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Racer
Racer is an intimate look at racing at the highest levels as well as life lessons from one of the world's most celebrated motorsports families.
"Not only was John one of the most versatile race drivers, finding success in sprint cars, stock cars, sports cars, Indy cars, and Top Fuel. . . he was one of the finest gentlemen, so much so that he probably even smiled under his helmet."
-Mario Andretti John Andretti's life was driven by family and fueled by a passion for racing. In Racer , Andretti candidly recounts how these powerful forces shaped a diverse professional driving career. The honesty and character that defined Andretti's life offer a behind-the-scenes look at racing at all levels full of lessons in racing and life supplied by this fiery and fiercely competitive driver. John is a wonderful storyteller, and the book is comprised of a series of John's stories as told to bestselling author Jade Gurss ( Beast, In the Red, Driver #8 ). The book opens with John's memories of growing up as a member of auto racing's famous family. His father, Aldo, is the twin brother of Mario Andretti. The book offers an intimate look at the interplay between these two men, and how their intensity and integrity shaped John's life. John was one of the worlds most versatile race car drivers, and Racer includes John's remembrances of scoring wins in the NASCAR Cup series, IndyCar, IMSA sports car racing, and in sprint cars and midgets on dirt ovals across the country. He also tells about his experience winning the 24 Hours of Daytona, competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and even his colorful venture racing an NHRA Top Fuel dragster. The powerful narrative includes John's substantial charity work, and the story of how he contracted colon cancer at age 53 and turned his affliction into a public awareness campaign. Ten percent of the publisher's proceeds from Racer will be donated to Riley Children's Foundation, the fundraising arm of Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health.
"Not only was John one of the most versatile race drivers, finding success in sprint cars, stock cars, sports cars, Indy cars, and Top Fuel. . . he was one of the finest gentlemen, so much so that he probably even smiled under his helmet."
-Mario Andretti John Andretti's life was driven by family and fueled by a passion for racing. In Racer , Andretti candidly recounts how these powerful forces shaped a diverse professional driving career. The honesty and character that defined Andretti's life offer a behind-the-scenes look at racing at all levels full of lessons in racing and life supplied by this fiery and fiercely competitive driver. John is a wonderful storyteller, and the book is comprised of a series of John's stories as told to bestselling author Jade Gurss ( Beast, In the Red, Driver #8 ). The book opens with John's memories of growing up as a member of auto racing's famous family. His father, Aldo, is the twin brother of Mario Andretti. The book offers an intimate look at the interplay between these two men, and how their intensity and integrity shaped John's life. John was one of the worlds most versatile race car drivers, and Racer includes John's remembrances of scoring wins in the NASCAR Cup series, IndyCar, IMSA sports car racing, and in sprint cars and midgets on dirt ovals across the country. He also tells about his experience winning the 24 Hours of Daytona, competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and even his colorful venture racing an NHRA Top Fuel dragster. The powerful narrative includes John's substantial charity work, and the story of how he contracted colon cancer at age 53 and turned his affliction into a public awareness campaign. Ten percent of the publisher's proceeds from Racer will be donated to Riley Children's Foundation, the fundraising arm of Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health.
- GenresNonfiction
256 pages, Hardcover
Published September 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 26, 2020
Not a literary masterpiece but, instead, an honest, gutsy tale from the heart. Some think John Andretti received special attention and got breaks because of his name. After reading his story, I think he achieved all he did in spite of the name. A courageous man on and off the track and one who recognized the meaning of life. Despite the tragic ending (Andretti wouldn’t think so 😉), I am uplifted by the knowledge of the lives he enhanced through his charitable undertakings. Very inspirational - RIP John.
October 21, 2020
Published by Octane Press in September of 2020.
I thoroughly enjoyed this autobiography because John Andretti was my favorite race car driver - period.
Please excuse a little bit of blogging...
I have watched auto racing for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest memories are going to qualifications for the Indy 500. I have Janet Guthrie's autograph - not realizing when I got it that it was actually an amazing autograph to have. The sound of a single car circling the track with the roar and whine of the engine (it has both sounds at the same time) echoing off of the stands makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. The history at that track cannot be topped by any other venue in the world.
I attended my first NASCAR race at Michigan in 1981 with my father. The spectacle of the whole thing was amazing. It was won by my favorite driver at the time, Richard Petty. In 1986, we went to our first Indy 500 and haven't missed one since (the 2020 race doesn't count since no spectators were allowed due to Covid-19).
John Andretti first came to my attention as the cousin and nephew of his more famous relatives, Michael and Mario Andretti. He was like an also-ran compared to them because he didn't come with fully-funded top-notch rides and I paid him little attention - he had the famous name but I wasn't particularly fond of his cousin Michael Andretti. Michael had a reputation for complaining about everything and everyone. He has gotten much better as an owner and I have to say I am truly a fan of the way he manages his IndyCar teams.
So, when a local Indianapolis radio station started to interview him every week I listened with some serious skepticism. Before long, I found that I had a lot in common with John. We were born in the same hospital (5 years apart) and I live on the West Side of Indy, where he grew up. It became clear that he was much more of a regular guy race car driver than his more famous cousin. Plus, he had a great sense of humor.
Soon enough, his segment became "must listen" radio for me and I became a fan. He started a go-kart race as a joke competition with one of the on-air personalities and raised money for Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis. It became know as the Race for Riley. I attended a few of them as the event grew from just a few thousand dollars to raising hundreds of thousands at a time (almost $5 million at the time this book was published). In fact, a portion of the purchase price of the hardcover edition of this book goes to Race for Riley.
John Andretti really...
Read more at: https://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2020...
I thoroughly enjoyed this autobiography because John Andretti was my favorite race car driver - period.
Please excuse a little bit of blogging...
I have watched auto racing for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest memories are going to qualifications for the Indy 500. I have Janet Guthrie's autograph - not realizing when I got it that it was actually an amazing autograph to have. The sound of a single car circling the track with the roar and whine of the engine (it has both sounds at the same time) echoing off of the stands makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. The history at that track cannot be topped by any other venue in the world.
I attended my first NASCAR race at Michigan in 1981 with my father. The spectacle of the whole thing was amazing. It was won by my favorite driver at the time, Richard Petty. In 1986, we went to our first Indy 500 and haven't missed one since (the 2020 race doesn't count since no spectators were allowed due to Covid-19).
John Andretti first came to my attention as the cousin and nephew of his more famous relatives, Michael and Mario Andretti. He was like an also-ran compared to them because he didn't come with fully-funded top-notch rides and I paid him little attention - he had the famous name but I wasn't particularly fond of his cousin Michael Andretti. Michael had a reputation for complaining about everything and everyone. He has gotten much better as an owner and I have to say I am truly a fan of the way he manages his IndyCar teams.
So, when a local Indianapolis radio station started to interview him every week I listened with some serious skepticism. Before long, I found that I had a lot in common with John. We were born in the same hospital (5 years apart) and I live on the West Side of Indy, where he grew up. It became clear that he was much more of a regular guy race car driver than his more famous cousin. Plus, he had a great sense of humor.
Soon enough, his segment became "must listen" radio for me and I became a fan. He started a go-kart race as a joke competition with one of the on-air personalities and raised money for Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis. It became know as the Race for Riley. I attended a few of them as the event grew from just a few thousand dollars to raising hundreds of thousands at a time (almost $5 million at the time this book was published). In fact, a portion of the purchase price of the hardcover edition of this book goes to Race for Riley.
John Andretti really...
Read more at: https://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2020...
September 2, 2020
I followed motor sports back in the day. I have to say that I've never heard a bad thing about John Andretti. He was a good driver, not great like his uncle or cousin, but good. As a person he seemed to be a champion, a great husband and father. It would have been easy for him to be bitter that he didn't achieve the success level that Mario or Michael did. However he chose to walk his own walk, he was his own person.
This book, I believe, successfully reflects the make up and character of John, as told to author Jade Gurss. Most of the book was a very enjoyable read. The end of the book, was of course, very grim.
Noted Racing commentator and writer Robin Miller called John " The Bravest Andretti" in an article after Johns passing. Pretty much says it all.
Any fan of John's or of auto racing should read this book.
R.I.P. John
This book, I believe, successfully reflects the make up and character of John, as told to author Jade Gurss. Most of the book was a very enjoyable read. The end of the book, was of course, very grim.
Noted Racing commentator and writer Robin Miller called John " The Bravest Andretti" in an article after Johns passing. Pretty much says it all.
Any fan of John's or of auto racing should read this book.
R.I.P. John
September 9, 2020
Fascinating book
The book was hilarious and tragic in one fell swoop. I've never before had such a range of emotions reading a book. This is a book every racing fan should read.
The book was hilarious and tragic in one fell swoop. I've never before had such a range of emotions reading a book. This is a book every racing fan should read.
January 8, 2021
Wonderful tribute and biography of a life well lived
Jade has a knack of being able to immerse his reader in the subject. John, you get the impression, could and probably was a prickly character in his younger days, then, like us all, as time passes he becomes more fully rounded. You feel this through the way Jade presents the subject. Much like Mario, John's "that guy" that gave everything a go - strap him in then he'll work it out. A fascinating ride!
Jade has a knack of being able to immerse his reader in the subject. John, you get the impression, could and probably was a prickly character in his younger days, then, like us all, as time passes he becomes more fully rounded. You feel this through the way Jade presents the subject. Much like Mario, John's "that guy" that gave everything a go - strap him in then he'll work it out. A fascinating ride!
April 9, 2021
One of the best books I’ve read in the past couple years. It was a nice easy read. It felt more like a conversation then a factual “we went there and did this” kinda of nonfiction.
As a IndyCar from growing up in Indiana I knew the Andretti name. But it was always Michael and Mario. I knew of John but not much. This was a great book to learn about him.
As a IndyCar from growing up in Indiana I knew the Andretti name. But it was always Michael and Mario. I knew of John but not much. This was a great book to learn about him.
March 9, 2021
Ok
John is a rock star, but this book was meh. I learned everything about him in the forwards. The rest of the book seemed to be a retelling of what others said in the opening. RIP John.
John is a rock star, but this book was meh. I learned everything about him in the forwards. The rest of the book seemed to be a retelling of what others said in the opening. RIP John.
January 29, 2022
I enjoyed this book. John was an amazing person in his own right. He was always super friendly wherever you saw him weather at Indy or promoting Window World and his son. He was at Window World in Lafayette IN and was very down to earth. He made time for you. He is missed. RIP John❤️
September 12, 2023
I met John Andretti about twenty years ago and always thought he was humble, mild mannered, and talented across many forms of racing. I learned more about him as a competitor and a human being. The last chapters are hard to read but worth it in appreciating his life.
November 23, 2021
Unfortunately not avaliable in audiobook. Great book. The Man. The Racer. The Cancer.
May 5, 2023
A great book! RIP John #CheckItForAndretti
July 2, 2023
A wonder look at the life of John Andretti, the Andretti family, auto racing and his fight with cancer.
October 16, 2025
I'm not crying, theres something in my eye.
November 27, 2020
Great book!
John is an awesome storyteller. The book is honest, raw, and yes fun! The Andretti family I so well liked and the insights in this book show why.
John is an awesome storyteller. The book is honest, raw, and yes fun! The Andretti family I so well liked and the insights in this book show why.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews