My Chequered Career Steve Rider : Thirty-Five Years of Televising Motorsport

This is a fascinating and fast-paced read by a well-known TV sports presenter with a particular passion for motorsport. Steve Rider begins his story in 1978 when, as a young reporter for Norfolk-based Anglia Television, he made a documentary about the 'local' Formula 1 team, Lotus, which was then at the height of its success and that year won the World Championship with Mario Andretti. Rider recounts tales of happy associations with Mario, including an unconventional journey together in the author's old DAF road car, as well as his difficult dealings with Colin Chapman and the dark conclusion of Ronnie Peterson's death at Monza in the Italian Grand Prix, where the final parts of the documentary were filmed. With plenty of page-turning appeal, Rider then takes us through numerous illuminating experiences both on track and in the studio over the years that followed, recounting many insightful and often amusing stories about the true greats he has encountered - from Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell to Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.

Steve Rider has been prominent in televised sport for over 30 years, for many years presenting the BBC biggest sports programmes -- Grandstand, Sportsnight and BBC Sports Personality of the Year -- as well anchoring coverage of Formula 1 and the Olympic Games. After leaving the BBC, he anchored ITV?s Formula 1 coverage from 2006 to 2008. For 2012, he is back with Formula 1, as part of the Sky Sports team presenting his Formula 1 Legends series.