06-08-05

MOTORBOOKS SELECTS SECRETS OF SPEED AUTHORS TO WRITE NEW KARTING BOOK

Grimsby, Ontario, Canada — Memo Gidley and Jeff Grist, co-authors of Memo Gidley’s Secrets of Speed book series, to produce new karting book with world’s leading automotive enthusiast publisher

Burlington, Ontario, Canada – Memo Gidley, accomplished open wheel racecar driver, shifter kart champion and pilot of the #19 AIR FORCE RESERVE Daytona Prototype will again join forces with author/publisher Jeff Grist to produce a new title for Motorbooks. The new book, titled Karting: Everything You Need to Know, is part of a new Motorbooks series launching fall 2005.

“The Everything You Need to Know series is a great way to introduce enthusiasts to the activities they care about and in which they want to participate,” said Peter Bodensteiner, acquisitions editor for Motorbooks. “Each book in the series will serve as a mentor, allowing people new to the sport or activity to get started. I am confident that even intermediate and advanced karters will learn a lot from this new addition to this exciting book series.”

The success of the Secrets of Speed series is proof positive that there is a strong appetite for more information and insight into the mechanics and dynamics of karting. Feeding that pent up demand is the single-minded focus for both Gidley and Grist.

“The response from karters around the world for our books has been amazing,” states Gidley. “This new book will help to bring all forms of karting together under one title,” continues Gidley from his home in Novato, California. “I am really excited about the effort that Motorbooks is putting behind this project.”

With three successful titles under their belt and three more Memo Gidley Secrets of Speed books to come, this writing duo feel they understand what kart racers are looking for in a how to-book. Being selected to work on this project by Motorbooks is proof this writing is on the right track.

“This new book will build on the incredible success of Secrets of Speed series,” states Jeff Grist, co-author and publisher of Memo Gidley’s Secrets of Speed series. “With the help and support of the entire team at Motorbooks, we hope to bring karting to a new and bigger audience,” continues Grist from his home in Grimsby, Ontario, Canada. “I think working with Motorbooks will help us become better ambassadors for the sport of karting.”

Karting: Everything You Need to Know will retail at $24.95, with approximately 160 pages and 300 color photos. Like other books in the series, the karting book answers all the common questions a newcomer is likely to have. It features plenty of instructive anecdotes, definitions of critical terms, and helpful tips. Detailed and plentiful photos and captions add context and encourage the reader to “learn by doing.” The text is welcoming, encouraging, conversational, and casual in tone. Additional features include a comprehensive table of contents, content summaries at the head of each chapter, frequent subheads, and extensive resource listings.

“I wasn’t planning on writing another book this summer,” smiles Gidley. “But this is really a great opportunity for Jeff and I to promote karting at a new level,” continues Gidley as he prepares for the next round of 2005 Grand Am Series.

2006 marks a very special milestone for the sport of karting. Release of Karting: Everything You Need to Know, will happen as the karting industry begins its’ 50th anniversary celebrations.

“We are very excited that Memo and Jeff have chosen to work with Motorbooks on this new entry level karting book,” states Daryl Sitarz of the Kart Industry Council. “We believe that books like this are good for karting and good for the karting industry. With 2006 being the 50th anniversary year of karting in North America, the KIC plans to support this project and hope the rest of the industry does the same.”

For review copy requests or additional information on Motorbooks, please contact Erica Kritsberg at 651-287-5168. For more information on the Memo Gidley’s Secrets of Speed series please contact Jeff Grist at 905-328-7458.

About Memo Gidley
Memo Gidley is an accomplished racecar driver having competed in CART, including podium finishes at Houston, Laguna Seca and Cleveland. Currently Memo can be seen competing in the Grand Am Series driving the #19 Air Force Reserve Daytona Prototype. Memo is one of America’s most successful kart racers with multiple championships to his credit. Memo continues to act as a test driver for Trackmagic Racing Karts of San Francisco, CA. For more information on Memo Gidley visit memogidley.com or contact Donnie Graves at Pacific Management Services at 818.985.4377.

About Jeff Grist
Jeff Grist is a kart racing enthusiast and multi-time author. Mr. Grist has put his 15 years of brand marketing and corporate communications experience into this new project. Currently, Jeff is President and CEO of PromoSpyder Inc., an Oakville, ON based Internet software development company he founded in 2000. For more information on this book please contact Mr. Grist at 905.328.7458.

About Motorbooks
Motorbooks, an imprint of MBI Publishing Company, is the world’s leading publisher of automotive, motorcycle and motorsport books for enthusiasts. For 40 years, Motorbooks has published award-winning books by the world’s most talented authors and photographers in the subject category.

View Past "FYI" Articles