Race drivers are a breed unto themselves. How many people can sit for three hours, in 55C temperatures, in three layers of clothes, with a heart rate of 160 beats per minute and not totally lose it? In Legends of Speed, respected commentator Bill Woods takes us on a journey that begins with two pioneers who shaped their sport from either side of the world. From the roots of their success a sequence of stories grew, the branches reaching every level of motor racing and weaving through all of its major evolutions. this is not just a tale of individual achievements but remarkable associations and, in some cases, coincidence. there's tony Gaze, the RAF fighter ace who became Australia's first Formula 1 driver and survived the most destructive days of motor racing. there's Sir Jack Brabham, winner of three Formula 1 titles and the only driver ever to win the championship in a car of his own construction; and there's Alan Jones, the playboy racer who won the Formula 1 title in 1980 and helped forge a winning dynasty at Williams. throw in other names like: Peter Brock Mark Webber Frank Gardner Allan Moffat Kevin Bartlett Dick Johnson Frank Matich Bob Jane and you have a who's who of motor racing, men whose friendships, rivalries and exploits changed the world. Every major event, every major player in motor racing has at some time been influenced by one or more of these exceptional characters - the 'Legends of Speed'.