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Raw Speed: My Autobiography
Following in his late father's footsteps, Tai Woffinden made his name as Britain's most successful speedway rider ever. Known for his speed on the tracks and his quirky tattoos, he is a popular figure within the sport and beyond it.
With a vast array of titles to his name, including youngest ever Grand Prix World Champion, achieved at the age of twenty-three, Tai has come a long way from his Scunthorpe roots. His love affair with speedway began when his family emigrated to Australia while he was a child, where he became a local champion while still at school. He has not been without his share of struggles, however. In 2010, he lost his father, the popular speedway rider Rob Woffinden, to cancer, which, combined with issues within his team, resulted in a difficult season. Then, in 2019, during his defence of his World Championship, he crashed heavily during a race in Poland and was badly injured, breaking his back.
Such setbacks do not keep true champions down for long, however - Tai will be back, to dazzle his thousands of fans with his unique combination of flamboyant skill and raw courage. Told with his trademark honesty and directness, his autobiography provides an eye-opening insight into the life of one of speedway's greatest talents and most beloved stars.
With a vast array of titles to his name, including youngest ever Grand Prix World Champion, achieved at the age of twenty-three, Tai has come a long way from his Scunthorpe roots. His love affair with speedway began when his family emigrated to Australia while he was a child, where he became a local champion while still at school. He has not been without his share of struggles, however. In 2010, he lost his father, the popular speedway rider Rob Woffinden, to cancer, which, combined with issues within his team, resulted in a difficult season. Then, in 2019, during his defence of his World Championship, he crashed heavily during a race in Poland and was badly injured, breaking his back.
Such setbacks do not keep true champions down for long, however - Tai will be back, to dazzle his thousands of fans with his unique combination of flamboyant skill and raw courage. Told with his trademark honesty and directness, his autobiography provides an eye-opening insight into the life of one of speedway's greatest talents and most beloved stars.
- GenresBiography
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 19, 2019
13 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Tai Woffinden
5 books1 followerTai Woffinden is a British speedway rider. In 2013 he became World Speedway Champion and currently rides for the WTS Wrocław in the Polish Speedway Ekstraliga. Until the end of 2014 he also rode for the Wolverhampton Wolves in the British Elite League, but announced in late 2014 that he would not be riding in Britain during 2015 in his quest to regain his World Championship.
Woffinden is the current captain of the Great Britain team that finished fourth in the 2014 Speedway World Cup Final in Bydgoszcz, Poland, in 2016 the final was held at the national speedway stadium at Belle Vue, Manchester where team GB were runners up to Poland.
Woffinden is the current captain of the Great Britain team that finished fourth in the 2014 Speedway World Cup Final in Bydgoszcz, Poland, in 2016 the final was held at the national speedway stadium at Belle Vue, Manchester where team GB were runners up to Poland.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 3, 2020
I am a long time Tai fan and enjoy watching/attending Speedway racing, so that was why I had been so looking forward to reading this book.
It was a big disappointment unfortunately. The book felt rushed and thrown together and would really have benefitted from a strong editor and a good proof reader - typographical errors are a real bugbear for me especially with all the modern spellcheckers etc that are out there.
The timeline seemed to jump back and forth and some incidents were duplicated as were two full paragraphs of text! It was very difficult to actually follow the linear story and how Tai's racing career had unfolded due to the disjointed writing. Some parts needed re-reading several times to actually make sense of what was being said as the grammar and wording was so muddled. I don't think this was purely down to being written in Tai's "voice" because I have seen many interviews and he can certainly put a sentence together without any difficulty and expresses himself well.
On the plus side, it was a very quick read due to large print and wide spacing and really only took about 4 hours reading time!
It was a big disappointment unfortunately. The book felt rushed and thrown together and would really have benefitted from a strong editor and a good proof reader - typographical errors are a real bugbear for me especially with all the modern spellcheckers etc that are out there.
The timeline seemed to jump back and forth and some incidents were duplicated as were two full paragraphs of text! It was very difficult to actually follow the linear story and how Tai's racing career had unfolded due to the disjointed writing. Some parts needed re-reading several times to actually make sense of what was being said as the grammar and wording was so muddled. I don't think this was purely down to being written in Tai's "voice" because I have seen many interviews and he can certainly put a sentence together without any difficulty and expresses himself well.
On the plus side, it was a very quick read due to large print and wide spacing and really only took about 4 hours reading time!
April 20, 2023
kocham 💞⬆️
September 14, 2020
What an amazing life Tai Woofiden has had so far. Full of trials and tribulations. Injuries including breaking his back but still he went through physio and all the pain and came out of the other side as determined as ever. Good deeds like raising money for the GOSH charity and a cancer charity (which was in memory of his dad, who died aged 47) from the horrible disease.
Good on you Tai, a man that young speedway riders should look up to and respect. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Good on you Tai, a man that young speedway riders should look up to and respect. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
May 1, 2020
4.5 ⭐
March 30, 2021
Interesting for speedway fans
January 8, 2024
A must for all speedway fans. I don't think Tai necessarily paints himself in the best light at all times but it is a very honest account.
April 2, 2020
Loved it x
December 31, 2019
Amazing very honest!! Straight talking to the point a must read for any speedway fan. Whether you love him hate him read it, it might help to change your opinion. Thanks to tai for doing this book here to the next decade and hopefully a secound instalment in years to come.
December 19, 2022
Bardzo dobra biografia, fajnie się czyta, prosty język, zabawne historie, ma się wrażenie, że siedzi się z Taiem przy piwie w pubie, a tenże snuje ciekawe opowiadania.
Polecam fanom czarnego sportu.
Polecam fanom czarnego sportu.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews