The Mechanic's Tale

I really enjoyed this book. I've read a lot of books on F1, and as Matchett mentions in his book, most center around the drivers and the race action. There's very little very good material that allows one to explore what happens with the rest of the team, especially, the mechanics, those men taking care of the car. I found this book to be an excellent read. Matchett is a rounded individual and quite a well developed personality. These qualities empowered him to write with a very insightful point of view. With a point of view that successfully reaches the heart and minds of non-technical readers. I highly recommend this book for all those with a deep interest in the sport. I'll no longer be looking in the pit garage at the mechanics and the ongoing work around a pitstop in the same way. Much respect is due to the mechanics and the hard work they put into a successful F1 team.

This is my first kindle ebook purchase and I have to say I enjoyed the book to a great extent. Steve definitely knows how to write and convey his thoughts (especially his personal thoughts) in an informative and open-minded way. I was a little supprised on how much a formula one mechanic actually makes, but consider the year he had worked in the industry and inflations, etc., I guess it's a fair amount given the criteria. One thing I would've like to see was the different countries and cities Steve had travelled with the team. But the fact that during a typical race weekend, the team really doesn't have any time to waste other than working on the car. However, a world tour of different cities and culturals would be nice. As I share some of the same feeling about working and life in general with the author. Overall,I enjoyed the book and looking forward to read some of other works from the author.

Steve Matchett knows how to tell a great story, that's for sure. I've watched him for years as a Formula 1 commentator so I was very interested in reading this book. His prose style is wonderful and makes for very pleasurable reading, and the story itself is an excellent look into the path of a mechanic who started out working at dealerships in England and wound up as a top mechanic in a world championship winning F1 team. If you're a racing fan at all, this is a really entertaining read. I've since read a couple more of his books and they all measure up as very well-written.

This was a gift to my husband. He loved it. We'll written.

Methinks that the title of this book should instead be "I Rode The Coattails", as he just happened to be lucky enough to work on the same overall team as Michael Schumacher...and wrote a book to cash in on that story. Beyond that, it is a fascinating story, a really good glimpse into what it's like to actually work on a Formula 1 team, albeit a team from twenty years ago, a story bordering on irrelevancy. Beyond that, the book takes the occasional turn into "Creative Non-fiction Writing 101", as he attempts to add pretty filler to a story that could perhaps use a bit more detail as to what went on during a day-to-day, season-to-season basis. Summary: I like to complain no matter what the story content is, so buy the book anyway and read it, there's really very little out there which gives such an interesting view into the world of Formula 1, even though like last-season's race cars, this story is pretty much a historical glimpse into a racing world which has changed...for the worse...and has gotten boring to look at.

For anyone that watches Formula One broadcasts in the United States, we are privileged to have the voice, insights, opinions, quips and emotions of Mr. Steve Matchett to accompany the on-screen action. If one is familiar with his voice, this book becomes sort of an extra long sit down chat with him as he spins his tale of how he got his break into grand prix racing and his time spent with the Benetton Formula Ltd. racing team during their quest to become world champions (it's almost as if he is reading the book to you himself). Even if you are not familiar with his voice, this book is still a fantastic treat for any fan of Formula One racing. As an added bonus, there are some great photos of Michael Schumacher, Gerhard Berger, Nelson Piquet and Flavio Briatore (there's even a photo of Steve) to enjoy.

I really liked this book, it is intended for people that have been recently bitten by the formula 1 sport bug or... If you know a lot about F1 then this book has a lot of information that you already know, but it also has a lot of "insider" information that is clearly written and fun, though I am sure this was heavi;y censored by the Bennetton team.. I know that you will enjoy it. If you are starting in the F1 fan page.. then it is a good read, one from which you will really learn a lot. In the end, a good book, nicely written, worth buying, I had a great time with it.

Though it deals with Formula 1 racing, any racing fan would find this interesting as it talks of auto racing through the eyes of the mechanics who put the car together for a race (and after an accident) and their constant struggle to keep it on the road and competitive. Most F1 fans will recognize Steve Machett as the commentator on NBCsports network (and formerly of SPEED ) who covers the tires and technology of the F1 cars. But prior to his stint on TV as a race commentator, he was a race mechanic for Benneton's Formula 1 race team and knew Schumacher as an up-and-comer. This inside look is a welcome addition to racing literature. I have not read his earlier book, or anything else he has written, but intend to at my earliest convenience. Incidentally, that cover photograph is of a mechanic caught in a refueling pit stop fire in an F1 race before they banned refueling in F1.

La edición es un poco antigua.

I found this book very interesting and absorbing. It gives a very personal insight into the world of racing from the mechanics view. It strips away the glamour and provides a honest account of life in the pit lane. The author's style is clear and straight forward and is very much like having a personal conversation. I enjoyed it from start to finish.

Picked this up as it was a recommended read for Formula 1 fans. Very happy that I did. I really enjoy Steve Matchett's writing style and the personal stories he's put in about various F1 greats, it's also fascinating to read about the early 90's drives and the style in which everything was done.

Interesting 'tale' as a personal pathway to career development driven by passion and skills. Some behind-the-scene anecdotes cannot be missed!...

Comprehensive and fun to read. For a mechanic he is a good writer.