The full title hints at why this is not just another book about auto racing. This is about the epic battle between Henry Ford II and Enzo Ferrari, who, at the time (early/mid '60's), were the heads of Ford and Ferrari, respectively. The latter insulted the former a few years earlier and, as is said, it was "on"! It helps to enjoy racing but an interesting read as well for those who don't.

The movie is just a partial telling of the whole story with one difference. The movie includes some of the detail about the people and events leading up to the race with almost nothing after. The book has a lot more interesting, rich material about the personalities you'll want to know. ( )

It took me some time to get into it, but once I got rolling I couldn’t put it down. Really great writing and storytelling. The history of Motorsports and these 2 teams in particular is really awesome to read. ( )

This is the Story of Henry Ford II and his obsession with having an American made car, of course a Ford product, win The 24 Hour Le Mans. He spent millions of dollars trying to unseat Ferrari, a French made auto.

Detroit's Big Three (as the auto industry is/was known) had signed a pact "Detroit's Safety Resolution". In 1963 Henry Ford II withdrew his company from the pact. Ford believed that domestic auto sales were intricately tied to the racing cars, and he was determined to cash in on this theory. At the Daytona 500 that year Ford introduced a V8 engine that was the largest, most powerful Ford engine ever produced.

Enzo Ferrari was just as determined to stop Ford. His cars got faster, sleeker. However, the loss of life due to accidents on the track was in the double digits. These vehicles required almost super-human quality from the race car pilots

In 1965, furious he still had not won the Le Mans, Ford sent a card to all of his top Executives. The card had the Le Mans logo on it and read You Better Win. In other words, your job is on the line. Being Detroit born and bred, I remember that Henry II was always in the newspapers here. He had a fire cracker temper and was not known as a nice man. It was interesting for me to read more about him and how he ran his company.

If not for the Polls challenge I would have never given this book a second look. I am surprised as anyone how much I enjoyed it. [a:A.J. Baime|666982|A.J. Baime|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] tells the story in plain language and he kept my interest through-out. ( )

Excellent real story of the battle between Ford and Ferrari at Le Mans in the 60s. If you enjoyed the film, you will love the extra detail in this book. Even if you have not seen the film, there is lots to enjoy here, with stories of the drivers, owners and teams in a period when drivers were killed on a regular basis as safety in motor racing took a back set. Highly recommended ( )

This is a book that folks not into cars and racing might never be inclined to look twice at. But it's not just a story about cars going fast. Like most books, it is all about people -- their strengths and weaknesses, hopes and dreams, gifts and fobiles, friendships and feuds, hometowns and travels. And a fascinating bunch of people they are -- larger than life, filled with massive ambition and egos to match. Author A.J. Baime does a fine job in telling the tale. ( )