Words: Jason Round

Both retailing for $34.95, here are two great books to see away the Xmas season. Both are available online from www.pitstop.net.au.

365 CARS YOU MUST DRIVE
I can tell you with utmost certainty that you won’t find the ’86 Colt in these pages, but you will find a collection of cool, collectable and downright crazy rides to sink your teeth (or foot) into before you head towards the light. Each car gets either a full or half page complete with author’s blurb and a small breakout box detailing the car’s claim to fame, facts, who you’d take along as a passenger and even what is recommended listening for your trip.

Naturally, it’s tongue in cheek, but if you’re a car fan like us, you’ll get plenty out of Matra’s witty prose. The selection of cars we thought was pretty spot on, though with a bit of US bias. Even the Batmobile makes an appearance, along with Audis, Lambos, Bentleys and pretty much damn near anything else, including recent monsters, such as the Bugatti Veyron. It’s a great book packed with plenty of info. Pick it up today.

DRIFTING: SIDEWAYS FROM AMERICA TO JAPAN
If you need a healthy dose of drifting culture, you’ll find it in this title, which really delves a little deeper than most, drawing you into the faces and atmosphere of the scene. The book largely focuses on the arrival of drifting in the US and it’s impact on ol’ Uncle Sam. There are large colour photos spread over 127-odd pages, along with thoughtful, engaging captions. Of course, for some reason we ended up in the back of the book at the ‘Umbrella Girls in Drifting’ section, though there’s a huge historical background provided on the sport towards the front, followed by the series of races that heralded the sport’s arrival in the States.

Magazines, websites and clubs are all covered, along with a chapter focussing specifically on the trends and culture surrounding the sport, and trust us, there are quite a few oddities in there. If you’re a drifting fan, or just want to impress your mates with newfound knowledge, this should definitely do the trick.