This book could be read by a die hard racing fan or just a regular joe. Dr. Olvey is an amazing individual and along with Dr. Terry Trammel revolutionized medical help, facilities, and response for the entire world. His single minded focus towards the care of a driver is unbelievable. He and Terry are truely the most important people that have been involved in the sport of auto racing in the last 100 years.

as a huge fan of open wheel racing this book is great you learn about the accident side of racing and how they deal with it i think anybody who is a racing fan should read this book

This is almost certainly the best book ever written about motor sport safety and the tremendous advances made in the last 30 years. Olvey and Trammel not only raised the bar but in reality invented a whole new concept

If you followed Indycar anywhere from the 70s to the late 90s you will remember most of the sad stories in this book. However it is very interesting to read first hand how safety has increased in our favorite sport over the years. Dr. Olvey gives great accounts of the highs and lows of his career as an Indycar doctor.

This is a fascinating book about the development of safety

Dr. Stephen Olvey served as Championship Auto Racing Teams' medical director from 1979 to 2003. This very moving memoir of his years leading the charge for motor sports safety in the series at the pinnacle of open wheel racing in America recaptures an exciting era in the development of technology, both in motor racing and in sports medicine. With professionalism, sincerity, empathy and humor, Olvey recounts the challenges, rewards and devastating losses of forwarding safety in the sport.



On a personal note, I have had the distinct honor of knowing Olvey during most of his tenure with CART, and have heard many of these stories directly from him and Dr. Trammel. Many of the people he writes about are friends of mine and I was present during most of the racing accidents he describes (and several he doesn't mention). For me, it is a bittersweet reminder of the history of my own life in motor sports.

Dr. Stephen Olvey served as Championship Auto Racing Teams' medical director from 1979 to 2003. This very moving memoir of his years leading the charge for motor sports safety in the series at the pinnacle of open wheel racing in America recaptures an exciting era in the development of technology, both in motor racing and in sports medicine. With professionalism, sincerity, empathy and humor, Olvey recounts the challenges, rewards and devastating losses of forwarding safety in the sport.

On a personal note, I have had the distinct honor of knowing Olvey during most of his tenure with CART, and have heard many of these stories directly from him and Dr. Trammel. Many of the people he writes about are friends of mine and I was present during most of the racing accidents he describes (and several he doesn't mention). For me, it is a bittersweet reminder of the history of my own life in motor sports.

Dr. Steve Olvey's book about the creation and execution of CART/Champ Car's safety team and the evolution of motorsport safety is a fascinating read. I've always appeciated the skill and dedication of these safety teams but reading this book has given me a greater understanding of their role in the evolution of safety both in motorsports and civilian use. As a Champ Car and F1 enthusiast, Dr. Olvey's stories and his personal insights on racing are both engrossing and informative. I recommend this book to all motorsports fans.

Dr. Steve Olvey's book about the creation and execution of CART/Champ Car's safety team and the evolution of motorsport safety is a fascinating read. I've always appeciated the skill and dedication of these safety teams but reading this book has given me a greater understanding of their role in the evolution of safety both in motorsports and civilian use. As a Champ Car and F1 enthusiast, Dr. Olvey's stories and his personal insights on racing are both engrossing and informative. I recommend this book to all motorsports fans.

Dr. Olvey is world-renowned in the racing community, and with good reason. Dozens of racing drivers across the globe owe their lives directly to his work, as in the case of Alex Zanardi, as well as indirectly in the cases of the thousands of racers who have benefited from Dr. Olvey's research. He truly is a special human. I had the pleasure of being given a tour of the CART Medical Unit by Dr. Olvey during the Laguna Seca race weekend in 2003, and he is a genuine person, without pretense. The only thing that I found somewhat odd about "Rapid Response" was the somewhat hyperbolic writing style... seems as if everything has exclamation marks as punctuation. Elaine Benes would not approve, but that's beside the point. This is an utterly minor quibble, and does not detract from the engaging and often sobering stories he tells. Consider this a must-read for any racing fan, even if you never followed CART or Indy Car racing. Great stuff.

Dr. Olvey is world-renowned in the racing community, and with good reason. Dozens of racing drivers across the globe owe their lives directly to his work, as in the case of Alex Zanardi, as well as indirectly in the cases of the thousands of racers who have benefited from Dr. Olvey's research. He truly is a special human. I had the pleasure of being given a tour of the CART Medical Unit by Dr. Olvey during the Laguna Seca race weekend in 2003, and he is a genuine person, without pretense. The only thing that I found somewhat odd about "Rapid Response" was the somewhat hyperbolic writing style... seems as if everything has exclamation marks as punctuation. Elaine Benes would not approve, but that's beside the point. This is an utterly minor quibble, and does not detract from the engaging and often sobering stories he tells. Consider this a must-read for any racing fan, even if you never followed CART or Indy Car racing. Great stuff.

Dr Steve Olvey has done a wonderful job at putting us behind the sceens in a place only a few ever know about. This is not a book for the faint of heart, it tells it like it is. The men and women who are first response and emergency meds are to be commended for the amazing work they do. Many owe their lives to the Rapid Response they have received, and the fans owe a debt of gratitude for keeping our heroes of the race racing another day.

A read for all types of racing fans, engineers and medical personnel. This book (full of pictures too!) is a gripping insight to the human desire for adrenaline and testing oneself to the fullest despite the risks - not only the drivers but the safety crew and doctors. I found myself enamored with the details maybe even obsessed with knowing what really happens when a car tangles with another or finds concrete in its way. I know many hockey fans just go to a hockey game for the fights and the bodies slammed against the boards and glass. Is that the same with auto racing? Would a race be worth it if there wasn't at least one good wreck? The author relates for those that are part of the show that isn't the desire but unfortunately accidents are inevitable when testing the limits of machine and human because these folks don't stop when they find a limit! Limit is not in their vocabulary despite horrendeous deaths, pain and past failures. Dr. Olvey (the author) shows how he and others worked tirelessly to enable racers to pursue there passion of speed and pushing it to the brink - without dying or injurying oneself. Would racers and wannabe racers really have stopped racing without the safety improvements Dr. Olvey and others brought? I highly doubt it. But I suspect Dr. Olvey is one of those wannabe racers. However, Dr. Olvey has that compassion which I suspect all doctors have -to some degree- to preserve life, to sustain life, to enable people to experience life to the fullest in the way they feel led to. And in this case moving oneself faster than the next person. From one wannabe racer to another just buy it - you'll love it!

A read for all types of racing fans, engineers and medical personnel. This book (full of pictures too!) is a gripping insight to the human desire for adrenaline and testing oneself to the fullest despite the risks - not only the drivers but the safety crew and doctors. I found myself enamored with the details maybe even obsessed with knowing what really happens when a car tangles with another or finds concrete in its way. I know many hockey fans just go to a hockey game for the fights and the bodies slammed against the boards and glass. Is that the same with auto racing? Would a race be worth it if there wasn't at least one good wreck? The author relates for those that are part of the show that isn't the desire but unfortunately accidents are inevitable when testing the limits of machine and human because these folks don't stop when they find a limit! Limit is not in their vocabulary despite horrendeous deaths, pain and past failures. Dr. Olvey (the author) shows how he and others worked tirelessly to enable racers to pursue there passion of speed and pushing it to the brink - without dying or injurying oneself. Would racers and wannabe racers really have stopped racing without the safety improvements Dr. Olvey and others brought? I highly doubt it. But I suspect Dr. Olvey is one of those wannabe racers. However, Dr. Olvey has that compassion which I suspect all doctors have -to some degree- to preserve life, to sustain life, to enable people to experience life to the fullest in the way they feel led to. And in this case moving oneself faster than the next person. From one wannabe racer to another just buy it - you'll love it!

I found Dr. Olvey's book factual, touching, sad, funny and difficult to put down. I was in the medical field and involved in CART & IRL racing for many years and really enjoyed reading about the union of the two. This book has something for everybody - racing, emergency situations, and a story about a large family - the racing family. A must read for any racing fan.