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Faster!
Faster!
239 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1972
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 6, 2019
At the start of 1970 Jackie Stewart agreed to publish his diary at the end of the year, as many drivers and other sportsmen still do now. However the season turned into a nightmare, as two of his close friends (Piers Courage & Jochen Rindt) were killed on track. I'm not a fan of Jackie Stewart, and "Faster!" is very much of its time and feels dated now, but it's still a fascinating record.
September 12, 2020
If you read through this you will find some very interesting parts, but much of it is as dry as dust--I cared less and less as I read through the book. Also, some of his friends are not public figures I admire. Now it's true that this book was written before Roman Polanski's sexual abuse of a minor case came out (I doubt he'd have been able to plead off to such a minor offense this year with the #metoo movement, but it's hard to say) and I am not a fan of either Playboy or Hugh Hefner, although I realize that not everyone shares my opinion. Etc.
What I did like about him is that even though he exhibits some of the common sexism of a man of his generation that was still openly talked about in 1969, he clearly cared (and still cares, since I looked him up) about his wife and was encouraging her to be more independent than she'd been raised, so I suspect that he may well have evolved into a non-sexist man, but this is just a guess.
Much of this diary book is boring, but he did talk about a few things I haven't read as well explained by other racers about how he got into the zone and a few other things. In the first part of the book I was relieved to not have to read about how a car felt, etc, etc, but that eventually came.
What I did like about him is that even though he exhibits some of the common sexism of a man of his generation that was still openly talked about in 1969, he clearly cared (and still cares, since I looked him up) about his wife and was encouraging her to be more independent than she'd been raised, so I suspect that he may well have evolved into a non-sexist man, but this is just a guess.
Much of this diary book is boring, but he did talk about a few things I haven't read as well explained by other racers about how he got into the zone and a few other things. In the first part of the book I was relieved to not have to read about how a car felt, etc, etc, but that eventually came.
April 9, 2008
Faster! is the diary of Jackie Stewart during one of his most tumultuous years of racing, 1970. The reigning world champion, he's stuck with an underperforming car and the decamping of certain backers. Worse, it's a season of tragic deaths, and one of them is his best friend, Jochen Rindt. Obviously, these deaths hurt Stewart deeply and he talks openly and freely of his overwhelming sense of being endlessly tired.
For a short book, it's impressive in its scope: Stewart covers the business aspects of sponsors and commercial endorsements, the engineering aspects of the cars, his personal routine of "deflating" himself before a race, his opinions of the other drivers, the unique friendship between him and Jochen, the need for many safety improvements, life as a celebrity, and his views on money.
"In racing, speed doesn't exist for me unless I'm driving poorly.... When I'm driving poorly, I'll go into a corner at the same speed but everything is a great rush....Speed is therefore what I compete against."
He speaks poetically about the cars themselves. "A Formula 1 car is really an animal." And my favorite: "Cornering is like bringing a woman to a climax." For more on that line of his thinking, get the book. And take notes, gents.
But he's most eloquent when he talks about his wife Helen and how "there can be no way of live more difficult than that of the wife of a racing driver." In the two fatal accidents of 1970, it fell to Helen to tell the other wife of her husband's death. He agonizes over the toll it's taking on her, but they both know he can't stop now, for many reasons.
I found this book to be both fascinating and touching. I highly recommend it.
For a short book, it's impressive in its scope: Stewart covers the business aspects of sponsors and commercial endorsements, the engineering aspects of the cars, his personal routine of "deflating" himself before a race, his opinions of the other drivers, the unique friendship between him and Jochen, the need for many safety improvements, life as a celebrity, and his views on money.
"In racing, speed doesn't exist for me unless I'm driving poorly.... When I'm driving poorly, I'll go into a corner at the same speed but everything is a great rush....Speed is therefore what I compete against."
He speaks poetically about the cars themselves. "A Formula 1 car is really an animal." And my favorite: "Cornering is like bringing a woman to a climax." For more on that line of his thinking, get the book. And take notes, gents.
But he's most eloquent when he talks about his wife Helen and how "there can be no way of live more difficult than that of the wife of a racing driver." In the two fatal accidents of 1970, it fell to Helen to tell the other wife of her husband's death. He agonizes over the toll it's taking on her, but they both know he can't stop now, for many reasons.
I found this book to be both fascinating and touching. I highly recommend it.
March 16, 2018
Good insight into a terribly dangerous time in motor racing. And some neat insight into Mr. Stewart and how he lived at the time.
February 2, 2023
Unique insight into the life of a racing driver over the course of slightly more than a year. Most of the book was really compelling but certain sections towards the end started to drag and don't quite hold up as well today.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews