Synopsis
Winner of the William Hill Irish Sports Book of the Year Award
“One of the most extraordinary sporting autobiographies you are likely to come across.”—Daily Telegraph
Crashed and Byrned is the thrilling tale of a poverty-stricken kid’s rise to become the only driver Formula One legend Ayrton Senna ever feared—and how it all went wrong from there. For a brief moment Tommy Byrne was arguably the world’s greatest driver, the equivalent of Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali rolled into one. But in a sport where talent isn’t always as important as the money you bring to the table, he was almost doomed from the start. With all the chips stacked against him, he became the 1980 Double British Formula Ford 1600 champion, the 1981 British Formula Ford 2000 champion and the European Formula Ford 2000 champion. In 1982—having also become British F3 champion—he entered F1, but by the following year had disappeared without trace.
This is the true story of Byrne’s improbable escape from the streets of Dundalk, Ireland, his rapid rise, and his fall from grace. From his hardscrabble childhood to navigating Irish sectarian violence, and from the spectacular trials of the racing circuit in the 1980s to the time he spent driving for a rich, gun-toting Mexican playboy—Byrne’s memoir details how he finally found peace within himself and became an instructor for high school students, professional drivers (Al Unser III), and rock stars (Vince Neil) alike. Peppered with dark humor, the insights of fellow F1 racers, and a cast of over-the-top characters, this book is raw, passionate, and—with Byrne’s ability to tell it like it is—not for the faint-hearted.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
TOMMY BYRNE is the father of three and now makes his home in the United States, dividing his time between Daytona, Florida and Lexington, Ohio where he teaches at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
MARK HUGHES is one of sport’s top journalists. His books on Formula One include the critically acclaimed Lewis Hamilton: The Full Story and Speed Addicts, which won the Illustrated Sports Book of the Year.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Other Popular Editions of the Same Title
Search results for Crashed and Byrned: The Greatest Racing Driver You...
Stock Image
Crashed and Byrned: The Greatest Racing Driver You Never Saw
Seller: ThriftBooks-Atlanta, AUSTELL, GA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G1906850186I4N00
Stock Image
Crashed and Byrned: The Greatest Racing Driver You Never Saw
Seller: ThriftBooks-Dallas, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G1906850186I3N00
Stock Image
Crashed And Byrned The Greatest Racing Driver You Never Saw
Seller: Hamelyn, Madrid, M, Spain
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Bueno. : Este libro narra la historia de Tommy Byrne, un piloto de carreras que nunca alcanzó la fama que merecía. Publicado en 2010 por Corinthian Books, este libro ofrece una mirada fascinante a la vida y carrera de un talento oculto en el mundo del automovilismo. EAN: 9781906850180 Tipo: Libros Categoría: Deportes y Recreación Título: Crashed And Byrned The Greatest Racing Driver You Never Saw Autor: Tommy Byrne Idioma: en. Seller Inventory # Happ-2026-03-17-9d25a2ef
Buy Used
US$ 24.03
US$ 14.98 shipping
Ships from Spain to U.S.A.
Ships from Spain to U.S.A.
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Crashed and Byrned: The Greatest Racing Driver You Never Saw
Seller: City Books, Hove, Hove, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Soft cover. Condition: New. Dust Jacket Condition: New. This is the thrilling, warts-engine-oil-and-all autobiography of the only racing driver Ayrton Senna ever feared - the 200mph flawed genius of Tommy Byrne. It tells the surreal tale of a poverty-stricken Dundalk kid's rise to become the only racing driver the great Ayrton Senna ever feared - and how it all went wrong from there. For a brief moment Tommy Byrne was arguably the world's greatest driver, the motor racing equivalent of George Best and Muhammad Ali rolled into one - A racer, a thief, a raconteur.This is the story of his improbable escape, his rapid rise and his spectacular and bizarre fall from grace. Peppered with dark humour and a cast of ridiculous characters, it is the antithesis of a fairytale - and it's all true. Hold on tight, the tale of Tommy Byrne is quite a ride - from fending for himself as the runt of a big Catholic litter in the '60s, running the gauntlet of the sectarian violence in the '70s, troubling Ayrton Senna and making it to F1 in the '80s, resorting to drugs in the aftermath and driving for a deluded billionaire madman and then gun-toting Mexicans in the '90s. It's raw, passionate, and - with Byrne's ability to tell it like it is - not for the faint-hearted. Seller Inventory # ABE-1750600527900
Buy New
US$ 20.60
US$ 37.33 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Crashed and Byrned: The Greatest Racing Driver You Never Saw
Published by
Icon Books, U.S.A., 2010
ISBN 10: 1906850186
ISBN 13: 9781906850180
Used
Soft cover
First Edition
Seller: Pulpfiction Books, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Reprint trade paperback. Very Good+, light edgewear noted to printed wraps. A clean, lightly used copy. Seller Inventory # 001760
Buy Used
US$ 70.00
US$ 16.50 shipping
Ships from Canada to U.S.A.
Ships from Canada to U.S.A.
Quantity: 1 available