Mario Andretti – A Driving Passion
By Gordon Kirby
If you excessively break the speed limit – almost anywhere in the world – chances are good that as you roll down the window the officer will ask you, “Who do you think you are, Mario Andretti?” Without exaggeration, there is perhaps no other driver, throughout the history of motorsport that has achieved this level of fame and notoriety – and with good reason. With four USAC/CART championships, a Formula One World Championship and victories at the Indy 500, Daytona 500, 12-Hours of Sebring and even the Pike’s Peak hill climb, Mario Andretti has proved to be both one of the most successful and versatile drivers ever to take to the track (or dirt).
With this unprecedented level of success, it seems remarkable that it has taken this long for someone to come up with a truly comprehensive and insightful look at Mario’s life and career. But this is exactly what author Gordon Kirby has done, weaving Mario’s life story together with interviews, not only from the man himself, but also the family, friends, drivers and teams that helped him along the way.
In addition to the beautiful, large format design of this 250-page book, one of the more satisfying aspects of “Mario Andretti: A Driving Passion” is the depth to which it goes into Mario’s background and personal life to explain his racing accomplishments. From growing up under the terror and oppression of Nazi rule during World War II, to the incredible stress that a full-time career as a racing driver can have on a young family, Kirby does an excellent job of setting the psychological stage from which Mario has lived his remarkable life.
With excellent color photos and memorabilia from Mario’s personal collection on every page, this book is a must-have and a great value at $29.95 (soft cover), $49.95 (hardcover) or $149.95 for a special Publisher’s Edition that includes 48 extra pages of personal photos and memorabilia. Available directly from David Bull Publishing at (800) 831-1758.
