Flat Out Flat Broke: Formula 1 the Hard Way!

by Perry McCarthy

Book Overview

Perry McCarthy decided at the age of 18 that he wanted to reach the top in the world's most expensive sport. This is his autobiography. Foreword by Damon Hill. "Perry McCarthy does for Formula One... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1844250180
• ISBN13: 9781844250189
• Release Date: December 2003
• Publisher: Haynes Publishing UK
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.0" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

fun and informative for world champion wanna-be's

Flat out- what it takes to almost get into Formula 1, total dedication. And then it doesn't always work out. A humorous look at what was a very stressful push to get to the top in a dangerous sport, overflowing with very competitive people with the same ambition and the same determination. How McCarthy kept his (almost) sanity and pushed on despite the obstacles, is a great lesson in dedication in pursuit of what you love. Good on you Perry!

Fantastic read!

Saying that Perry McCarthy is the world's unluckiest racing driver is definitely an understatement, but his tales are actually pretty inspiring and they show us the importance of hard work and determination to achieve one's goals. Perry was a very talented driver who could have very well battled for the World Championship had he been given half a chance. He wasn't destined for stardom, however; but his efforts deserve to be praised. Despite having to endure what was arguably the least successful F1 career in history, not to mention the tough times he had to endure to actually get there, he never lost his sense of humor throughout the tough times, and he brilliantly put all those stories together in this book. The result: 250 pages full of black, self-deprecating humor, which actually had me laughing out loud all the time as I read each of them. Being a racing driver myself, and having had my fair share of misfortune at times, I could somehow relate to many of the stories, and that made it even more enjoyable for me. I definitely couldn't put this book down. It is absolutely a must-read; very entertaining for racing fans, and a lesson about determination for racing drivers.

One man's success story beyond measure

Perry McCarthy tells you how unbelievably hard it was - with immense humor, irony and determination about how he successfully fought his way to a Formula 1 drive. But in some respects, that is only half the story as the other half is about sheer willpower and passion for doing what you believe in, regardless of the level of difficulty or the level of cost!! A great book that reads at a fast pace as you try to keep up, lap after lap, team after team, page after page.

Great read

This is an outstanding book detailing the trials racers go through just to get a ride. This is one of the few books I have read over the past few years that I could NOT put down. I read it in one sitting. It was captivating and a great read.

Flat out flat broke

Even if you don't remember Perry you have to read this book. After reading Perry's story I became totally selfish and said "I'm glad all that happened because that was one gripping, funny read". Not only is Perry's story a fascinating insight into the old days of F1, he's a damn good writer and a very funny man. Even if you're not an F1 fan this is a very interesting read.

Flat out good...

I read 15-20 motor racing related books per year, and this one has to be right at the top of the list in entertainment value & a general lesson in life. When I purchased it, I had little knowledge of who the author was; I knew from following Formula One that he had flirted with a drive in that category, and I knew he had some sucess in sports car racing, but I knew nothing else about his career or life. Mr. McCarthy has a truely unique style of writing that lets the reader re-live all of the ups & downs with him. He writes very freely, just as if he were talking to you; much like the style of Niki Lauda in his autobiography. Parts are as funny as anything I have read in this genre, & parts make you wonder why he keeps going back to bang his head against the wall, literally. Through the entire book, & it sounds like his entire life, he never looses his sense of humour, or sight of his goal. This guy has perseverance!I was totally entralled from cover to cover, but I do admit I was surprised that he didn't go into a little more detail concerning his races. I then realized that I could go to one of the many racing annuals & read race detail, but he was giving me a behind-the-scenes look at the sport, not usually available.This is a great book, & I highly recommend it to anyone who either aspires to a goal, or has driven a car, or wants to drive a car...or has seen a car...