Reading Around

Expanding on my current Formula One focus, due to my degree work.

The book I've been reading today, Formula One Fanatic by Koen Vergeer, has amazed me. I wasn't expecting to be woken up again like I was last week when I started reading Murray Walker's Autobiography. So I guess it would be a good idea to discuss both!

First, Formula One Fanatic: (Review F1fanatic.co.uk -Ironically.)
While flicking through trying to come across discussions relevant to my assignment, I stumbled across some paragraphs that had incredible insight and thought behind them - even if the language is a little bit too descriptive. I was a little shocked to find the topic of women and sex in F1 covered, but delighted none-the-less.
Here is a different spin on the sport! Vergeer has thrown out there some topics that aren't always reported on, no matter how obvious they seem to be.

Commentator Murray Walker's Autobiography: Unless I'm Very Much Mistaken, I've found incredibly relevant to me in a parallel way. Walker spent many years at the top of his game, commentating on Formula One and becoming a well known and loved personality.
I just can't get over how relevant this book is to me and why the hell Dad didn't tell me to read the damn thing! Let's quickly look at a couple of things...

• "Regardless of what else he did with his life, motor sport was Murray's passion from a young age and once he'd realised he wasn't good enough to compete at the top level, he threw himself into commentating with enthusiasm." - Review
• Check. I realised I would never get to compete in rallying at a high level in about fifth or sixth form. Then when I stumbled across journalism while deciding what to do with my life - I knew it fit: Rally Journalist. Now there was something I could get to the top (WRC) with. It has been my utter passion ever since, this blog, my Facebook page, the contents of my house, everything backs this up!
• Murray got into racing through his father's passion. (Not that this is uncommon, most motor-sport enthusiasts and professionals are born through family connections)
• Check. Dad's a mechanic who rallied in the 80's, and, when I was 13 years old, he got back into it with the purchase of an old Datsun Sunny - which was passed to me and I began competing in club events not long before my 14th birthday.

Not only are there these two very obvious things, but the book is just so damn interesting! I find myself comparing and contrasting the insider information of Murray Walker's to my knowledge of the current WRC. Things like the availability of drivers, F1 being very cut-off now-a-days, drivers only available with prior appointment and hardly ever seen in public. Whereas here in NZ, it's not uncommon to see the WRC drivers out before and after Rally NZ and they are very accessible and easy to talk to.

More discoveries when I discover them!

Loving my new slogan:

Taking motor-sport, and flicking the thing sideways.