Perry "the Stig" McCarthy's new book.

[Retro Formula 1]

Anyone read it yet?

Titled "Flat Out, Flat Broke - Formula 1 the hard way".

As well as being the first Stig for Top Gear, he also drove for the Andrea Moda team. Well, I say drove :laugh:

[FAL]

What exactly "new" is it then? An updated/extended version of the same title that was published years ago?

[D-Type]

Is there possibly some confusion with The Man in the White Suit, the autobiography of stunt driver Ben Collins which came out last year. He revealed in his book that he was the Stig so the BBC tried (unsuccessfully) to have it banned - and as a result probably increased the sales.
For the story have a look at This Daily Mail article (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1308890/Why-The-Stig-Ben-Collins-unmasked--1m-losses-frustrated-ambition.html)

[Mark]

No there was a Perry McCarthy book, which is why he got fired as the 'black' Stig.

[AndyL]

But it came out years ago, it's not new.

[Robinho]

but it might now be promoted for sale on a popular historic (some people might say "retro") formula 1 mechandise webite? ;)

[D-Type]

I now know what happened: The original posting contained a link to another site with a feature on Perry McCarthy which was edited out by Mark. This makes it a little stilted. Despite the thread title, Flat out, flat broke - Formula 1 the hard way is not a new book - it's been out in hardback and paperback for a while..

Let's ignore the misleading title and carry this on as a discussion of the two books.

My two pennyworth - I read Flat out, flat broke - Formula 1 the hard way a while back and although I enjoyed it I wouldn't recommend paying out for the hardback. Can anyone else who has read it add their opinion?

I haven't read The Man in the White Suit - can anybody who has read it tell us what it's like?

[Knock-on]

but it might now be promoted for sale on a popular historic (some people might say "retro") formula 1 mechandise webite? ;)

You and D-Type are correct. It was offered as a prize along with a Moda shirt for a competition on 'that' site. I must be honest and assumed it was a new release as I hadn't come across it before but assumption being the mother of all feck-ups, I was wrong.

I must admit, I read the write-up and wondered if anyone had read this new book. Whoops!

Will now need to order a copy :D

[wedge]

I now know what happened: The original posting contained a link to another site with a feature on Perry McCarthy which was edited out by Mark. This makes it a little stilted. Despite the thread title, Flat out, flat broke - Formula 1 the hard way is not a new book - it's been out in hardback and paperback for a while..

Let's ignore the misleading title and carry this on as a discussion of the two books.

My two pennyworth - I read Flat out, flat broke - Formula 1 the hard way a while back and although I enjoyed it I wouldn't recommend paying out for the hardback. Can anyone else who has read it add their opinion?

I haven't read The Man in the White Suit - can anybody who has read it tell us what it's like?

Both are about journeymen drivers, the former well written and includes great and hilarious anecdotes. For instance, Perry McCarthy would physically edit cut & paste his own race reports from Autosport, photocopy and send them out as a means for sponsorship!

The latter, I was familiar with Ben's racing background - particularly ASCAR and judged the book as a means to cash in on the Stig persona. Out of curiosity and stuck in an airport lounge I only skimmed a few pages and the ones I turned to contained on the F and C word regarding racing incidents. So not particularly engaging nor by flicking a randon page did I find anything informative that would gauge the enthusiast (usually a good indicator of a good book)

[Nem14]

Perry McCarthy's book is a good read. I just finished reading it for the second time the other day.

Perry's book highlights that professional racing drivers have to be more than just racing drivers.

[FAL]

I was of course just trying to be polite. I was aware the McCarthy book was in fact many years old (hardback) and several years old (paperback).
It is one of the better "driver" accounts, really funny at some points, and I'm sure there is much more he could have written but was advised against by the lawyers! Sadly, Pentti Airikkala died before he could attempt his threatened autobiography that would (his words) have kept the lawyers busy for years.
So many such books are dire because they have to try and cater to the general public as well as the knowledgeable enthusiast and fall in the middle making no one happy. I only have some of them because The Works was selling them for £1.99 - and it was still a toss up whether to buy.
Having just "written off" nearly all popular "driver" books above, I have just read a library copy of Tiff Needell's book and, contrary to expectations, found it OK.
Given the Forum we are on, it needs to be said there are some awful errors in some of the most respected motorsport history books, including autobiographies. As part of some research, I have just re-read a book by the accepted expert on the car model concerned and noticed blatant contradictions/errors even within the same page. Even a proof reader not coversant with the sport should have found them. No prizes for which car model, since my recent post on Rally History gives that away!

[52Paddy]

Haven't read either but might invest in Perry's book in the future. One book along the same lines, I imagine, is "Crashed and Byrned" by Tommy Byrne. It's a "formula 1 the hard way" book in a sense. The sub-title is "the greatest F1 driver you never saw". It's interesting, rough and entertaining. Well worth a read.