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This digital document is an article from Risk & Insurance, published by Axon Group on August 1, 2004. The length of the article is 1037 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: A ripened talent: a farm boy from Minnesota with a passion for autocross finds himself in charge of risk management for an agribusiness conglomerate. His journey has taught him that managing risks in the tomato industry is no small potatoes.(Profile)
Author: Mindy Toran
Publication: Risk & Insurance (Magazine/Journal)
Date: August 1, 2004
Publisher: Axon Group
Volume: 15Issue: 9Page: 49(1)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Product Description
Suspension Basics - Custom Suspension Components - Understanding Terminology - The Braking System - Choosing Tires & Wheels - Torsion Bar Technology ... Read more

Product Description
Expert Techniques for Autocross and Time Trials. Hands-on info for racing and car prepping. Lists clubs, tracks, rules and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

An excellent book on fundamentals of high performance driving
Well organized and presented, compactly written, and with information that addresses the needs and anxieties of novice level drivers, while also providing gems of understanding and perspective that can help advanced drivers, this is a book that is not only a good read, but a valuable reference work for those who want to know what is important to learn and master to be an expert performance driver, and for those who already know to be reminded lest they forget!I cannot imagine a motorsports library for a 'driver' that does not have this book. The focus on safety and preparation is particularly notable, and important.It may have been written more than 20 years ago, but as the laws of physics have not changed, neither has the value of the perspectives and insights in this book diminished. Once you have learned what is presented in this book you will be well positioned to enjoy high performance driving, competitive autocross or time trials, or move into wheel to wheel racing events should that be your desire.

Good resource for beginning or novice drivers.
I wish I would have read this book before my first Autocross. Would have saved me a lot of confusion at the beginning of the season. Not only does the writer define and examine solo driving skills but he also gives great insight to the operational procedures at the course. It was very helpful in defining the terms associated with solo racing. Well worth the cost. I'll be re-reading this book again before next racing season.

Hard to read
This book teaches you a lot of good techniques in motorsport.
But one thing that I dont like from this book is that it's little bit harder to read than other books I have read.

Should be on the desk of every Autocross racer
I am not an autocross expert, but I purchased this book as a gift for someone who is an award winning autocross racer. He told me that this is the best book he's ever read on the sport and that it provides extremely practical and useful advice.

There are not many books for autocross racers on the market but the valuable tips in this book make up for that. I would say that if someone who is already successful on the amateur autocross racing circuit feels the book is helpful, it is a good buy(and trust me, this guy is not easily impressed!).

Pass it up
First off, racing is door to door and wheel to wheel.Solo or autocrossing is not racing.Fun with cars, yes.But not racing.

This booklet is a waste of paper.It's for the guy who wants to talk about autocrossing to other people who've never done it and never will.No organization, stick figure drawings, stuffed full of "job descriptions" for working at an autocross with no usefulness except upping the page count.The "modifications" section is worthless.

He talks of "weight transfer" when he really means inertia loading.He attributes cornering forces to the mythical "centrifugal force" and talks of your body being forced outward, when it's the car accelerating towards the center of the circle.

The first chapter of Skip Barber's "Faster" has more useful information than this entire book.

Oh yes, no "secrets" are revealed.
... Read more

Product Description
Do you ever dream of racing? If you have the desire to drive in wheel-to-wheel road racing events, but do not know how to make this sport a reality, this book is a must-read. "Go Ahead - Take the Wheel" describes the process for you to easily get off the sidelines and begin participating in motorsports from autocrossing, high performance driving events, time trials, to wheel-to-wheel club racing. Have you ever wondered exactly how much it will cost to participate in these various forms of racing? This book actually lays it all out with actual costs, what's needed versus items that would be "nice to have", and various budgets. In this book you will learn how to: Race on your budget - from economy to extravagant; maximize "seat time" - get the most racing for your buck (including free track time!); modify your car to produce the greatest amount of gains; overcome the most common obstacles; gain racing experience before you have a racecar; build your own racecar on a realistic budget; become a front-running driver. Not only is this book extremely informative, it's also fun to read. So stop watching & start racing! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Solid and practical "how to" advice for someone interested in getting involved in motorsport
This book fits a very practical need for the motorsports enthusiast who wants to get involved in motorsport with their own car, and needs to learn and understand what it involves in terms of money and preparation.Most books in this niche space address "how" to drive.This book addresses how to prepare to get your car and yourself in a position where you "can" drive.For the uninitiated that can be initimidating enough to keep them from even trying.Mr. Gran's book takes all of that away as an excuse to not give it a try, and in an infectiously enthusiastic and joyful exhuberance shared openly by someone who has learned a lot, and generously shares it.There isn't another book at this time that serves this purpose exclusively, or any part of another book that does it as well.Knowing what you will be getting into and how to measure it will allow the reader to make an informed decision on whether this is something they can responsibly embrace on their budget.While the book helps prepare to engage in wheel to wheel racing programs with proper event sanctioning sponsors, much of it is equally applicable to the growing number of HPDE and time attack drivers, who can benefit from Mr. Gran's insights and advice.

Very Informative.
I hope to put this to good use. Really opens your eyes to things as far as not spending money on things you can't or are not allowed to need.

Liked it.
Liked it overall. Good section on safety tells racing no worse than parachuting, hang gliding, and sky diving. Convinced me that I might be better with an arrive-and-drive deal rather than prepping my own car. If you like prepping your own he tells you what is important

Invaluable - great introduction, will save you a fortune of money!
Dave's book is great. I read it when I started getting into motor sports this season, and it was a fantastic guide into getting one's feet wet at autocrosses, then move on to performance driving schools, and I will use it to move on into club racing.

I met Dave at a driving school where he was my instructor; he is a great guy, experienced and very supportive, interested in sharingwhat he knows to help a newbie get on the track.

What's important is how this book saves you a fortune. Dave tells you what you need and don't need to get started: every beginner, including myself, would probably first spend a ton of money on car performance and racing-related items, maybe even a fast car. Not only is much of that unnecessary, much of it may even not be allowed in sanctioned competitive events. The book tells you what forms of racing and classes there are and what you need to do to compete. It is also a good starting point with web links etc. to get further information.

There is just a ton of advice from someone who went through every stage of club racing himself and knows first-hand what issues will come up if you choose to race, on and off the track. It's even funny!

If you want to get started with racing, or are even just pondering the idea, this book will be the best few dollars you ever spent.

Got to read this one
This is one of those books with a literal title and a book that I cannot refrain from recommending strongly. If you have any interest in auto racing (and, really, who shouldn't?) this is the book you want to read first, no matter what kind of race cars you daydream of. With a direct language, a captivating prose and a hearty, contagious enthusiasm, Dave Gran details all the steps basically anyone can take to be able to start a racing adventure and to begin to enjoy the thrills of speed and automotive competition on a budget most people will be able to afford. Although it may appear to be impossibility to most (it certainly did seem impossible to me until very recently), Dave's point is in fact correct: yes you can - get into your own race car! The book is chockfull of useful, current and detailed practical advice which I have found to be accurate. I only wish I had read it a few years back. ... Read more

Product Description
He began his career as a dyslexic accountant.He keeps a low profile and dislikes publicity. And he's set to become the world's best-known name in the business of motor sport. Meet David Richards, the quintessential driven man. This book is the first to tell Richards' life story, from an unlikely beginning to the even-less-likely present: a real shot at world racing domination. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Driven Man: David Richards
As a biography on David Richards the man this book fails miserably, it's more of a biography about Prodrive the Company than it is about David Richards.There is very little by way of background about how David Richards thinks, runs his buisness nor indeed how he really got to where he is today.To sum the book up in one word - for me that word is - disappointing.

Good but not great
I would give this 3.75 stars if I could but 4 isn't unfair.

As the title would suggest, this was a semi-biographical work about David Richards in his role as head of Prodrive, probably the most successful independent racing company in the world.It follows him from his early rallying days and the foundation of the company through to the various race programs Prodrive had with different manufacturers over the years culminating in the current Aston Martin DBR9 program.

My problem with the book is that it didn't have much technical depth.Neither in the cars Prodrive built or how exactly it was that Richards was a "shrewd businessman" or conducted operations wih tight restrictions on cost.I would have liked to see how the business actually operated and I would've loved to see more detail about the cars.The Unfair Advantage (Mark Donahue) had some of this detail I was searching for.

As it is, this book feels like the work of an undergraduate student.A good account of the Prodrive organization but not a whole lot of insight on the why's and how's.Perhaps its because they've done so many programs that it would be difficult for the author to fit that kind of information in one tome.I also must admit that I am probably on the lunatic fringe of racing aficionados so someone who is not quite as hardcore might enjoy this book more.

So in short, not bad, but like a tasty meal in too small a portion I was left wanting more. ... Read more