Reviews for Fast Guys, Rich Guys, and Idiots: A Racing Odyssey on the Border of Obsession

The average rating for Fast Guys, Rich Guys, and Idiots: A Racing Odyssey on the Border of Obsession based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2019-06-24 00:00:00 Jay Charles This was the first racing book handed to me. I showed up at a N.A.S.A. (National Autosport Association) meet and greet to find out a little about auto racing and quickly had this book passed down to me. In a nutshell this is the manual on how to go racing on a shoestring budget. This may have been true when it was written. But the racing world is volatile, sanctioning bodies and classes come and go. There are some great tips in here that were valid when I started racing, however, I could do a better job telling you how to do it now in 2019/2020. Read at your own risk and get informed opinions from other low budget racers in series like Chump/Champcar, World Racing League, American Endurance Racing and 24hrs of LeMons. If you want to take anything away from someone who has done it before and spent thousands.... -Get yourself into an endurance class using TW200 tires. -If you can't afford TW200 tires... go TW higher or go used... buy take offs from the rich guys. -Seat time is more valuable than go fast bits. And go fast bits won't make you a better driver. -I REPEAT, GET YOURSELF SOME SEAT TIME BEFORE SPENDING MONEY ON THE CAR. -Any car can be a race car, don't get picky. Your goal is to get out on track, not win races day one. -BUY A USED RACE CAR, You'll bleed yourself dry building up from a $500 chassis... Cages and safety gear are expensive!! -Race cars don't need to be pretty, they just need to work. -YOU don't need to be pretty. Your SAFETY GEAR doesn't need to be pretty, just functional. -You won't get laughed out of the paddock for towing your car with a tow dolly. -You WILL get respect if you drive your race car (and tools) to the track and drive home with it. -At the end of the day, you're here to make friends. Not a career. -Getting out of HPDE is not a race. No one wins at HPDE. You will progress quicker by being proficient in the basics. -Crashing cars or banging up stuff is expensive. DON'T CRASH. -Volunteer for your association! This can lead to a lot of free/discounted track time. -A 32 pack of beer after the racing is over goes a LONG way to building relationships! -Speaking of relationships. Hope your spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend loves you. -No illusions, this shit costs a lot of money. You're gonna go broke and you're gonna like it. -Pay it forward. But don't be afraid to ask for help!

Review # 2 was written on 2014-09-05 00:00:00 DON WILLIAMS I loved the 1908 New York to Paris race and couldn't put the book down. At first, it was tough keeping the cars and drivers straight, but once they left the U.S. the focus was on a few competitors and the road. What a great book about ordinary people (who remained ordinary) pushing themselves to their limits just to say they did something.