Loved "The Race" as someone here mentioned and I also read "American Flyers" long before it was made into a movie. Unfortunately I didn't steal that one from the ex when I moved out so I'll to find it again, not a clue who the author is but I remember the book was great.

Thanks Irulan, I was trying the remember that name of "The Immortal Class" the other day when I was at Borders!