Your New Favorite Source for Racing Books
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Previews and links to buy popular racing books, all in one place.
Racing Books
The racing books category covers a wide range of stories and motorsports for all ages. There are middle school books about cars for those younger in age and even car racing romance books for older adults. "Novels about cars" is a good place to start if you're searching for racing stories you haven't read yet. Usually a book like this tells a story that combines racing with other elements of life like relationships, children, love, or lessons learned. A book series about cars can provide much more than just knowledge about motorsports. It tells a story in a way that allows the reader to learn and appreciate the world of racing.
Although the focus is on a loyal and wise dog, the popular The Art of Racing in the Rain book can be considered a racing book. It is a novel authored by Garth Stein about a dog and his owner, a race car driver by the name of Denny Swift. It takes the reader Denny's life, his family, and their lives as they experience the ups and downs of the racing world. It is an emotional and thought-provoking story that brings to the light the power of love, family, and friendship. The Art of Racing in the rain book summary above is just a preview. If you'd like to learn the full story, be sure to purchase the book or rent it at your nearest library.
Car Racing Books
If you're interested in car racing books and ready to purchase or rent from your nearest library, consider which type of sport and story you'd enjoy most. There are books about street racing that show a side of motorsports not usually featured on television.
Many new racing books feature Formula One and its rising popularity with young motorsport fans. "The Mechanic's Tale: Life in the Pit-Lanes for Formula One" and "The Chariot Makers: Assembling the Perfect Formula 1 Car" are books both authored by Steve Matchett and provide a great behind-the-scenes look with the sport. Perry McCarthy's "Flat Out, Flat Broke: Formula 1 the Hard Way!" book and Max Mosley's "Formula One and Beyond: The Autobiography" are also great books to add to your Formula One books list.
Where can you find racing books for sale? There are a few options available based on what's most convenient for your lifestyle. If you're an online shopper and already have an account with Amazon, this might be the best place to start. Barnes & Noble is also a good source of racing novels and different stories about motorsports. Looking for older motor racing books for sale? Check out your local library. They won't sell you the book but you will at least have the opportunity to read it and determine if you want to purchase it or not from a store or online.
Best Racing Books
The best racing books for kids include a fun storyline with education or lessons learned. It can teach children about the excitement of racing and how it helps us become better people. "Racing Cars: An Introduction for Young Readers" by Clint Twist is among the best motoring books for children. It provides an introduction to different types of cars and explains how they work. It is also filled with colorful illustrations to keep your child entertained and wanting to learn more. "Speedway Switch" by Chris Rumble is also a great book. The story focuses on a young boy who dreams of becoming a race car driver. He learns life lessons and determination and hard work as he prepares to compete in a big race.
Stories and books about horse racing also provide fun entertainment and education for kids. "Come On, Seabiscuit!" is one of the best horse racing books for kids as it tells the story of a famous racehorse and his underdog path to victory and fame. "Little Black, a Pony" is another great book that is authored by Walter Farley and tells the story of a small, black pony who has dreams of becoming a successful racehorse.
If you need a source for the best books about racing cars, check out Coastal 181 Publishing. This company's specialty and focus is on the history of motorsports and was founded in 2000 by Lew Boyd, who is a former journalist and race car driver. Coastal 181 has published books on the history of specific racing teams and drivers. One cool feature of their website is the Coastal 181 photo of the day. Fans and website visitors can submit their own photo to be featured by emailing info@coastal181.com. A list of all previous photos of the day can also be found on the Coastal 181 website.
Here's a list of their most popular books published:
"Jalopy Wars: Wrecks to Riches"
"Hot Rodding in Ventura County"
"The American Racing Road 1948-1950"
"Lost Race Tracks: Treasures of Automobile Racing"
Car Racing Books Fiction
Once your child gets a little older and is interested in longer stories or novels, they might be interested in fiction books about racing. Fiction books include imaginary stories, events, and characters. Sometimes these stories can be based on real-life people or events, but the author creates a new plot or story around them. There are many great fiction books about racing both in the horse racing category and car racing category.
Horse racing fiction books focus on the jockey, horse, or lifestyle of horse racing in general. These stories provide readers a look into the world that leads up to the big race. This includes the work that goes into it, the emotions, the ups, the downs, and the sweet feeling of victory. "War Horse" by Michael Morpurgo is a fantastic novel about a horse named Joey and it takes place during World War I. The book guides the reader through his different experiences with multiple owners, including the army. "Lord of Misrule" by Jaimy Gordon is also a fascinating read. It follows the lifestyle of jockeys and horse trainers at a rundown racetrack located somewhere in West Virginia.
Much like the stories above, car racing fiction books also combine storytelling with racing education. They allow the reader to see a certain perspective through a specific character or characters, and learn more about racing along the way. "The Speed Merchants" by Michael Keyser is a perfect example of this as this book guides readers through the experiences of two race car drivers as they compete in endurance races. "Days of Thunder" by Robert Souza is also another great example of this and a worthwhile read.
Dirt Track Racing Books
The National Association for Stock Car Racing, better known as NASCAR, is the most popular organization for stock car racing. This sport brings fans excitement every week during the season as drivers battle it out for race victories and an overall series championship. Along with the merchandise, movies, and other NASCAR items fans love to buy, books are also popular. Whether it be "The Last Race" authored by Eric Arnesen or "Dale: The Autobiography" by Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR fans have plenty of good book options to choose from.
If you're searching for stock car racing near me but your home isn't located close to a major track, you might instead try dirt car races near me and check out a local racetrack. Many small towns across the United States have dirt tracks and races that feature local drivers. It's a great way to support up-and-coming drivers and the local economy. It's a style of racing that includes an oval track covered in clay or dirt. Cars for dirt track racing have softer suspensions and oftentimes higher ride height. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is a popular organization within dirt track racing. Just like with horse racing and NASCAR, dirt racing books are also popular. "Slidejob: Racing Around the Dirt Circuit" is a popular book by Ray Beadle that offers fans a great introduction to this sport. "Dirt Track Speedsters: The Story of Racing Legends" is also a popular read amongst dirt track racing fans.
Sprint Car Racing Books
Sprint car racing is another exciting category of motorsports where you can expect speed and excitement. Drivers are in winged cars that race on short, oval dirt tracks. These cars are unique because they included a large wing located on top of the car, which generates downforce and allows the car to corner with speed. The United States Auto Club is a popular organization within sprint car racing.
Sprint car toys are a hit with younger children and you'll find sprint car gifts for older ages too. From LEGO sets to posters, there is a souvenir for everyone that represents the joy fans experience with this sport. If you search for sprint car racing near me and can't find a track in your city or hometown, ordering sprint car collectibles can be the next best thing to seeing it live. Sprint car racing memorabilia is popular for these fans and there are plenty of good options for sprint car racing books. "Sprint Car Racing: America's Sport" is a book authored by Lew Boyd that provides good information about the sport. "Sprint Car Racing: Unleashing the Power" by Steve Smith is also worth renting or buying if you enjoy books about sprint car racing.
