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Title: Porsche High-Performance Driving Handbook by Vic Elford ISBN: 0879388498 Publisher: Motorbooks International Pub. Date: February, 1994 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $21.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4
Rating: 5
Summary: Wild driving!!!
Comment: I don't think I'll ever drive my Porsche as enthusiatically as the author has done, but I really enjoyed the explanations of the 911's abilities. A good book for days when you can't get out in your own car.
Rating: 4
Summary: Good Book, But May Not Be What You Expect.
Comment: Perhaps the most unnoticed word by readers in the title is "handbook", yet in fairness the opportunity for more development in "High Performance Driving" is noticable. "Porsche High Performance Driving Handbook" is a good and interesting combination of light biography and driving skill conveyed in user friendly terminology. Porsche owner or not, it is a fine book but not proportioned in content as the title may imply which may leave many feeling a little left out.
If you have any range of experience in the "art" of handling a Porsche on the race track, club circuit scene or an owner who's a serious student of the marquis, I doubt this book is going to teach you anything you don't already know.(although who knows)
For others of us Porsche owners who are relatively unlearned and maybe want to make some improvements in our driving skills, there could be a thing or two that the amazing and versitile Vic Elford can teach us. Think of this book as some notes for beginners straight from the Porsche Owners Driving School.
The credibility of this book is squarely on Vic Elford, if you haven't heard the name before like myself prior to owning this book, you will discover that he is one of the very best in the business. Vic's biography is as interesting as it is impressive. The creators of this book did a good job of balancing whatever technical information is offered with Vic Elford's profile and would have probably received a better reception had the title been different...maybe "Vic Elford & Basic High Performing Driving Tips", but hey, that's mere speculation.
As accomplished as Vic is, I wish that his story came in a separate book in greater detail and more space was devoted to making this book to what the title infers. The techincal content is quite diversified, pragmatic and of good quality but more creativity with visual aids could have helped to cement the concepts into the thinking of the reader. Although the information is excellent, not seeing this teaching in action is an impediment because some of what is taught can be used on the parkway or highway as well as the track.
The editing job is not to be overlooked! it's really top notch. Some may critique the content for not being more techincal, but to be fair, when Vic is being technical he isn't talking down at you either. Kudos for taking subject matter such as this and offering a clear and intelligent explanation for a common person to understand.
Case in point, in Chapter 4 on Cars, Vic talks about "Handling and Pivot Points" in relation to the behavior (what the cars tendencies are in relation to handling)of different Porsche models and the location of engine(rear engine, mid engine, etc.) and the related "pivot" point. Vic offers a simple and effective definition of "pivot" point related to engine location then moves into his dissertation. Again the emphasis is more for the casual driver.
However, moving into an area where a visual aid relative to the subject matter would have made better use of space, a relative photo would have been good. I realize there's an effort to maintain a spirit of interest and diversity by showcasing different models just for the heck of it, but I'll illustrate what I mean about a better use the photo space. Referring back in the "pivot" points area, what an opportunity for photo's of a professional or a untrained driver attacking a corner emphasizing the "pivot" point effects in a 944 (front engine), 914 (mid engine) and a 911 (rear engine) so maybe (or maybe not) it curbs my inkling to spin my Porsche at my local gorcery store parking lot at 2 a.m. to test "pivot" points and the effects of handling (The teenage kids will think it's cool, I doubt the cops will though). Meanwhile, in my book there's a pic of a 968 on the opposite page that isn't relative to anything in the text. Speaking of photo's and this could be from the "digital picture" perspective but these photo's aren't the worlds best. I know some of these pic are older and from a different era of photo taking technology so I'm not trying to be unrealistic, but this is the perfect segway concerning revision.
This book should be revised because there's not many out there like this. (There are many books in a specialized and professional school of performance driving, but I refer to books in this specific niche.) The purpose for the revision would be simply because of newer models, changing technology, advancements in bettering older models with third party products and better photography. This would be a great enterprise for someone to undertake, a Porsche Owners Driving School via correspondence of sorts. Until a revision of this fine book comes along, this will have to do.
Make no mistake that this is a good book. However, for high performance driving technique there are better books. I don't want to sound negative or hammer this book because for what it is, it really is quite good.
Vic is quite knowledgible! He's got all the creditentials and experience in the world so it leaves little wonder that the list of his students reads like a who's who. Boy, what one could learn from someone like Vic one on one!
Rating: 5
Summary: A Great Driving Book with LOTS of interesting stories
Comment: Okay so I don't have a Porsche. I'm comfortable with that fact, and I'm not made at people who have one unlike other reviewers of this book. And what's up with going on and on slamming the rich people? If you a true racing fan and more specifically a rally fan you'll love this book. Like the title says, which other reviewers seem to forget, it is a HIGH-PERFORMANCE driving book that just happens to be done in Porsches. The author explains in easy to understand terms the principles of race and rally car vehicle dynamics and techniques to maximize these principles. He will present a topic maybe say maximum braking on various types of conditions, explain the techniques and the theory, and then tell some great story about his rally or race days which shows you a real-world application of what he was talking about. I bought this book a long time ago, lost it, and now have bought it again. It is one of my favorites both for its great stories, pictures (Vic got a 917 so sideways at Le Mans in the rain its a wonder he didn't crash it), and the basic principles that it conveys simply and effectively. This is a great beginners book on how to drive fast, and a great rally fans book with its stories. If you understand what this book is saying, and I guaruntee you will drive better and faster.
Just remember the other guys are just jealous.
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Title: Porsche 911 Performance Handbook (Performance Handbook Series) by Bruce Anderson ISBN: 076030033X Publisher: Motorbooks International Pub. Date: January, 1997 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Porsche 911 Red Book: 19651999 (Red Books) by Patrick C. Paternie ISBN: 0760307237 Publisher: Motorbooks International Pub. Date: August, 2000 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: 101 Projects for Your Porsche 911 1965-1989 by Wayne R. Dempsey ISBN: 0760308535 Publisher: Motorbooks International Pub. Date: 15 June, 2001 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
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Title: Porsche 911 Story by Paul Frere ISBN: 1859608396 Publisher: Motorbooks International Pub. Date: December, 2002 List Price(USD): $34.95 |
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Title: Original Porsche 911: The Guide to All Production Models 1963-98 by Peter Morgan, John Colley, Mark Hughes ISBN: 1901432165 Publisher: Motorbooks International Pub. Date: July, 1998 List Price(USD): $34.95 |
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