Auto Racing: A History of Fast Cars and Fearless Drivers (The Watts History of Sports)

Grade 5-9-The rather pedestrian appearance of this book may be off-putting to some potential readers, but those that get beyond the format will find a lively, well-written text loaded with exciting, amusing anecdotes as well as historical information. From Count Jules de Dion, winner of the first official race for motor cars in 1887 (he was the only entrant) to cracking the 300 mph barrier in Top Fuel drag racing in the 1990s, Stewart presents a global look at humankind's love affair with the internal-combustion engine, particularly as it relates to speed, daring, endurance, and racing techniques and technology. This book is more detailed than John Wukovits's The Composite Guide to Auto Racing (Chelsea, 1999) or Jon Kirkwood's The Fantastic Book of Car Racing (Copper Beech, 1997). It's unfortunate that there's so little color and pizzazz on the cover and in the illustrations to lure reluctant readers to the pleasures that the readable text, time line, and statistics offer.
Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
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