Driving Ambition Book

Anybody have it? I'm interested in knowing whether it's worth getting. I'm very interested in this car and would like to know some more about it but I'm not sure I want to spend 50 bucks on this book. If anybody has an opinion or a place to buy it for less than 50. LMK :bandit:

Often called the "bible", the Driving Ambition book is excellent in my opinion. I have not read or seen any of the other enthusiast books so I can't compare. But this book is excellent and I hardly think I would need to buy another.

I just bought this book last month. If you can find one, get it. I was lucky to find on on eBay as Motorbooks International, Exoticar, Amazon, etc. were all backordered.

What other books have people seen or read? Any others that are worth getting?

Yes, for outsiders, "Driving Ambition" truly is the 'bible'. It's an incredibly amazing book and well worth the money you will spend on it. I believe it was between $40-$50 USD new and I have seen copies sell for as much as $100 recently. I actually own 2 copies, one that I will keep in the plastic till the end of time and the other which I regularly use for reference material. The depth of information contained in the book is amazing. It's not like a magazine article where all you get is the writer's opinion and quick facts taken from a press kit - these are the actual people who were involved in the process from initial development through production and even the racing program telling the story.

Someday I hope to be able to get my hands on the more exclusive 'Limited Edition' copy of the book that is available directly from McLaren Cars. It's supposed to offer even more detail and over 100 more pages of beautiful photos. Last I checked it was about $950 USD for that version of the book so it might be a while before I can justify that expenditure. There is also an "Owner's Edition" available, but at nearly $1600 it's out of my reach till my lottery numbers come in.

As far as other books, there is an excellent book on the complete history of McLaren that includes information from the early '60s through to the mid '90's. It's called "The McLaren Years" and while I don't currently have a copy, it's on my short list of things to buy. Here's a link with a bit more info on that book:

http://www.edit.ne.jp/~takahara/england/5143239.html

There was also a book put out by AutoCar Magazine. As you may know, AutoCar was the only magazine given access to an F1 by McLaren Cars for a full road test, and that road test is reprinted inside "Driving Ambition" in chapter 16 'The Reception'. I believe the AutoCar book is simply a compilation of all the articles that they printed on the McLaren F1 as it's only about 100 pages. I have most of those magazines, but would still like to have the hard bound collection and I tried to purchase a copy via Ebay a while back, but was sniped as the auction ended. I haven't seen one offered on Ebay in quite some time and I've never found another place to purchase a copy.

The other print sources for McLaren F1 GTR-specific info would be books on the 24 Hrs of Le Mans or the other racing series that they participated in. I know that one publisher recently released an amazing history of Le Mans - I believe it's actually two complete books - and I'm certain that it offers lots of info and photos of the F1 GTRs that competed from 1995 - 1998. I don't have a title for that book, but it shouldn't be too hard to find. I believe that it's quite an expensive set though, so I might not be able to add it to my library any time soon. If I find the exact name or the purchasing info I will be happy to pass it along.

>8^)
ER

If you make me think about this any more I'm going to drool.

Anyway, why is it so rare? It was published in 2000. Are they making one for each F1? I tried at my library system. No dice. Interlibrary loan. Yeah, if you want to pay $15 to the Detroit Library. It sounds nice but I don't want to be gouged for $128 by some jerk on Abebooks.com for a book I've never touched. :cry:

From the McLaren Cars website, the Owner's Edition: http://www.mclarencars.co.uk/content/book/ownersed.htm

From the McLaren Cars website, the Limited Edition: http://www.mclarencars.co.uk/content/book/testbg5.htm


There is also a third Edition (the Enthusiast's Edition, perhaps?) that costs significantly less but still has everything the common enthusiast will ever need to know. This is one that I found for $50 on eBay and probably the one that guys wants for $128. $50 bought me one that was used quite a bit but that was ok since I was going to devour the contents anyway. I have not seen an Owner's Edition (yet).

Here's that AutoCar book I mentioned.

http://ebay0.ipixmedia.com/abc/M28/_EBAY_4f4988d813224a8b4eb200503e3b9931/i-1.JPG

I should be able to give a full review on it in just a few weeks as I was finally able to score one from Ebay. :dogpile:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3500980383&category=1132

Actually, right after I made the reply that mentioned the book, I headed over there and did a quick search. Amazingly, there it was with just over one day left till the auction closed. I probably would have missed it if not for this thread as I rarely look on Ebay since there's too many things I want. ;)

>8^)
ER

Hey! I have that one! I have it from back then when it was bundled with Autocar. Just out of curiosity is it valuable now?

...silly of me! I didn't see the ebay link! So.. my book is worth 40 dollars now! I would never have guessed back then. And no Im not interested in selling!

What do you think of the Autocar book?? Mine has gotten here yet and I've never known anyone else who has a copy.

>8^)
ER

Well. its been years since I read it but its very high quality with extensive details and superb detail pictures. Inside you'll see also a black car with the red stripe on the door. I always wandered if that was an option to have your car made with the thin stripes or was it just a one-off thing since I've never seen other cars in the net like that one.

Originally posted by 993cc Man
Well. its been years since I read it but its very high quality with extensive details and superb detail pictures.

Cool man - thanks for the info.

Inside you'll see also a black car with the red stripe on the door. I always wandered if that was an option to have your car made with the thin stripes or was it just a one-off thing since I've never seen other cars in the net like that one. [/B]

Look here at the photos I posted of Jay Leno's F1:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t89384-2.html

I have seen a few more photos of a black or dark grey F1 with the stripe on the door painted red. It also wears the High Downforce LM-kit, and the photos were taken at the Spa Francorchamps race track so it's obviously not Leno's car.

>8^)
ER

Apparently that car featured throughout the Autocar book is car #002 described as the 1st customer car done in "metallic grey international" with red stripe. It says so in the last page. That was as far as they had gone when the book was written as it describes cars 003 004 and 005 as "in build".

993,
Jay Leno's car is not any of those VINs listed.

If there is another car with the Red stripe (aside from the high downforce car) I do not know its identity.

You can easily deduce the cars that were black or nearly black. I suppose it is possible that 3 car had the red stripe, but I highly doubt it. I am actually surprised that there are 2.

It is possible that the French car with the downforce kit has always had the stripe, but was pictured in the Autocar book in its original roadcar configuration. It is also possible that the book included a picture of a later numbered car after the text had gone to print, such as the car that now is owned by Jay Leno.

Peloton,
How long ago was the other black car with the downforce kit sighted?

Originally posted by XOTech
Peloton,
How long ago was the other black car with the downforce kit sighted?

I'm not 100% positive, but I think it was about a year ago. I will have to ask the photographer again and let you know for sure.

I believe this attached photo to be a scan from the Autocar book and shows the car that 993 is speaking of. As you can see in the picture, the car appears more grey than black. Also, the poster included with "Driving Ambition" gives the #002 car a color name that is slightly different - "Dorchester Grey" - but that still seems it could be this car.

>8^)
ER

Now take a look at this image of the car seen at Spa in France. Again, it appears to be grey and not completely black where the light is hitting it. Also note the tiny antenna fitted to the center of the engine cover...

>8^)
ER

And finally, there's this image which I think ties them all together. Again, note the small antenna, and the fact that this car appears more grey than black.

Now here's the kicker - I found this last photo at a site where someone had gone to the factory to pick up their Limited Edition copy of "Driving Ambition" and this was the text next to the photo:

"Customer F1 Road car in for LM front splitter and rear wing install. This guy and his brother both have F1's and have a car to car comm system built in!"

Anyway - it's all a guess at this point, but I would imagine that all three of these photos are of the same car - #002.

XO-Tech - are you familiar with this LM-kitted road car well enough to determine if my guess here is correct or entirely wrong?

= = = = =

BTW: If you want to see some excellent photos of XP1LM and XP5 from that guy's visit to the factory, follow this link:

http://www.centralcoastweb.com/nsxb/media/pics/mclaren/mclaren.html

>8^)
ER

Originally posted by Peloton25
Now take a look at this image of the car seen at Spa in France. :mad:

Damn Spa is in Belgium ;) .

Peloton,
I believe the two pictures are of the same car. There were indeed two brothers that each had a McLaren. They took both of their cars to the factory and had an intercom with two way capability installed in each of their cars such that they could communicate with each other while underway. I am not certain if the brothers each still own their cars. It is possible that one (or both) of the brothers have sold their car. While the brother with the black and red stripe car did have a wing and front nose clip with the splitter, it wasn't a full downforce kit. I am also not certain if it had anything done to the engine. It is not unreasonable to suggest that this is now Jay Leno's car. He could have easily returned the car to its original roadcar configuration.

jkbon,
Spa is indeed in Belgium. I completely overlooked that is was seen at Spa, I only saw France. Peloton, can you straighten us out? Was the car seen at Spa or in France, and how long ago?

Originally posted by XOTech
Peloton,
Peloton, can you straighten us out? Was the car seen at Spa or in France, and how long ago?

I can answer ! This was at the "Spa Ferrari days" :confused: in 2002 (Spa-Francorchamps). I live not far from Francorchamps and I was not there :cry:


The same car on the road :

http://www.ifrance.com/jc-ferrari/spa/autre_2002/mclaren-f1.JPG

Some Formula 1 fan I am... :o :( :confused:

I knew that Spa was in Belgium - it's actually my favorite European racing circuit. I hold my head in shame for that... ;)

Anyway - jkbon is correct. I heard back from the photographer this morning and he said that the photos came from the 2002 "Spa Ferrari Days". I wasn't actually suggesting that this car and Jay Leno's were the same, but the dates of the photos certainly prove that they are not.

The photographer also told me that the car belonged to one of the Thoroughbred Grand Prix drivers (www.tgp-f1.com) and he is hoping that the car will return for this year's event, though he's not certain that TGP will be there this year.

I'm going to do some more intense research on this car and see if I can discover the driver's/owner's name and any other info I can gather. No promises of course, but I have been fairly successful at learning stuff like this in the past.

Thanks for the new photo jkbon!! :sun:

>8^)
ER

Peloton, yes that scan is from the Autocar book.

Here are two other pictures of the Mclaren seen at Spa:

http://membres.lycos.fr/tnyssen/McLaren1.jpg

http://membres.lycos.fr/tnyssen/McLaren2.jpg

jkbon - you always have the greatest photos I've never seen!

Wanna swap hard drives for a few days so we can compare notes?? :D

Anyway - thanks for sharing once again.

>8^)
ER

little sidepoint here, teh black f1 with pinstripe and hi downforce kit has an english license plate, dunno if that helps or not