As racers, we're always chasing more speed, better laptimes, more wins. We spend hours and days preparing our cars, and a lot of money maintaining and improving our cars. Reducing laptimes is not cheap, and sometimes we spend more only to end up going slower. When someone is willing to share information that they have spent a lot of time and money figuring out, it can be hugely valuable. A $30 book can be worth it’s weight in gold if it contains even one bit of information that can help you improve your laptimes. That is why Carroll Smith’s books are so popular. For a small outlay, you get the wisdom gained over many years and many millions of dollars development costs. And so it is with Neil Roberts' new book, Think Fast – the Racer’s Why-To Guide to Winning.

Think Fast is written in an easy-to-read, engaging style, and is devoid of complex jargon, impenetrable formulas and unnecessary information. Roberts has filled the book with gold. Every page features lessons he has learned during his career to date, as a driver, engineer and chief designer. One of Roberts' key themes is “simplicate and add lightness”, and he has applied this principle in constructing Think Fast. The explanations are simple and do not require a degree to understand. There is no filler, just plenty of useful information. Some long-standing myths are dispelled and some rules to live (win) by are presented clearly and simply.

Topics covered in Think Fast include: reliability, driver development, car setup, tyre and suspension, driveline, aerodynamics and one of the best explanations of shock-absorber setup available in print.

The author, Neil Roberts has been a budget racer, just like us. He has engineered Indycars, he has worked with some of the finest engineers in Motorsport, and been a chief designer at Swift, where he led the design of the Swift 014.a Formula Atlantic (as raced by Chris Farrell in Formula Tasman). Roberts still works for Swift, and has recently designed jets for the company. On top of all this, Roberts has a relaxed and readable writing style, and an ability to get to the point without leaving those less knowledgable than himself behind.

Think Fast is available now through the website: thinkfastbook.com

We will have a signed copy to award to the “Smartest Racer” at each round during 2011, but if you're interested in winning, we recommend getting your copy now.

Full disclosure: Neil Roberts has supplied six complimentary copies of Think Fast to iRace to be awarded to competitors, this review is NOT a paid endorsement, the book really is that good.