"It isn’t because I’m an egotistical maniac," he said of his reasons for producing the 331-page book, which details his beginnings in a wooden caravan in Scotland through to his building a multimillion-dollar business empire in Australia.
The Cromwell racetrack owner may have been named as one of the 200 richest people in Australia but getting Zero to 60 told in his own voice was something no amount of money could buy.
Like much of Mr Quinn’s successful career that has seen him build Highlands three years ago, buy Hampton Downs racetrack south of Auckland recently and sell his petfood business for more than $400 million last year, the book was the result of a lot of hard work.
It took three attempts, three years and three authors to get right.
Even at the final stage close to printing, the publisher was still trying to sanitise the colourful language Mr Quinn wanted used in his chapter headings.
He was adamant they remained and the result is symbols blotting out letters in the swearwords.
As Highlands’ chief operating officer Josie Spillane explained in her speech to the 230-person crowd last night, "He says the f-word like we say ‘um’."
Last night Mr Quinn talked about his life, business career and love of motorsport, as well as sharing a few tips on how to build a successful business, which, of course, are all included in the book.
Approaching 60, he said he still felt young and had 52 companies he and his team were involved in.
"I’m not finished yet," he laughed.
His book went on sale on Monday and by yesterday it had made it on to the New Zealand non-fiction best-sellers chart.
● Mr Quinn now heads off on a nationwide book launch tour, which includes Invercargill, Gore, Dunedin and Timaru.
