Have you ever wished you owned a 4WD truck? Ever dream of going off-road in a really big way? There you are behind the wheel as you compete in the Baja 1000! Then, you wake up and come to terms with the fact you own a Toyota Prius and not an off-road-equipped Hummer. This photograph-rich survey of 4X4 off-road racing should help you cope. The book’s six chapters cover a different aspect of 4X4 off-road racing. Chapter 1 covers “Desert and Closed Course Racing.” Chapter 2 looks at “Obstacle Course Racing.” Chapter 3 surveys “Drag Racing.” Chapter 4 chronicles “Hill Climbs.” Chapter 5 deals with “Pulling.” Chapter 6 addresses “Rock Crawling and Trail Rides.” Each chapter features a brief but informative introduction to the specific form of off-road racing. The 192 color photographs—I found only one black-and-white image—offer a marvelous array of trucks in action—mud flying from huge tires and airborne trucks abound. Captions, while brief, offer useful information. The final page suggests “Resources” for each chapter. Published in 2009, the book offers an enjoyable time capsule of a bygone era.

Book Review by Robert Gabrick