Hobbo: The Autobiography of David Hobbs: Motor Racer, Motor Mouth

by David A Hobbs, Andrew Marriott (With)

Englishman David Hobbs--'Hobbo' to his friends and fans--is one of motor racing's most remarkable all-rounders. In a 31-year driving career he raced in almost every imaginable endurance sports racers, touring cars, Formula 1, Formula 5000, Indycars, IMSA, Trans-Am, Can-Am and even NASCAR--he has done the lot. And on top of that he has been a television commentator in America for nearly 40 years, bringing wit and wisdom to the screen, latterly as part of NBC's Formula 1 team. Now, at last, this very popular racer has put down all his experiences in this highly readable memoir that will be welcomed by racing enthusiasts on both sides of the Atlantic.

304 pages, Hardcover

Published May 29, 2018

Reviews

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to be at the Amelia Concours last year and pick up a a signed copy of Hobbo. David's colorful commentary during Formula 1 events always felt additive and brought an important racer's perspective in addition to his classic Brit humor. His book carries on in that same vein.

This is not a coffee table picture book, but more an educational and entertaining look back at various motorsports during the formative and I often think the "golden years" of racing. As many drivers did back then, David Hobbs participated in just about any series where four wheels were a factor and you get what I found to be a fascinating insider's perspective on the people and the racing environment of those times. I particularly liked Mr. Hobb's honest appraisal of some of the other well known drivers that he competed against. Admittedly, it is one person's perspective, however his views were never mean spirited, but just his honest impression of a person's ability or character that made the atmosphere of those times feel more real to me.

The book is not perfectly chronological, but jumps around a little bit with the time frame to keep the focus on certain racing series lumped together. At times, this injected some mild confusion on my end, but overall I feel it was smart strategy that helped to develop a more complete outlook for each racing series during the time frames that were covered.

His book also delves into his career as a motorsports commentator which I found to be a very interesting look "behind the curtain" so to speak. It was (and I hope still will be) a significant aspect of his involvement in motorsports and provides a little perspective on the industry that you're not likely to find elsewhere.

Reading Hobbo was as close as I think you could get to actually sitting at some watering hole with David Hobbs and actually having him tell you about his personal adventures in motorsports. I often had a chuckle and just about any question I would want to ask him was actually answered in his book, including the list of favorite cars, tracks and co-drivers in the appendix (he must have read my mind).

If you've ever watched and enjoyed David Hobbs as a commentator, you are bound to enjoy this book.

[Dwayne Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by David Hobbs, aka Hobbo, instantly became one of my favorite race car driver autobiographies. The subtitle "Motor Racer, Motor Mouth" tells you all you need to know about Hobbs's sense of humor, which he has displayed to great effect in his later career as a motor sports broadcast analyst. I remember the fun hearing him, a British born driver, comment on NASCAR races over the years. Hobbs is a natural storyteller, possessed of humor and charm, and his tales of his interactions with other prominent drivers in Formula One, Formula 5000, Indycars, sports cars, and other disciplines provide a lot of insight into the personalities and events back when "sex was safe and driving was dangerous." The book also relates his transition from driver to broadcaster, including the story of how it happened, and reminds his fans of why he's so beloved among the motor sports community. I highly recommend this one to auto racing fans.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Covers Mr. Hobbs 2 major careers, racing and TV broadcasting. Also touches on his car dealer ownership, public speaking appearances, and charity work. But he never strays far from his proudest accomplishment, love for his wife and family. Lots of great pictures from many decades of racing. Single seaters, sports cars, IMSA, Can-Am, Trans-Am, etc... As someone who has heard his English accent on many telecasts, all the way back to the 70's, and unfortunately never seen him race. I now feel like I know more of what makes him the broadcaster he is. If you like racing from the 1960's to today. You will enjoy this book.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit I’m a fan. David Hobb’s television career has paralleled my time as a motorsports follower; which has only been enhanced by David’s added commentary along the way (thank you sir). It’s a fun read and written in a style that you can hear David telling the stories. Thanks Bob Varsha and Andrew Marriott for helping make the book happen. And it was a joy to meet and get to talk with David at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway last year.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Hobbo" is a sheer delight to which I shall return time & time again, both for the lovely photographs but mostly for the gorgeous prose. It helps that I spent so much time watching Hobbs on television, so that I was able to read it mostly in his voice. Oh, how I miss watching David Hobbs on television!

[Shrike58 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Assuming you followed sports-car and F1 racing on TV in the United States (prior to 2013), you're at least somewhat familiar with the man whose racing career this book traces, and who was always good with either a smart crack, or an elegiac remembrance of how lethal motorsports used to be back in the day. To me, the most interesting portion of the book was the very early days, of how Hobbs' family wound up in England at just the right time, when a young sportsman driver could parlay a few wins into opportunity, first, as a test driver with Jaguar, and then as a factory driver, going on to further racing with high-profile privateers with good equipment into the 1980s.

[Phil Bayly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun old fashioned racing book, by a race car driver that was at all the great races and raced against all the great drivers. It was the golden age of auto racing. Any motorhead will enjoy it