Shunt - A Book Review

This week I have finished reading a biography of James Hunt - Shunt by Tom Rubython.

Whilst not the best sports biography that I have read it is well worth reading as it provides a comprehensive background to his life.  For me James Hunt was the first F1 driver that I remember winning the World Championship and then was used to his co-commentary with Murray Walker from the 1980s through to his sudden death in 1993.

From my knowledge of James Hunt until I read the book I knew that he was a playboy and was very much part of the glamorous world of Formula 1 during the 1970s and I also felt that he had "lucked" into his World Championship win in 1976 due to the horrendous crash suffered by Niki Lauda at the Nurburgring that season.  However, having read the book I now believe that he was fully deserving of his title and that it was a shame that he was never really in contention for a second title even with the three wins he achieved the following season, and this was partly due to his early retirement from the sport which was brought about because of the dangers all apparent in  Motor Racing during his heyday.  The death of his friend Ronnie Peterson in the 1978 Italian Grand Prix was the catalyst that he needed to make that decision.

What did become apparent from reading the book was that if Hunt was given the equipment he would always get the best from it and the number of wins and pole positions that he achieved in 1976 and 1977 go to confirm this.  The main challenge that he faced was that in the late 1970s Formula 1 was very competitive with plenty of drivers and teams capable of winning Grand Prix, technology (particularly aerodynamics) were becoming far more significant in the development of cars and from the leadership of Bernie Ecclestone the whole sport was starting to become far more professional and moving away from it's more Corinthian beginnings.

All of these issues are covered in some detail in the book which is why it is a must read for any Formula 1 fan whatever you may think of Hunt himself.

As for Hunt as a person for most of the book he does not endear himself to the reader because of his hedonistic excesses for much of his life but by the end of the book and therefore his life he appeared to have grown up, and the fact that he was not just acquainted with but was popular with so many of the "Great and the Good" of F1 it does suggest he was a very charming and personable man - good friends included Bernie Ecclestone, Prof. Sid Watkins, Stirling Moss, Jackie Stewart, Ayrton Senna and Niki Lauda.

It is really for the reader to make their own decisions as to whether he was a spoilt brat or was actually a genuinely likable human being but want cannot be questioned is his undoubted talents as a racing driver.

The book itself is generally well researched and written but frustratingly there are a few typing errors particularly when it comes to numbers and dates which can make it feel a bit confusing at times - my impression is that it was rushed into print without the editing process being properly completed - but that is a minor point.  The author in the headline of his preface suggests the book is "A nonfiction book that reads like a novel', a description that I disagree with however unbelievable some of the antics Hunt got up to may appear to some.  If as a reader you want to read such a sports biography I suggest Sex, Lies and Handlebar Tape by Paul Howard which chronicles the life of Jacques Anquetil who was the first man to win five Tours France, a book I reviewed about 18 months ago (http://stanonsport.blogspot.com/2009/07/sex-lies-and-handlebar-tape-book-review.html).

So in summary for anyone interested in James Hunt or Formula 1 in the 1970s this is a must read book.

The book is published by Myrtle in the UK.