the position of knowing Senna. From wheeling an elderly patient in a wheelchair - to the epic and bitter battles with Prost and Mansell (and also not afraid to expose Senna's more questionable behavior either) this book covers every aspect of Ayrton's life. And more intriguingly he tackles the "second life" Senna's legend has taken on since that fateful afternoon at Tamburello some 13 years ago.
Put simply: It is one of the best books on Formula one and motoracing that I have ever read - and by far the best ever on Ayrton Senna.
Good to know more about the great man., 12 Oct 2007
I am the biggest F1 fan, and one of my only regrets is that i had a brief rest-bite from watching F1 in the late eighties - just about the time Senna was at his peak!.The irony being that i watched his early races and new he was something supernatural in a high powered F1 car, then in the early nighties i decided to get back into F1; the first "full" race i watched for many a year was the blackest race...Imola 1994.
In pub discussions about F1 i get so embarrassed about not knowing much about Ayrton Senna, so that's why i read this book.It literally - in a interesting well informed way - does what it says on the can:it tells you the whole story.Thanks to the Author [Christopher Hilton] the F1 whole that i have been without has now been filled.Thank you sir!. Highly recommended.
An absolute must for all motor racing fans, 26 Mar 2005
An interesting, informative look at one of motor racings greatest ever drivers. The book charts Senna's rise from an early age in karting - through to formula 3000 and then to formula 1, culminating in that black day at Imola 94. This is a great account of a genuis at work. Recommended.
|
|
 |
 |
| |