Bobby Rahal: The Graceful Champion

This is one of the many outstanding books that I have in my collection that were written by Gordon Kirby. Bobby Rahal was a 3 time CART champion and the winner of the 1986 Indianapolis 500, now he is successful businessman and car-owner. Like all of the Gordon Kirby books in my collection, the photography in this book is superb. The forward by Nigel Mansfield shows the respect that Bobby Rahal generated from his fellow race car drivers. This is a must-have book for anyone who collects Indianapolis 500 or CART memorabilia.

Bobby Rahal is one of the greats of motorsports, and Gordon Kirby is one of the greats of motorsports journalism. Put them together, and the result is an engrossing look at the career of one of America's finest champions.This is not just a listing of races and results. You get the story behind the races, and insight into Rahal's life and career you won't find anywhere else. The great photos (many from Rahal's private collection) make the book visually beautiful.If you are a fan of auto racing, this book belongs in your collection.

First, a disclaimer: I am a friend and colleague of the author. With that out of the way, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys racing. It does an excellent job of describing the less-than-glamorous grunt work required to make it to top-level motorsports. Many people know about Rahal's CART championships and Indianapolis 500 victory; few know about his exploits racing all around the world against guys like Gilles Villeneuve, Keke Rosberg and Nelson Piquet. The text is an excellent balance between Kirby's narrative and Rahal's own words, and the book is attractively laid out with thoughtful photo choices. Some of the Rahal family photos are priceless.Rahal wasn't always the fastest guy on the track, but he may have been the smartest. He's extremely intelligent and well-read in almost every subject, and this book demonstrates his success as a team owner has not come by accident.In general, this is one of the best racing books I have read. Get it.