The History of Speed
eBook - ePub

The History of Speed

  1. 256 pages
  2. English
  3. ePUB (mobile friendly)
  4. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub

The History of Speed

About this book

'A special treat...The pictures and stories combine to provide a rich texture to telling the difficult story of why we chase speed like an addiction.' Valerie Thompson, the world's fastest female motorcycle racer
Ever since we built machines that could transport us, there has been a desire to find ways to make them go faster. For some, going faster isn't enough - they want to be the fastest. This book celebrates those who have built the machines and driven them at ever greater speeds. This is The History of Speed. Bestselling motorsport writer Martin Roachtells the extraordinary story of those who have come to be obsessed by speed. From Camille Jenatzy, 'the Red Devil', who became the first man to drive at over 100kmh in 1899, through the golden age of Malcolm Campbell and his Bluebird, and on to the modern era of jet- and rocket-propelled cars, we have gone faster and faster. But this book is not just about these record-breakers, Roach also looks at the technology, the engines and the inventors who helped progress in speed at all levels, from Formula One to the supercars from the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes that are eagerly snapped up by collectors, rarely to be seen on the road. Accompanied by some of the most stunning images of the cars and those who made and drove them, Roach tells a wonderful story of innovation and invention. He talks to some of the great drivers to find out what inspires them to risk their lives, and finds out from engineers how they developed their ideas. Along the way, we hear some remarkable tale and anecdotes, but also find out how the pursuit of speed can also have its costs, with many tragic heroes and heroines falling along the way. If you've ever thrilled to the roar of a sports car engine, of loved the feel of the g-force as you accelerate away, or even looked on in wonder at a powerful engine, The History of Speed is a book that you will not want to miss out on.

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Yes, you can access The History of Speed by Martin Roach in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Technology & Engineering & Automotive Transportation & Engineering. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Dedication
  4. Foreword
  5. Author’s Note
  6. Chapter 1: A Pre-History of Speed
  7. Chapter 2: The Birth of the Motor Race and Land Speed Record
  8. Chapter 3: The Speed Kings Gather
  9. Chapter 4: Speed as a Pheromone
  10. Chapter 5: The Bentley Boys and the Bugatti Queen
  11. Chapter 6: The Age of Monsters
  12. Chapter 7: Tempting Fate
  13. Chapter 8: Bonneville
  14. Chapter 9: Speed at War and in Recovery
  15. Chapter 10: Speeding from the Underground
  16. Chapter 11: The Jet Age
  17. Chapter 12: Speed Exotica
  18. Chapter 13: Muscle Mania
  19. Chapter 14: Coffins on Water
  20. Chapter 15: Trickle Down
  21. Chapter 16: The Psychology of Speed
  22. Chapter 17: Top Speed with Top Fuel
  23. Chapter 18: The Gender of Speed
  24. Chapter 19: Hitting the Limiter?
  25. Chapter 20: Salt and Streamliners
  26. Chapter 21: A Mile Every Eleven Seconds
  27. Chapter 22: A Few Facts about Speed
  28. Chapter 23: Into the Line of Fire
  29. Chapter 24: The Future of Speed
  30. Chapter 25: We are Cars
  31. Acknowledgements and Recommended Reading
  32. About the Author
  33. Index
  34. Picture Credits
  35. Copyright