Overview

"Rosco McGlashan is a legend of Australian drag racing and the current Australian land speed record holder. This book tells the incredible story of Rosco's life, cars, and racing career in 378 action-packed pages with 160 remarkable images. I guarantee you won't put this book down! His early years were tough. He spent time in state-run homes and remand centres, eventually leaving home and school at 12. He then drives north in Western Australia to find work, increasing his age from 12 to 16, to fund his racing career. He fought everyone and everything and, at 17, ended up in prison and even solitary confinement. Once released, his salvation comes through his love of speed and raw horsepower. He focuses his fighting spirit and energy on racing and going very fast. His V8 drag bike and jet dragsters take him from Perth and WA all over Australia, New Zealand and the USA. He meets some incredible people, leading to amazing adventures and tales that will leave you speechless. Later, his motorsport career and quest for speed took him to other countries. He gets kidnapped by the Russian Mafia when trying to buy two MIG jet fighter engines and fights his way out. He crashes a car at nearly 600 mph. He also clinically dies on an operating table when another car he was racing went off a mountain road in driving rain. He was revived and went on to break many motor racing and land speed records. He meets mass murderers and world leaders and casually chats with the Dalai Lama. Eventually, Rosco turns his attention to capturing the Australian and world land speed records, a goal he set himself at age 12. In 1994, he beat Donald Campbell's Australian land speed record. Rosco and the Aussie Invader team are putting the finishing touches to their latest record-breaker, the world's fastest and most powerful car, Aussie Invader 5R. This car has 200,000 horsepower, the equivalent of 200 Formula One cars! It can accelerate from 0 - 1000 mph in just 22 seconds. You won't be able to put ""ROSCO The Fastest Aussie on Earth"" down. This book is an inspiring, moving, motivational story of guts, grit, and determination. Quitting is not in this man's vocabulary."

Full Product Details

9780645627367

Table of Contents

Reviews

"This is a raw, real story about a truly remarkable project that only exists because one man has steadfastly refused to give up on an incredible childhood dream. What an amazing journey! I want Aussie Invader to get that land speed record even more now. - David Banbury --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have read many ""stories"" about people's lives and what drives them, this is an excellent insight into the goals of a legend. Lots of us will stand on the sidelines of life and watch others go for the goals we wish we had the balls to do ourselves, then we go back to our safe lives and jobs with money in the bank. Boys and girls like Rosco give 110 % commitment, financially, mentally and often physically chasing their goals so we can all look on in awe. Keep up the dream for all of us mere mortals. - Pete Radcliffe --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From the moment I picked up this book and started reading I found it difficult to put it down. A compelling read and lots of amazing things I could empathise with. Also very well written and easy to keep things in context, Congratulations to everyone involved in this truly outstanding project. - Ian Winter --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It's hard to describe this book and, more importantly, this bloke's life. Putting things very simply, Rosco is a bloke who has taken so many hits, he probably should just lay down and give up. Instead, he stands back up, gives the knockers, the missed opportunities, and the failures the bird and keeps ploughing forward. This is no ordinary bloke. Well written, this book captures his amazing life on a blow-by-blow basis, the trials and tribulations of the fastest Aussie on Earth. You only hope that soon he also gets to have the title of the Fastest Man on Earth. With his determination, it can't be far away. - Simon"

Author Information

I have wanted to write this book for so long because I felt this story was just too incredible not to be told. My book, ROSCO: The Fastest Aussie on Earth, is about my friend Rosco McGlashan. He is an Australian drag racing champion, land speed record holder, and motor racing legend. Although I was new to writing memoirs, being 65 years of age has its advantages, and my writing seemed to flow once I started. From the book reviews, I feel proud to have succeeded in my task of telling this remarkable story in a way that resonates with the readers. I have always been fascinated with mechanical problems, and land speed records are about solving problems. I have been working with Rosco to build the world's fastest car (Aussie Invader 5R), in which Rosco and the Aussie Invader team hope to break the world land speed record and achieve a 1,000 mph (1,600 km/h). The land speed car build and the work I do to see this record broken are a labour of love. I have worked on the Aussie Invader project for 15 years with Rosco and some of the world's best mechanics, engineers, and rocket scientists, and we all give our time and expertise for free. The book's goal is to raise awareness of our land speed record project, with the proceeds going towards supporting it. Mark J ReadAuthor and proud member of the Aussie Invader team. P.S. Book reviews mean a lot, and I read every review personally. Sir Peter Beck is the founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rocket Lab. Sir Peter first met Rosco in 2008, just after founding Rocket Lab in 2006, Sir Peter Beck has grown Rocket Lab into a global organization that develops and launches advanced rockets, satellites and spacecraft. He was rightly knighted by King Charles III and has served on Rocket Lab's board of directors, and as its President and Chief Executive Officer since July 2013 and was appointed Chairman of the Board in May 2021. In 2013, Sir Peter Beck led the development of the Electron launch vehicle, which was designed from the ground up to accommodate a high launch rate business model to meet the needs of customers for small launch services. Under Mr. Beck's leadership, Rocket Lab pioneered advanced aerospace manufacturing techniques for Electron, including 3D printed rocket engines, electric-pump-fed rocket engines and fully carbon composite fuel tanks. Mr Beck also led the development of our private orbital launch site, Launch Complex 1, located in Mahia, New Zealand, which required the establishment of an international treaty and legislation to enable Rocket Lab to use U.S. launch and spacecraft technology that otherwise would not be permitted for launches from foreign soil.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available