Book Description

Customer Reviews (3)

The Way It Was
McClurg's book is spectacular!!! Love the way the book flows, awesome photos from the various eras. Especially good with the early 1970's rear engine fuelers. First rate!

ANOTHER SUPERLATIVE EFFORT
This book is superb, even surpassing McClurg's earlier tome.Lots of sharp color and black and white images.The book is divided into genres, like slingshots, gassers, etc.I'd have liked a few more fuel altered shots, but that's quibbling.It's an excellent book that you should make it your business to get.

awesome book
Great stories on the history of drag racing. The pictures are excellent. if your a drag racing buff, this book is great ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (5)

'70s Pro Stock!
Some very cool old photo's! Unfortunatly the person matching the captions to the photo's must still be living in the '70s and smoking pot! Some of the captions don't match what is in the photo.

Pro Stock Drag Racing
For those of us who remember the days when Pro Stock race cars looked like the cars we drove on the street. Well put together photos and descriptions make it worth the price of admission to the pits!

car crazy
If (thatguy01) is going to review a book, he must read it very carefully to give the review credibility. Page 37, "Ive Beringhouse is gone now" and page 109, "Don suffered fatal injuries." Quite clear that these race car drivers are deceased. Pro Stock fans will love this book.

Pro Stock Drag Racing of the 70's
Great photos, but the text has more misinformation than Howard Dean.

Nice photos
Plenty of good photos.Lots of color photos.The b/w photos are from great b/w drag racing photographers, like Charlie Gilchrist (you can see more at [...]).

I've docked two stars because of the captions.

There are obvious errors that don't correspond to the photos (eg, "Sandy Elliot" driving the Sandy Elliot Comet when usual shoe Barrie Poole's name is lettered on the window), plus spelling errors that are evident from the photos, so I don't have a lot of confidence in any information that isn't directly based on the photos.

Some captions have brief career summaries of drivers, but omit that the driver *died* in a Pro Stock-style car (eg, Irv Beringhaus, Don Carlton), which seems like the single most important historic and biographical fact to include. ... Read more

Book Description
Drag racing is a down-to-earth form of motor sport that isboth accessible and affordable. It fascinates an ever-growing community offans from around the world.

This has partly to do with the sport itself, but certainly also withdrag racing's very individual brand of aesthetics when it comes to the carsand the people who drive, repair and admire them. Drag racing is a mix ofuproariously loud, primordial displays of power and high-tech; its driverslove the sport but flirt openly with destruction and putting their lives indanger.

Speed Kings presents photographs by Dirk Behlau thatskillfully capture the adrenalin-fuelled atmosphere of suspense on andalongside the track, as well as the eroticism of the machines and thepeople who give their lives for a few seconds of the ultimate kick.

Start your engines! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Speed Kings - an absolute "must-have" book for Greasers, Drag Racing Fans and every Octane Maniac!
Review from Street Magazine, Issue 4/2007:
You surely remember this great US-Car photographer Dirk Behlau aka Pixeleye from our artist profile in the last issue. His photos are just truly amazing and outstanding! It was just a matter of time when he would come around the corner with something like this. Now his first photobook is out on the market...and what can i say: Speed Kings is an absolute "must-have" book for Greasers, Drag Racing Fans and every Octane Maniac! ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (3)

DRag Racing History
This book is an excellent source for researching vintage Funny cars and drivers. Great pictures.

drag racing funny cars of the 1970s
This book has nothing to brag about,all photos are black and white,and quality isn't that great.Pretty good tidbits of information,but not much.It will be a letdown If you are expecting modern day quality for photos.

If you're a funny car enthusiast, get this book
This book is a pictorial, with ample captions.It carries you through from early 1970 through the end of the decade, with an emphasis on '70 through about '74.Most of the famous cars here, plus some obscure ones.Some of the photos were taken by non-professional fans, but are good nonetheless.A good assortment of pit shots and on-track action, mostly burnouts.A visual history of a simpler era in full-bodied drag racing. ... Read more

Book Description
A comprehensive guide to one of the most important, but often neglected, areas of performance: the cooling system. Includes information on basic engine cooling theory, as well as all components such as water pumps, radiators, coolant and thermostatic control. ... Read more

Book Description
The most exciting and unpredictable cars in drag racing just had to be the Fuel Altereds. These race cars were short wheelbase coupes and roadsters powered by the same high horsepower engines found in the Top Fuel Dragsters. That combination produced some wild,exciting and memorable racing.This book tells the story of the Fuel Altereds. It begins with the 1957 fuel ban when both nitro and alcohol were outlawed from drag racing. However, like Prohibition, the rule makers could not completely shut off the nitro.The rebirth of the Fuel Coupes and Roadsters in the early 1960s was the foundation of the Fuel Altered class.Much publicized performances by several Fuel Coupes and Roadsters quickly generated more competition and improved performances.By 1965 drag strips in Southern California were scheduling Fuel Altered Eliminator programs. The late 1960s were terrific for Fuel Altered racers and enthusiasts.There were numerous cars and lots of Fuel Altered Eliminator programs.Some racers went on national tours.It was wonderful but it only lasted for a few years. By the early 1970s the changes in drag racing resulted in the demise of the Fuel Altereds.This book tells about the rules changes,controversies,illegalities and perfomances that were the Fuel Altered story. Gone but not forgotten. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

excellent in every way!
Don Montgomery strikes again; this book is great.Traces the evolution of the fuel altered class from the beginning in a clear, factual way.There are a huge number of rare first-rate photographs, from the professional photogs of the era.You shouldn't pass this one up. It's worth every penny. ... Read more

Book Description

High Performance is a dramatic, firsthand history of this daring sport, from the earliest "legal" drags run on rural airfields to the spectacular--and sometimes tragic--careers of drag racing's most daring innovators. Post, a former racer himself, was an eyewitness to many of the episodes he describes. He has interviewed many of drag racing's legends and superstars, such as "Pappy" Hart, who opened the first commercial strip in Santa Ana, California, in 1950, and Florida's "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, the first person to define himself as a professional drag racer.

Post looks at all aspects of drag racing: the sport, the business, the means of personal affirmation. But most of all he explores it as a case study of technological enthusiasm, tracking the innovations that permitted racers to disprove on pavement the "laws of physics" authorities had laid out on paper. What emerges is a compelling look at the men and women who have devoted their lives to this extraordinary pursuit. In this revised edition, Post continues the story into the present, surveying the dynamics of the sport during the past decade.

Customer Reviews (6)

The Bible
This is the absolute bible for anyone wanted the real truth about drag racings past. There is tons of insight and some wonderful photo's in this, worth a look for any high performance fan. truly excellent

High Performance
The first scholary written and well researched history of the development of drag racing, the cars, drivers, the organizers and promoters, and equipment suppliers, that I have ever read.The history is also full of personal insights and anecdotes which make for interesting and engaging reading.There is enought technical information and discussion for the serious motor heads.For a reader that wants to know how we got to 325 MPH in 4.5 seconds, this is the book.

Must Have Book
If nostalgia racing is your thing, this is the one Must Have book to add to your collection. Ask any racer, anywhere, if he has a copy and I'll bet he does. I've sent copies to crew members who are too young to remember some of the heros we see at nostalgia events and all have said this book added new meaning to these nostalgia races and gave new insight into what the nostalgia movement really is all about.

Entertaining history of drag racing
If you are looking for a history of drag racing from its inception to the present day, this book is for you. It is a fascinating look at the sport from the outlaw street racing days to the highly organized events that we see today. Lots of information and stories about the personalities and organizations that have been involved over the years, including engine builders, drivers, chassis builders and backers. The origins of the major organizing bodies and their battles for supremacy are all recounted. Organizations formed by the drivers in their attempts to get a fair share of the money are covered as well. As far as the machines themselves go, the focus is on top fuel, but other classes are also covered, primarily funny cars. The book describes themajor technological advances in terms of tires, engine placement, aerodynamics, etc., but overall is rather light on technical details. But that is not the thrust of the book anyway. It's intended to be a historical document, and it is a very good and entertaining one.

High Performance: I like it !!
I really enjoyed this book, I'm a front engine dragster fan and found the history very informative. It is somewhat bookish but if you love drag racing I believe you will enjoy this book!! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

OK for a childrens book
outdated and inaccurate information, book reads as if written by an amateur ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great
A great history lesson on the early days of Drag Racing.You will be surprised at the names.The very beginning of the careers of some of the biggest names in the sport.Covers Stock, Super Stock, Modified, etc.Good book ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (6)

A Bad Day At The Races
unbelievable shots of big time problems on the drag strips. quarter mile chaos is truely the perfect name for this book. Reyes worked all over the country and got all the great shots of kaboomers from coast to coast.Loved it!

quarter mile chaos
I enjoyed this book very much.I collect a lot of drag racing books and I belive this is one of the best.The photos are very good, and it is enjoyable to read. I belive the late 1960's to the middle 1970.s are some of the greatest times in drag racing history.The funny cars looked great , like the muscle car of the days. cuda, mustang, challangers, gto, camaro.javelin .corvette plus many others.Bob McClurg did a fine job.

Steve Reyes is the greatest drag racing photographer EVER...
I actually have not gotten this book yet, but I don't even have to see it to know that it's an amazing collection of images from the most exciting days of the sports' history.

I grew up loving both drag racing and photography, and in fact, I shot for Leslie Lovett of NHRA occasionally in Englishtown and Indy back in the late '70's. Steve Reyes was my hero back then for his unbelieveable ability to be in the right place at the right time and his artistic skills to capture the visceral qualities of the sport...the massive power, the pure display of American virility as seen in beautifully designed and adorned race cars (much more important in drag racing than in NASCAR or even CART), even the seductive smell of burning nitro are somehow imbued in Reyes' images, especially his night images from OCIR.To me, many of his images seemed to transcend the simple recording of the SoCal racing scene...they were created with a deep appreciation and love for the titanic, mythical qualities that defined the sport.I don't want to gild the lily here, but I think some of his images are works of art of museum quality.

I'm so glad to see his work resurfacing in this book, and it's on the top of my wish list for my upcoming birthday.

Drag Racing
I ordered Quarter Mile Chaos as a birthday gift for my boyfriend.We attended a drag race last year and it was awesome so I couldnt wait to get the book.When it arrived, I read it cover to cover and was really impressed with the pictures.I didnt realize the pictures were from years ago and I was worried my boyfriend might not relate to them but I was so wrong.He knew so much about almost every picture in the book.It was a pleasure watching him look through the book.Thank you.

Great shots!!
I'd love to see more color shots, but there's some great rare black and white pics that still make the book worth a look. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (9)

Super Stock:Drag Racing With The Family

The book was a gift for friends.They seemed to enjoy it very much.

Top notch book!
If you like old muscle cars drag racing, this book is for you. i highly recommend it.

A Great Book for Fans of 1950's and 60's Drag Racing.
I have really enjoyed Larry Davis's book on Super Stock Drag Racing. This 210 page,hardbound book is packed with easy reading, informative text and hundreds of period photographs. Mr. Davis's book covers the golden era (1955 thru 1968) of stock drag racing, involving both private and factory sponsored cars. There is an appendix and glossary at the back of the book,covering the drivers, cars,drag strips,race classes and rules. This book is a must have for fans of vintage drag racing. Equally recommended is Larry Davis's companion book, GASSER WARS.

Relive the Glory Days of Drag Racing
If you loved drag racing during the 60's, particularly Super Stocks, then this book is for you. For Each year, it gives info on the cars (Chevy/Ford/Dodge/Plymouth/Pontiac) and who competed/won at the Major Drag Racing events. And it has lots of great pictures although I wish more were in color, most are just black and white. These were the Glory Years of Super Stock Drag Racing, intense competition and constant change.

too many stats, not enuf bolts
I bought this book and read it. I hate to say it but I was pretty disappointed.It was just a big pile of names and records, a stats freaks dream but nothing for me. I wanted to know aboout the cars, the engines, how exactly did they create an AWB. I wanted more tech stuff on the cars, not a bunch of names and times.Tech talk was pretty shallow in my opinion.I will say itis a visual treasure, lots of nice pictures of these cars, and a full color section too.
Neal Zimmerman, Eugene Oregon ... Read more

Product Description
Jon Van Daal has been known to take the odd photograph - In fact he has been taking photos of all forms of motorsports for over thirty years. His real passion has been for taking photos of drag racing and this is his first book on the straight-line sport titled "Traction Action".200 black and white photos of the classic period in Australian drag racing's history 1970 through to 1984 when Sydney's Castlereagh International Dragway closed. Many of the photos are taken there as well as the old Surfers Paradise Raceway.Some of the great names in Australian drag racing started out through this period,Jim Read,Bill & Norm Oakey,Santo Rapisardajust to name a few.Funny Cars,Top Fuellers,Australian Pro Stockand the most amazing crash sequences.164 pages - soft cover mono throughout ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Winnipeg Free Press, published by Thomson Gale on September 7, 2007. The length of the article is 800 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Following in her father's drag-racing footsteps; 18-year-old embraces drag racing with enthusiasm.(Autos - Articles)
Author: Gale Reference Team
Publication: Winnipeg Free Press (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 7, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Page: e1

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more