Author:Alexander Roy
On his deathbed, Alex Roy's father dropped tantalizing hints about the notorious Cannonball Run of the 1970s, the utterly illegal high-speed non-stop races from New York to LA. Inspired by his father's dying words, and against the advice of his friends, Roy enters this mysterious world - trying both to find himself, and to locate 'The Driver' - the anonymous organizer of the world's ultimate car race.
In this riveting memoir, Roy straps you into his highly modified BMW M5, takes you on a terrifying 120 mph lap of Manhattan, then tackles the Gumball 3000 and the Bullrun - the two most infamous road rallies in the world. His bogus Polizei Autobahn Interceptor sticks out among the Lamborghinis and Ferraris driven by millionaire playboys, software moguls, Arab princes, movie stars, leggy Czech supermodels, gearheads, and tech whizzes. Armed with myriad radar detectors, laser jammers and police scanners, and his trunk crammed with a variety of fake uniforms, the obsessively prepared Roy evades arrest at almost every turn, wreaking havoc on his fiercest rivals and gaining the admiration of police forces around the globe.
Filled with insane driving and Roy's quixotic quest to win both for his late father and himself, The Driver is the tale of one man's insatiable drive beyond life in the fast lane.
A thoroughly entertaining read, the book is made all the more compelling by Roy's articulacy and honesty in describing his own emotions and his motivation to race
—— Boys ToysThe Driver is a cracking read
—— The ObserverAbsolutely riveting
—— Simon Hills , The Times MagazineThis man is magic
—— Sir Harry Secombe CBEFar from being a tome for just those in the know, Horses for Courses is the ideal introduction for a newcomer to racing. . . Many of the author's encounters with people result in marvellous recounts of famous racing moments
—— Irish FieldFull of compelling anecdotes and perceptive analysis, and I would heartily recommend it even if it didn't also include a few excerpts from my own encounters with notable characters from the world of spin.
—— Brian Viner , IndependentGet hold of a copy of Amol Rajan's Twirlymen...This is a forensic and often lyrical examination of the history of spin
—— James Lawton , IndependentIn Amol Rajan the twirlers have found a historian worthy of their deceptive art...a brilliant, revisionist book...which should be compulsory reading for anyone who claims to love the game even half as much as the author evidently does.
—— Simon Redfern , IndependentAn eloquent, page-turning series of biographies about cricket's finest spin bowlers.'
—— Sunday ExpressAmol Rajan provides a natty introduction to the spin bowler.
—— iA charming history of spin-bowling
—— The LadyTwirlymen is a splendid romp through the history of spin bowling. A delight from start to finish, it's a book I dearly wish I'd written myself.
—— Alex Massie , SpectatorA fine book
—— William Leith , ScotsmanEntertaining and informative
—— Brandon Robshaw , Independent on SundayThis seductive book will engage those who don’t know a googly from a doosra and enlighten those who do
—— Independent