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  • Life in the Fast Lane

  • The Definitive Text
  • By: Steve Matchett
  • Narrated by: Steve Matchett
  • Length: 13 hrs and 7 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (43 ratings)
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Life in the Fast Lane cover art

Life in the Fast Lane

By: Steve Matchett
Narrated by: Steve Matchett
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Summary

Over the past two decades, Life in the Fast Lane has grown to become a true staple of Formula 1 literature. In essence a monthly diary of a Benetton grand prix mechanic, this essential book gives a behind-the-scenes account of daily life in the trenches of F1 during the tragic and turbulent 1994 season.

The author's unique point-of-view makes this book indispensable listening for any serious motor racing enthusiast. But Life in the Fast Lane is much more than an intelligently written, informative diary of this highly exclusive multimillion-dollar world. Its remarkable insider setting, its exceptional subject matter, its unfolding tension, its ease of narration - all of these thrilling ingredients - have been wonderfully blended, mixed together to be truly captivating. From January through to December, the enthralled listener is simply compelled to follow the author's stunning racing year from start to finish.

Written and narrated by popular author and Formula 1 television personality, Steve Matchett, Life in the Fast Lane is Matchett's first book (three more soon followed), and its immediate success proved the catalyst to take him from a life in the pit lanes of F1 to a new life in America. For the past 20 years, he has been a broadcaster with FOX and NBC television, and now is an eloquent narrator of his own audiobooks. However, he was unknown outside of his highly clandestine industry. He was a Formula 1 race mechanic, a member of the Benetton grand prix team working alongside celebrities like Flavio Briatore, Michael Schumacher, and Ross Brawn. His fast-paced story of the frantic, unending backstage activity to become the fastest and best in the world gives a fascinating, unparalleled insight into Formula 1 during some of its darkest and most difficult days.

©1995 Steve Matchett (P)2018 Steve Matchett

What listeners say about Life in the Fast Lane

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderfully entertaining and a must for f1 fans

Speaking as a die hard Michael Schumacher fan and having so many mixed feelings about the 1994 season, this book was a wonderful trip back to those days when formula one was truly great. The author / narrator giving some unique insights from those early testing sessions to a race by race view from the pit lane. Explaining in easy terms the issues with Michaels disqualifications from Silverstone and Spa as well as insight to the famous refuelling fire in Hockenheim. All beautifully performed with some good humour especially the phrasing of the Benetton crash machine (you’ll have to listen to know what I mean). Thoroughly recommended. I will listen to these a few times I am sure

Thank you so much Steve Matchett - I loved it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I now want to watch all of 1994's races again.

I now want to watch all of 1994's races again. It was my first year out of school and I was so excited about life. It was also such a gut-wrenching season.

I really enjoyed this POV as, as a fan, one tends to think of the team as a whole and not individuals within a group.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Must for F1 Junkies.

Really good read 1994 was truly a bad year for F1 Steve puts all in to perspective .What I remember that year was Schumacher was Dick Dasterdly and Hill was the Hero . Interesting to listen to Benetton's point of view from the author.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A absolute delight!

I’m almost ashamed I waited this long to listen to Steve’s retelling of the dramatic 1994 season. I’ve heard it from many and angle before, but this is my favorite. Well written, at times funny, serious and always engaging the hours flew by. It’s a cliche to say, but I agree with other reviewers - a must in the F1 readers canon.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Not great but not bad either.

Not a bad record of one of F1's most tumultuous years although no great revelations to someone (like me) who was following F1 at this time and remembers vividly the event leading up to and including May 1st 1994.

The narration is pretty good, but can get a little over bearing after a time. The authors style is at times very wordy and I don't think I would have enjoyed reading it too much. The chapters too are very long so at times it was a bit of a struggle.

Worth a credit though for a bit of a walk down F1's memory lane.

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EPIC!!

A real insight into the ongoing Saga of the F1 Circus, I have followed F1 for the best part of 30 years and reading this book gave me a new insight into what happened throughout the year with Benetton Formula 1 team.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant!

Extremely well written and read. A really good story from a unique perspective! A must for any f1 or automotive fan!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting but overdone

Nice book but the writing is for me over descriptive that started to annoy me after a while

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