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Jackie Stewart's Principles of Performance Driving
From Library Journal Stewart's ability behind the wheel of a Formula I racing machine is legendary, so anything he has to say about competition driving is bound to be interesting. Add to that his sense of humor and a reputation for independent thinking and you have essential reading for auto-racing buffs. Neither a "how to drive a race car" manual, nor a recounting of "my greatest races" Stewart's book is about what it takes to succeed as a race driver, about his philosophy, about preparation and discipline as the basis for success. Stewart talks about techniques, control, and common sense; about the politics of motor sport, the cars and their builders, safety, and pressures on and off the track. Anyone with an interest in motor sports should read this. Illustrations not seen. Susan Ebershoff-Coles, Indianapolis-Marion Cty. P.L. Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
236 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1986
53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 3, 2023
I was given this book 30 years ago but only got a few pages into it before reading books to my children became my staple. Now that the kids are grown, and I am going to my first auto track day soon, I decided I better get this book read.
Thanks to the passage of time, what was originally recent history and Jackie Stewart's opinions on contemporary cars and racing drivers is now like a time capsule. Much of the book is devoted to his observations of the driving styles of numerous stars of the sport from the 1930s to the mid-1980s when the book was published. I didn't find this very interesting 30 years ago, when I still had an active hobby of motorcycle racing, but I find it far more interesting now.
The primary reason I was given the book, and picked it up again now, was to learn more about driving a car fast, particularly on road courses. The book is very general in this area. In contrast, my go to books on motorcycle racing by Keith Code go into great detail about operating bikes at speed. Stewart devotes his attention mostly to being smooth and respecting the machine in all phases of braking, cornering, and accelerating. It is very consistent with a description of his road driving in a Car and Driver article many years ago where Stewart drove them to a test track, and his initial impression was that Stewart drove like his grandma, without sudden lane changes, acceleration or braking, and that is was a bit into the drive that he noticed the rest of the traffic was smoothly disappearing behind them while they were having a pleasant chat. He also shows how his introduction to automobiles as a mechanic and cleaning autos directly benefitted his interaction with his racing crews and ability to notice details about their prep of his rides. He gives a lot of attention to general principles of driving and being a professional racer, including driving contracts, physical and mental health, setting priorities, reaching goals, and life aftertheracingcareer ends. Many sage insights from an all time great driver on both the racetrack and testing track. So if you're looking for advice about the fastest line around Goodwood, this is not your book. But it would have good value to a person early in a racing career, and for general basics on approaching driving on a track.
The mid 1980s was a pivotal period in the American auto industry, shortly after the revolutionary downsizing of the 1970s energy crisis, and at the dawn of the rebirth of cars that could perform, had power, could actually handle corners, and paid attention to aerodynamics. The only American American car that wasn't square cut was the 1983 Ford Thunderbird. Ford imported one or 2 aero models from their Europe operations under the spinoff make "Merkur", but the major upheaval still shaping most road cars today, the 1985 Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable would not hit the streets until months after this book was published. Front wheel drive was about to explode in the USA, and tire and suspension technologies were as well. Stewart's impressions, insights, and predictions at this inflection point in American auto history are really worth reading.
Thanks to the passage of time, what was originally recent history and Jackie Stewart's opinions on contemporary cars and racing drivers is now like a time capsule. Much of the book is devoted to his observations of the driving styles of numerous stars of the sport from the 1930s to the mid-1980s when the book was published. I didn't find this very interesting 30 years ago, when I still had an active hobby of motorcycle racing, but I find it far more interesting now.
The primary reason I was given the book, and picked it up again now, was to learn more about driving a car fast, particularly on road courses. The book is very general in this area. In contrast, my go to books on motorcycle racing by Keith Code go into great detail about operating bikes at speed. Stewart devotes his attention mostly to being smooth and respecting the machine in all phases of braking, cornering, and accelerating. It is very consistent with a description of his road driving in a Car and Driver article many years ago where Stewart drove them to a test track, and his initial impression was that Stewart drove like his grandma, without sudden lane changes, acceleration or braking, and that is was a bit into the drive that he noticed the rest of the traffic was smoothly disappearing behind them while they were having a pleasant chat. He also shows how his introduction to automobiles as a mechanic and cleaning autos directly benefitted his interaction with his racing crews and ability to notice details about their prep of his rides. He gives a lot of attention to general principles of driving and being a professional racer, including driving contracts, physical and mental health, setting priorities, reaching goals, and life aftertheracingcareer ends. Many sage insights from an all time great driver on both the racetrack and testing track. So if you're looking for advice about the fastest line around Goodwood, this is not your book. But it would have good value to a person early in a racing career, and for general basics on approaching driving on a track.
The mid 1980s was a pivotal period in the American auto industry, shortly after the revolutionary downsizing of the 1970s energy crisis, and at the dawn of the rebirth of cars that could perform, had power, could actually handle corners, and paid attention to aerodynamics. The only American American car that wasn't square cut was the 1983 Ford Thunderbird. Ford imported one or 2 aero models from their Europe operations under the spinoff make "Merkur", but the major upheaval still shaping most road cars today, the 1985 Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable would not hit the streets until months after this book was published. Front wheel drive was about to explode in the USA, and tire and suspension technologies were as well. Stewart's impressions, insights, and predictions at this inflection point in American auto history are really worth reading.
Want to read
May 16, 2016In the early 2000s, I was heavily into sim racing--auto racing simulator games on the PC. My sim of choice was one of the epic racing sims of all time, Grand Prix Legends (aka GPL). It was such a realistic driving game that for several years a hardcore following developed around it, inspiring add-on circuits, upgraded car designs, and even upgraded simulation physics. GPL was the first really serious racing sim. Ruthlessly, it separated the men from the boys.
Grand Prix Legends inspired sim padawans like me to learn the ways of the force. We sought racing wisdom from the legends of the real thing--to become one with the great racing masters such as Jim Clark, Stirling Moss and Jackie Stewart.
Stewart was my first racing hero, going back to his appearances in the Can-Am series and most importantly, his last year in Formula One, 1973, when he won the last of his three world driving championships. His stature elevated still more from his work with American TV network ABC. For many years, Stewart provided insightful and erudite color commentary for ABC's broadcasts of the Indianapolis 500, which was then one of the most-watched auto races in the world.
I'm interested in this book for two reasons.
One of them is the fact that I learned specific skills from Stewart. He famously taught these skills to his protégé Francois Cevert: instead of approaching a corner at high revs, leaving yourself without space at the top end of the gear, set up a corner very early and upshift to power through the corner. This allows you to be quicker through the corner while continuing to accelerate, and if you hit it just right, you don't suffer from a decrease in acceleration, which is a risk of upshifting too low in the power band.
Zen Buddhism of a high order.
Which leads me to the second reason I want the book:
Legend has it that sometime in the 2000s--when Stewart was already in his 60s--he and at least one then-current F1 driver took turns tossing a sports car around a practice circuit. The story goes that the F1 driver drove his timed lap 'on the limit,' maybe in an effort to impress his elder. Stewart then got into the driver's seat and began his timed lap with the F1 driver riding next to him. The F1 driver later noted that Stewart's pace appeared to be slow and sedate, but was shocked to find that Stewart easily beat the younger man's timed lap. Stewart didn't look like he was going fast, but he was really making it look easy, making each shift and each turn with minimal effort, letting the car and the engine do the work.
Proving, apparently, that Jackie Stewart's driving prowess is timeless.
I've learned racing tips from many drivers. The most important of those skills I learned from one of the ultimate masters, Jackie Stewart. I expect this book is a treasure trove of racing wisdom, and maybe, when I have enough free time to enjoy sim racing again, I can apply his techniques to become an even better driver.
Grand Prix Legends inspired sim padawans like me to learn the ways of the force. We sought racing wisdom from the legends of the real thing--to become one with the great racing masters such as Jim Clark, Stirling Moss and Jackie Stewart.
Stewart was my first racing hero, going back to his appearances in the Can-Am series and most importantly, his last year in Formula One, 1973, when he won the last of his three world driving championships. His stature elevated still more from his work with American TV network ABC. For many years, Stewart provided insightful and erudite color commentary for ABC's broadcasts of the Indianapolis 500, which was then one of the most-watched auto races in the world.
I'm interested in this book for two reasons.
One of them is the fact that I learned specific skills from Stewart. He famously taught these skills to his protégé Francois Cevert: instead of approaching a corner at high revs, leaving yourself without space at the top end of the gear, set up a corner very early and upshift to power through the corner. This allows you to be quicker through the corner while continuing to accelerate, and if you hit it just right, you don't suffer from a decrease in acceleration, which is a risk of upshifting too low in the power band.
Zen Buddhism of a high order.
Which leads me to the second reason I want the book:
Legend has it that sometime in the 2000s--when Stewart was already in his 60s--he and at least one then-current F1 driver took turns tossing a sports car around a practice circuit. The story goes that the F1 driver drove his timed lap 'on the limit,' maybe in an effort to impress his elder. Stewart then got into the driver's seat and began his timed lap with the F1 driver riding next to him. The F1 driver later noted that Stewart's pace appeared to be slow and sedate, but was shocked to find that Stewart easily beat the younger man's timed lap. Stewart didn't look like he was going fast, but he was really making it look easy, making each shift and each turn with minimal effort, letting the car and the engine do the work.
Proving, apparently, that Jackie Stewart's driving prowess is timeless.
I've learned racing tips from many drivers. The most important of those skills I learned from one of the ultimate masters, Jackie Stewart. I expect this book is a treasure trove of racing wisdom, and maybe, when I have enough free time to enjoy sim racing again, I can apply his techniques to become an even better driver.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews