Published by Motorbooks International
This book contains primarily columns that were previous written by theauthor for Car & Driver magazine. Yates, a recognized racing journalist,offers insight into the sanction's history from its whiskey trippin'beginnings through the transition in Nextel Cup in the 21st Century.Yates details his personal experiences, beginning with the thought thathe wasn't a stock car supporter - in fact, he hated them, but his motherprovided the key to opening up the world of stock car racing that wouldplay a role in Yates' later years. His assignments at Car & Driver,which spawned the columns that make up most of the book, allowed him totake a lap around Daytona with LeeRoy Yarborough, attending a CurtisTurner driving school with James Garner and Tommy Smothers, andtraveling with Cotton Owens in New York. Yates' columns didn't curryNASCAR's favor, sometimes drawing the ire of the sanction. In an erabefore the arrival of television or the Internet, the printed word likethe newspaper reports and Yates' columns in Car & Driver played a rolein the assisting the growth of the sport. The book is an easy read withgreat insight. It is not an official licensed publication of NASCARdespite the presence of the series name in the title.
Fatal Exit: The Automotive Black Box Debate
Published by Wiley-Interscience
This book was released in November and serves as the document for thedecades-long debate on the placement of the telltale black box inproduction automobiles. This book has no auto racing implications, butsimply deals with an automotive matter of interest to those who travelthe highways. The debate began in 1974 and rages on to this day. Itoutlines proposals to proceed with the development and utilization ofthe device. The author has been actively involved in the debate,devoting countless hours to research and global involvement in theproject. This book affords everyone from consumers to scientists toengineers to reach a conclusion about a matter being considered forAmerica's highways.
By Jack Hewitt with Dave Argabright
Published by Books by Dave Argabright
This is the classic no holds barred book about a man who raced hard anddidn't apologize for it. Argabright gets right to the meat of thematter, catching the excitement of the man who put it all on the lineevery time he strapped into a Sprint Car and has the injuries to proveit. There are plenty of colorful stories, like the time he jumped into afriend's car in the B feature to get it in the A main for him incognito.He ended up winning the B and quickly hid from the authorities. Thereare a number of interlude that offer vignettes about significant events,such as his recovery in an Indianapolis hospital and the injured aroundhim who were facing very tough recovery periods. There are dozens ofgreat pictures, certainly a small sampling of the many shots that racingphotographers have snapped of Hewitt through the years. In the back ofthe book, you'll find the statistical history of Hewitt, including USACand All Star wins. The book continues the excellence that Argabrightdisplayed with works like Brad Doty's biography (Still Wide Open).Argabright will be soon releasing a book about Earl Baltes, the founderof Eldora Speedway and a man that Hewitt greatly respects. Open wheelbackers don't get many chances to read about one of their own and thisis one chance that needs to be fulfilled.
Racer Buddies - Opening Day at Daytona
Illustrated by William A. Harper
Reading is said to be one of the most important activities that a parentcan do with a child. Whether it is reading to them or reading with them,the child who loves racing will love Racer Buddies. There are words inred that are racing-oriented and explained in a racing glossary at thebook (A good idea since Mom or Dad may not actually know the realmeaning.) The book is written with facts about racing and Daytonapresented in the text of the story, which pits friendly rivals namedTuck, Ace, Spark, and Snap. They are the actual cars and the humans onlyprovide service and not dialog. The book is perfect to trake along tothe track with the young race fan to bide time until the green flagflies. Elliott, himself a father of young boys aged four and six, hasdeveloped a work that is easily relatable and certain to be a favoritein the collection. As racing draws its attention toward family values,work like Racer Buddies (which could easily be developed for a Talladegaor Bristol) will be part of the landscape.
The Ford Taurus came thundering onto the scene in 1998 and startedwinning strong just a few races into the year. In its history, theTaurus accounted for more than a dozen wins in nearly every year andsnared championships including the last two Nextel Cup titles. This bookstarts with the history of Ford's racing involvement and then steps intothe technical aspects of the car. You'll see build-ups and body styles,important to the racer and equally as important to the hobbyist whobuilds scale models of race cars. Burt includes chapters on the driver'scompartment, suspension, engine and driveline, and all other elementsthat can be insightful. Statistics on the back page compare the stockTaurus to the racing Taurus. Except for the weight (100 poundsdifference) and the fact that the engine is in the front, there isn'tmuch similarity. This book is perfect for the person who bleeds Fordblue. With the impending phase out of the Taurus, it will become an itemof high regard in a racing collection.