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Sports & Recreation Motor Sports

Drag Racing

The World's Fastest Sport

by (author) Timothy Miller

Publisher
Firefly Books
Initial publish date
Sep 2012
Category
Motor Sports
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781554074464
    Publish Date
    Sep 2009
    List Price
    $34.95
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781770850972
    Publish Date
    Sep 2012
    List Price
    $24.95

Classroom Resources

Where to buy it

Description

Essential for drag racing fans and libraries in communities where drag strips draw crowds.
--Library Journal

Gearheads will likely devour this book, but anyone who's ever sat behind a wheel and wondered what it would feel like to floor it will find this cinematic account difficult to put down.
--Publishers Weekly

Once considered the "bad boy" of motorsport, drag racing has evolved into one of the most technically sophisticated and exciting forms of automotive competition. Where at one time it was a sport practiced on deserted roads, today there are almost 400 professional racetracks in North America devoted to competitive drag racing.

This action-packed book reviews the history of the sport from its origins in post-WWII California to the widely respected sport it is today. It explains the differences between car classes, such as Top Fuelers and Funny Cars, Alcohol Cars, Pro Modifieds and Pro Stock, and profiles the sport's pioneers and today's best-known racers.

Drag Racing describes the latest developments in power, speed and racing safety. Consider these remarkable statistics:

  • From a dead stop a Top Fuel Dragster is the fastest-accelerating vehicle in the world and, at full throttle, it consumes the same amount of fuel as a fully loaded Boeing 747.
  • During the launch of a fuel car, the driver sustains close to five Gs of force--more than a space-shuttle astronaut.
  • Today's Pro Modifieds are capable of traveling a quarter mile in less than six seconds at speeds that exceed 240 mph.
  • A competitive NHRA Pro Stock engine produces over 1300 horsepower, and consumes gasoline at a rate of 7.5 gallons per minute.

Dedicated and new fans alike will thrill at the rubber-burning pages of Drag Racing.

About the author

Tim Miller is an automotive journalist and the author of NASCAR Now!, just published in its third edition.

Timothy Miller's profile page

Editorial Reviews

[Review for hardcover edition] Loaded with great photos, a number of which never before published... Tim's book would make a great gift for anyone with even a casual interest in the sport of drag racing... Burn rubber, eat smoke and feel the earth rumble in Drag Racing.

Performance in Motion

[Review for hardcover edition] With graphics and color photos that demonstrate the intricacies of the sport, this book is a great way for the beginner to get acquainted with the different classes of cars and different techniques employed in drag racing. There is also a summary of the history of the sport.

National Speed Sport News

[Review for hardcover edition] Simply fascinating comes to mind when describing the latest book on drag racing... Tim Miller has proven that not all books on drag racing are the same as he explores many elements that often elude other authors. One area of discussion that Evo commends Miller for covering is the achievement and impact of women on the sport. Whether you're just learning about the sport or have been an avid enthusiast for decades Miller's style of writing and awesome photography appeals to the racer in us all.

Evo Street Racers.com

[Review for hardcover edition] Encompasses all aspects of drag racing, from a strong segment on the history of the sport to today's top drivers in the NARA and IHRA. There is a section on all car classes, from Stockers to Top Fuellers, a drag racing "101" primer, which delves into the mechanics of the sport, and chapters dedicated to women in the sport and legends in the sport. The book is profusely illustrated with exciting and colorful photographs. The book also employs a bevy of illustrations of drag racing cars and other items related to the sport presented in a realistic fashion.

draglist.blogspot.com

[Review for hardcover edition] Readers can almost smell the rubber burning in this glossy overview of drag racing.... Not an encyclopedia--it doesn't list titles or records or have an A-Z format--Miller's work provides a chapter-by-chapter introduction to the rules of the sport, the classes, and the drivers, both legendary and contemporary. From an explanation of the iconic "Christmas tree" lights that start a race to a diagram that plots the quarter-mile of a contest, the text is enthusiastic but not fawning. Over 160 photos, mostly color but some vintage black and white, make up half the book. The confusing array of classes--fuel, alcohol, pro modified, pro stock, and sportstman--are explained. Women are especially well represented, in both a separate chapter and in chapters on legends and top drivers.... Essential for drag racing fans and libraries in communities where drag strips draw crowds.

Library Journal