A Day at the Races

Tales of Love & Kindness, Cheese Nibbles & Grand Prix Motor Racing

Not all books set around Formula 1 grand prix motor racing need concern themselves with technical descriptions of engines and transmissions, nor need they be overly concerned with track layouts, lap times, cornering speeds, or in-depth profiles of winning drivers and teams. Some do – and that’s perfectly fine – but others don’t, that’s the point.

Some books set around Formula 1 are allowed to be concerned with other things, like friendship and love and loyalty, caring and kindness. A Day at the Races is one of these other books.

Three friends: a dog, a donkey, and a young girl share their playtimes together – they sit on the ground and create a simple bygone world of make-believe, pretending to be wherever they wish to be. Through their little adventures, the reader learns of their deep friendship for one another, of the fun they have together, of the care and tenderness they afford one another.

Using his unique, intimate knowledge of grand prix racing, combined with his own quiet philosophy of what’s genuinely important in life – and with the help of a single illustration – best-selling author Steve Matchett has created a truly remarkable micro-world of exceptional depth and quality. Through his hypnotic use of language and imagery, through his concise writing of these tiny tales, we are treated to the full range of emotions, we see our own lives reflected back at us. And by the close of the book we are given an essential metaphysical lesson, one the reader will never forget: be kind to one another, the world needs it.

A Day at the Races is the small book with a big heart: funny, insightful, poignant, immensely touching – the perfect gift for anyone with an interest in motor racing... or anyone who has absolutely no interest whatsoever in motor racing. We are all the same, and we all need a little kindness in our lives.