Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari, and Their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans
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| Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari, and Their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Product Description
By the early 1960s, the Ford Motor Company, built to bring automobile transportation to the masses, was falling behind. Young Henry Ford II, who had taken the reins of his grandfather’s company with little business experience to speak of, knew he had to do something to shake things up. Baby boomers were taking to the road in droves, looking for speed not safety, style not comfort. Meanwhile, Enzo Ferrari, whose cars epitomized style, lorded it over the European racing scene. He crafted beautiful sports cars, "science fiction on wheels," but was also called "the Assassin" because so many drivers perished while racing them. Go Like Hell tells the remarkable story of how Henry Ford II, with the help of a young visionary named Lee Iacocca and a former racing champion turned engineer, Carroll Shelby, concocted a scheme to reinvent the Ford company. They would enter the high-stakes world of European car racing, where an adventurous few threw safety and sanity to the wind. They would design, build, and race a car that could beat Ferrari at his own game at the most prestigious and brutal race in the world, something no American car had ever done. Go Like Hell transports readers to a risk-filled, glorious time in this brilliant portrait of a rivalry between two industrialists, the cars they built, and the "pilots" who would drive them to victory, or doom. A Q&A with Go Like Hell author A.J. Baime  Question: What are you saying in your book that hasn't been said before?Answer: No one has ever successfully written a book about cars and racing that can be easily enjoyed by someone who doesn't know a thing about cars and racing. My book accomplishes this. At the same time, reviewers who have studied this automotive era for decades have read the book and told me they were shocked to learn many things they didn't know. Specifically, no one has ever written about this story with such a focus on the business side: why it happened in the first place, how Henry Ford II had a vision to create the first pan-European auto company in the 1960s, selling Ford cars from London to the border of Russia. How could he prove that his American cars were the best in the world and that Europeans should buy them? By winning Le Mans. There's a whole foundation to this story that I've never seen fully explored elsewhere. Q: How did you do your research? A: For starters, I did dozens of interviews: Carroll Shelby, Lee Iacocca, Phil Hill, Mario Andretti, A. J. Foyt, Dan Gurney, John Surtees, Edsel Ford II (son of Henry Ford II), Piero Ferrari (son of Enzo Ferrari), Lloyd Ruby, plus engineers, mechanics, PR men, executives, and on and on. I conducted interviews in Italy, France, England, Los Angeles, and Florida, plus countless others over the phone from my office in New York. On top of the interviews, I read everything ever written on the subject, and I saw every bit of footage, which was a particularly good source for dialogue. In some cases, I took fast cars onto racetracks, such as Daytona and Ford's Romeo test facility north of Detroit, to try to get further into the heads of the drivers during scenes that take place at these locales. Q: Any highlights during your research? A: My interview with Carroll Shelby. Afterward, he drove me from his office in Gardena, California, to the Long Beach airport. The guy was getting on in years, and his vision was fading. But we were passing car after car on I-405 in a Mustang GT-H, which has ridiculous amounts of horsepower. We're talking about a guy who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans wearing chicken farmer overalls in 1959. Nearly fifty years later, he can't see much, but he can still drive. Q: Why is this topical now? A: What's happening in the American auto industry today is just stunning. My book is in large part about Detroit at the dawn of globalism. It's kind of like the first chapter in a long narrative that is now reaching its climax. In the 1960s, when the global car sales race began, Detroit was battling against German, British, and Japanese companies for the first time. Ford sold cars by proving on the racetrack they were better than anyone else's. We won in heroic fashion in the 1960s. We’re not winning anymore (Photo © Timpthy White) |
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| 08-12-09 | 4 | (NA) |
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"Go Like Hell", though imperfectly written/edited, is a fantastic read - especially for those who lived through that era of motorsports. A.J.Baime fleshes out the players on the scene as others before him have failed to do.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2009-08-14 09:45:51 EST)
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| 08-12-09 | 5 | (NA) |
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Wonderful book. Thoroughly researched. Well written. Brought back a flood of memories as well as adding new insights into these events. Very revealing of the personalities involved.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2009-08-14 09:45:51 EST)
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| 08-11-09 | 5 | (NA) |
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Nicely written book that details a competitive engagement between the Ford Motor Company and Ferrari. This book will give a retrospective of a challenge that will probably never be repeated given the state of the American (USA) auto industry.
Worth the read for anyone who has an interest in American manufacturing know-how way back in the days when we actually made something in this country... (Review Data Last Updated: 2009-08-14 09:45:51 EST)
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| 08-02-09 | 5 | (NA) |
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This is the best overall complete story of the Ferrari-Ford battles of the 1960s that I have read. It does not include much detail on the '67 season and the '68-'69 J.W.E efforts, but it covers the origins and years through '66 wonderfully. Especially good are the portraits of Henry Ford II, Enzo Ferrari, Phil Hill, John Surtees, Ken Miles, and Carroll Shelby. Other characters, like John Wyer and Bruce McLaren are well drawn. Baime also describes the industry environment pretty well. When people ask me to list the best books on this era, I name Levine's "Dust and Glory", Wyer's "The Certain Sound", Horseman's "Racing In The Rain", Evan's "Ken Miles", my book, Friedman's "Ford GT-40", Cahier's "Pit Stops" and now Baime's book. Nice job and worth the read for anyone who loves the sport or enjoys exciting (and true) stories.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2009-08-13 16:22:07 EST)
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| 07-31-09 | 3 | (NA) |
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With great anticipation I ordered Go Like Hell to read over a recent vacation. The reviews of the book were overwhelmingly positive both at Amazon and in the Wall Street Journal so when the book arrived I jumped right in. I found the subject fascinating. I didn't know anything about LeMans, Henry Ford II, or Enzo Ferrari. I knew something of Carroll Shelby, but not his involvement in the LeMans era.
After reading the first few chapters, though, I noticed that I had to re-read some sections of the text. It was a little perplexing until I figured it out. The author's writing style, if it could be called a style, was a combination of formal, informal, and slang. He wasn't able to sustain a consistent voice in the narrative which made the made the story choppy. He was trying too hard to be witty and his tongue in cheek comments only detracted from a great story. Aside from that, the book was pretty good. By the time you finish it you'll know quite a bit about a famous race and famous racers. (Review Data Last Updated: 2009-08-03 13:17:43 EST)
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| 07-31-09 | 2 | (NA) |
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If you like the subject.There is a much better book out there,called FORD: The Dust and The Glory.A Racing History,By Leo Levine.Coptright 1969 by the Macmillan company.It is a 630 page detailed account of the history of Ford racing. (Review Data Last Updated: 2009-08-03 13:17:43 EST)
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| 07-31-09 | 5 | (NA) |
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I read this book in two days, couldn't put it down. The characters are all
amazing larger than life figures. If you like a good underdog story, this one's for you. Don't think twice, just click "buy." (Review Data Last Updated: 2009-08-03 13:17:43 EST)
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| 07-25-09 | 3 | 2\2 |
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Several readers have already commented about the glaring mistake of Marco Andretti being Mario Andretti's third son but this makes me wonder what else may be inaccurate in the book. That is inexcusable. Also why the title "Go Like Hell"? It was an OK book, not sure why it received so many five star reviews.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2009-08-02 03:10:31 EST)
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| 07-21-09 | 5 | (NA) |
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This is the very insightful and entertaining story of two completely different ways to look at cars, races, the world and life in the 60s.
On one side, the italians led by Enzo Ferrari with his boutique car company; cranking out the most beautiful and powerful racing cars of the 60s. On the other side, american engineering at its best, led by Henry Ford II on a mission to win at Le Mans armed with amazing determination and vast resources. The book is some much fun and so interesting on many different levels. It's the human story and sometimes drama of Ferrari, Ford, Shelby, McLaren and many others who shaped the world of car racing. It's the story of Italy and the US in the 60s, a story of culture clash and coming together at once. A story of brilliant cars and incredible drivers. AJ Baime will keep you reading into the wee hours even if you don't care about cars at all. If you're reading just one book this summer, Go Like Hell should be it. (Review Data Last Updated: 2009-07-27 16:18:12 EST)
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| 07-18-09 | 4 | (NA) |
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Excellent book - an interesting read. The business competition and corporate intrigue seem more like something Hollywood might create rather than "real world." Fortunately, it finally comes down to auto racing and "cubic money" trumps old world design.
Highly recommended! (Review Data Last Updated: 2009-07-27 16:18:12 EST)
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| 07-14-09 | 5 | (NA) |
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I read the exerpts of Go Like Hell in Playboy. (See, someone reads the articles) I imeadiately placed my order on Amazon and received it shortly after it was released. This is a very well written history of the golden age of motor racing. But most of all it is great read for anyone with even a passing interest in American industry and the road it has followed after the zenith reached by Ford at LeMans and on racetracks around the world. Men driven by passion like Enzo Ferrari and Henry Ford II have been replaced by beancounters and lawyers as the auto industry crumbles under unions and government regulation. But in those few years in the sixties Ford put the American automobile at the top of the world order. We will never see such a statement again from Detroit.
I would reccomend this book to anyone with a sense of history and memories of when we were the world leader in technology and manufacturing. (Review Data Last Updated: 2009-07-19 02:12:15 EST)
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| 07-11-09 | 5 | (NA) |
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I heard AJ Baime interviewed on our Baton Rouge public radio station and although I primarily read American history and biographies I decided to order the book. I could not put it down, finishing in two days. This is a great American history story full of excitement and insight about American will and ingenuity! I loved it!
(Review Data Last Updated: 2009-07-18 11:16:34 EST)
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| 07-05-09 | 5 | (NA) |
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Finally, a book about auto racing that won't let the reader put it down. This one sets the bar for all of the rest. The other reviewers have described what its about, so I won't repeat. But just the look at the machiavellian politics inside Ferrari's team is jaw - dropping. And when Carroll Shelby sets up a scholarship in Ken Miles name, you'll want to reach into your pocket to help.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2009-07-12 11:22:07 EST)
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| 07-05-09 | 5 | (NA) |
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This book is the reason why I neglected my family over the 4th of July holiday! What an insightful and exciting read. I do miss the days when motor racing was more about racing and less about marketing. The versability of Jim Clark and Dan Gurney in an Indianapolis car and John Surtees riding the hell on two or four wheels is something we regrettibly will not see with today's crop of racers. The poignant portrayals of Phil Hill and and Ken Miles are particularly effective. Overall, a sparkling and highly recommended read.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2009-07-12 11:22:07 EST)
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| 07-04-09 | 5 | (NA) |
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When I was a kid my friends rooted for the Yankees or the Football Giants etc,I rooted for anything that said POWERED BY FORD. I learned that when my dad took me to Lime Rock Park in the early 60's to see the factory Cobras destroy the Corvettes in the AP race.
I remember the live broadcasts on ABC's Wide World Of Sports of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but never knew the real inside story of how difficult it was to beat Enzo at his game. This book was to be my beach reader.It never got near the beach. I literally could not put it down.It lasted two days.You will learn more about The Deuce,Enzo,Shelby,the drivers and the bit players than any other book I've read. I could do without pg 251, But nothing is perfect.Buy it! (Review Data Last Updated: 2009-07-12 11:22:07 EST)
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| 06-30-09 | 4 | 2\2 |
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While watching the 2009 Le Mans race Bob Varsha and the boyz from Speed had A.J. Baime as a guest in the broadcast booth. Before the night was over, I was on Amazon and the book was on its way.
As a fan of road racing and F1, this was a great read, fast paced with a great mix of the personalities and race accounts that it involved. An automotive Who's Who list of amazing proportions. I would recommend it to anyone. Given the state of the auto industry, it is also somewhat timely, with Ford looking to rise from the ashes once again as a company and Ferrari searching for answers to its dismal 2009 F1 campaign. The reason for only four stars? There's no half stars and I thought it strange that while the research for the book seems extensive, a foot note on page 175 states, "* Andretti's (Mario) third son, Marco, today a top Indy-car competitor, was not yet born.", he still hasn't been. Marco is Mario Andretti's grandson, a fact that could be verified any weekend an IRL race is being run. This minor inaccuracy should in no way deter anyone from reading this book. (Review Data Last Updated: 2009-07-12 11:22:07 EST)
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| 06-29-09 | 5 | (NA) |
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You will not regret buying this book...I read it in 3 days, and I'm a busy guy. You know it's a great historical book when know how the story ends yet you still can't put it down. Highly recommended.
p.s.: Hopefully the editor of the next edition corrects the small error in the footnote on p. 175 that lists Marco Andretti as Mario's third son, when he is actually Mario's grandson...but hey, these things happen, I suppose. (Review Data Last Updated: 2009-07-12 11:22:07 EST)
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