Book Description
Charlotte and the Carolina Piedmont has an extensive and legendary tradition of automobile racing. Soon after 1904, when the first car was registered in Charlotte, autos became a part of everyday life. Car racing was just around the bend: an open-road race was run through Charlotte as early as 1908. Many drivers themselves have hailed from the area, and some are said to have received early training by running moonshine and outrunning authorities. Probably the best-known aspect of Carolina racing is the Queen Cityís involvement since 1949 with NASCAR, which hosts many of its big names and operations. ÝÝAuto Racing in Charlotte and the Carolina Piedmont explores the story behind the various forms of the sport, the kinds of people who have raced, and the reasons why they have done so. Historic photographsómany never before publishedótrace the history of NASCAR and look beyond the professional aspect to include the dragracers, wannabees, kids, and just plain amateurs participating in this cultural phenomenon. The story includes the first formal oval track, constructed entirely of wooden planks and opened in 1925. Other famous Charlotte locations, including professional dirt tracks, drag strips, and even a paved track dedicated to Soap Box Derby, are also revisited. Images of fans, mechanics, and hangers-on round out this singular journey of racing in the Carolinas. ÝÝ ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

This book is excellent and has amazing information.
This book is amazing and has wonderful information.This book is one of the best I have read in a long time, it provided me plenty of information.This book is entertaining and informing.I would reccommend this book for anyone doing a research paper or for anyone in particular wanting to read a really good book. ... Read more

Book Description
As soon as there were automobiles, there was racing. The first recorded race, an over road event from Paris to Rouen, France, was organized by the French newspaper Le Petit Journal in 1894. Seeing an opportunity for a similar event, Hermann H. Kohlsaat—publisher of the Chicago Times-Herald—sponsored what was hailed as the "Race of the Century," a 54-mile race from Chicago's Jackson Park to Evanston, Illinois, and back. Frank Duryea won in a time of 10 hours and 23 minutes, of which 7 hours and 53 minutes were actually spent on the road.

Race cars and competition have progressed continuously since that time, and today's 200 mph races bear little resemblance to the event Duryea won. This work traces American auto racing through the 20th century, covering its significant milestones, developments and personalities. Subjects included are: Bill Elliott, dirt track racing, board track racing, Henry Ford, Grand Prix races, Dale Earnhardt, the Vanderbilt Cup, Bill France, Gordon Bennett, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Mercer, the Stutz, Duesenberg, Frank Lockhart, drag racing, the Trans Am, Paul Newman, vintage racing, land speed records, Al Unser, Wilbur Shaw, the Corvette, the Cobra, Richard Petty, NASCAR, Can Am, Mickey Thompson, Roger Penske, Mario Andretti, Jeff Gordon, and Formula One. Through interviews with participants and track records, this text shows where, when and how racing changed. It describes the growth of each different form of auto racing as well as the people and technologies that made it ever faster. ... Read more

Book Description
The history of the Mercedes provides the thread for this book that narrates the early history of automobile racing from the beginnings in 1895 until the First World War in 1915 when racing temporarily ceased. The book focuses on the races themselves, the drivers and mechanics, the engineers in the background and the technical progress of the cars. Automobile racing had its origins in Paris, and French marques and the Automobile Club de France were dominating the scene. But in 1901 a foreign troublemaker emerged, the Mercedes. This German machine was to play a leading role, its career and evolution becoming an image of the whole period. The individuals who built and drove these early racers laid the foundation of a new industry, conceived the modern, high-performance engine, and gave magic to a series of races, which drew ever more spectators and thrilled entire nations.

This richly illustrated history answers many questions from this time in automotive history. Early chapters discuss the marketing of the original Daimler engine in France, the position and influence of Emil Jellinek and Wilhelm Maybach, and the great town-to-town and Gordon Bennett races. Later chapters focus on the French Grand Prix, the great crisis of 1909, the voiturette movement, the Mercedes and Benz successes in America, including the record attempts of the Blitzen Benz, and the role of Ernest Henry in the development of the revolutionary Peugeot. Final chapters describe the career of the 4.5-litre Mercedes and its impact on future designs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Nice Book - strange words
This is a nicely produce volume with numerous photographs that are very evocative of the period. The content is good with a great deal of unique historical information and background on the personalities. I found the text, however, to be difficult to read, due to the unusual use of the english language. I feel this valuable work would be much improved through more detailed editing. Nevertheless, I feel this volume remains essential reading to any student of early motoring history. ... Read more

Book Description
Meet an elite group of athletes like Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Dale Jarrett, and others who put God above fame, money, and success. Read how each athlete maintained their relationship with Christ while making personal sacrifices to carve their own niche in the world of auto racing.


... Read more

Book Description
Prior to World War I, auto racing featured expensive machines and teams financed by auto factories. The teams toured the country, and most of the races were held in large cities, so the vast majority of Americans never saw a race. All this changed after World War I, though, and in the 1920s and 1930s there were approximately 1,000 dirt tracks in the United States and Canada. The dirt tracks offered small-time racing—little prize money and minimal publicity—but people loved it.

This pictorial history documents dirt track racing, with what is today called sprint cars, around the United States from 1919 to 1941. Information on dirt track racing in Canada during this time is also provided. Regionally divided chapters detail the drivers, tracks, and specific races of each area of the country. Some of the drivers went on to win fame and fortune while others faded into obscurity. Tracks included well known facilities as well as out-of-the-way sites few people had ever heard of. The cars ranged from state of the art machines to the more common home built specials based on Model T or Model A Ford parts. Taken together, the drivers, tracks, and races of this era were instrumental in making auto racing the popular sport it is today. ... Read more

Amazon.com
What's your greatest NASCAR memory? Bob McCullough (My Greatest Day in Baseball)posed that question to 47 drivers, owners, crew chiefs, and NASCARofficials--from Bobby Allison to Smokey Yunick--during the 1999 season. For JeffGordon, the answer was recent history: winning the 1999 Daytona 500 onValentine's Day. "King" Richard Petty had to reach a bit farther back--to the1984 win at the Firecracker 400 with then-President Reagan watching in thestands. Cale Yarborough went even further back: remembering his first careervictory, the 1968 Southern 500 in Darlington--just 15 miles from where he wasborn and raised. No matter the vintage, the stories offer up an intimateperspective on the world's fastest-growing sport. "Awesome Bill fromDawsonville" Elliott, Dale and Ned Jarrett, Benny and Phil Parsons, Bobby andTerry Labonte, Bobby and Donny Allison--all the greats of stock-car racing arehere. My Greatest Day in NASCAR is essential reading for NASCAR fans.--M. SteinBook Description
Here are the words of Jeff Gordon, Bobby Allison, Richard Petty, and many others--all talking about their greatest racing moments. For the first time ever, Bob McCullough has brought together a first-person account of the most exciting races, personal achievements, and events for the last 50 years. Fans get to read both an oral history of racing and a moving tribute to the efforts and achievements of the sports stars as well as the behind-the-scenes people who help make racing what it is today. With its insider's look into the world of auto racing, My Greatest Day in NASCAR is a must-have for all racing fans. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Thumbs Down
This is the worst book I have ever read on NASCAR. It is full of inaccuracies and misspelled words. For example, oil dry is referred to as "oil drop", sprint cars are referred to as "spring cars", etc. The chapter on John Andretti's greatest day in NASCAR focuses on his Indy 500 experience. The Ralph Moody chapter is especially hard to follow as it appears that he author transcribed a taped interview without any editing. It would have been helpful if this book was edited by a knowledgeable racing writer so as not to insult racing fans with a poor attempt at what could have been a great book.

A Great Read!
This book is great! It tells of memories from great drivers. I highly recommed this book!! Five stars all the way!! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Source!
Having collected auto racing memorabilia for years I have often wondered why someone hasn't come out with a definitive resource. Well, here it is! While it is very small in size it is not short on value. Covering everytingfrom driver profiles to open wheel racing this is the ultimate source. It'sa shame that it gets buried on the book shelf because of its size, but goodthings really do come in small packages! Outstanding! ... Read more

Product Description
A pictoral and written history of America's most unusual sprint car organization, the International Motor Contest Association from 1914 to 1977. This club dominated sprint car racing in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, and sanctioned races from Arizona to Massachusetts.The greatest dirt track stars in the nation were IMCA champions; Gus Schrader, Emory Collins, Ralph DePalma, Barney Oldfield, Fred Horey, Sig Haugdahl, Deb Snyder, Bob Grim, Frank Luptow, Joie Chitwood, Everett Saylor, Pete Folse, and Jim Wilburn all were IMCA stars.The foreword is by three time Indianapolis 500 winner Johnny Rutherford, himself a former IMCA star. 196 pages, high quality hard bound book with many color photos. 500 photos and articles. ... Read more

Product Description
A must read for fans of all types of auto racing. Doug Wolfgang rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most successful sprint car racers of all time. His smooth, fast style and his thoughtful, articulate observations of the world around him endeared him to legions of fans throughout the country. He reached the pinnacle of his sport by winning hundreds of races during his career, including five Knoxville Nationals triumphs. In April 1992 Wolfie was terribly burned in an accident at Kansas City, Kan., and fought through years of rehabilitation and dozens of surgeries to race again, mixed with a controversial lawsuit.After years of reflection, Wolfie looks back on his life, his career, and the sport of auto racing. Speaking from the heart, this is Wolfie at his very best: Honest, insightful, funny, interesting, straightforward. Ride along with Bob Trostle, Doug and Joanne Howells, Bob Weikert, Danny Peace, and many more. Race alongside Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell, Darryl Dawley, Keith Kauffman, and Lealand McSpadden. Listen to the cheers in Knoxville, and dodge the boos and beer cans from the people on Beer Hill at Williams Grove Speedway. Make the long ride from Skagit to Syracuse and all points in between.This is a book you will never forget. Author Dave Argabright captures not just the words of Doug Wolfgang, but the deep emotions within the man. ... Read more

Book Description
Automobile racing, the world's fastest sport, began almost as soon as the first cars were built. It developed and thrived in the Province of Alberta, far removed from the world power centres of racing. In The Speediest Land Traveller, former race driver Dick McDonell spins a story of the heroes and geniuses who built and raced cars against the best on the planet, and of the developers, politicians, promoters and wheeler-dealers who gave them places to learn their craft.

At times hilarious and others tragic, The Speediest Land Traveller paints a memorable portrait of an exciting sport and the century of change in which it grew. This is must-have book for anyone with an interest in auto racing or Alberta history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Priceless reviews of drivers that have come and gone.
Though it took me a few months to have this book sent to me, it was well worth the wait. I found it informative and very correct. I am using the book for research and it has proven to be an extremelly important tool.Reading the history of the drivers from and era gone, it is interesting tonote how close these drivers profiles match racing drivers of the decadethat we are now in. I keep this book onmy priority shelf. ... Read more