gleary's avatar
Author:
Gregg Leary
Login For More
Rate this article:
  • 0/5 Stars
SPEEDtv.com Store
Grand National:America's Golden Age of Motorcycle Racing, by Joe Scalzo
Joe Scalzo’s book captures the spirit of the Golden Age of motorcycle racing.
Our Price: $39.95
Visit Button
Buy Button
Man-Made Thunder
The book examines the sport of stock car racing through the eyes and ears of the men behind the wheel and the wrenches.
Our Price: $49.00
Visit Button
Buy Button
Unisex Sandwich Cap
Unisex Velcro back hat with SPEED logo on front. PINKS logo embroidered on left and PAO logo on right. One size fits all.
Our Price: $24.95
Visit Button
Buy Button
Speedway T-shirt
Men's 6 oz. 100% Cotton Jersey Short Sleeve Tee. SPEED logo imprinted on the front center chest.
Our Price: $24.99
Visit Button
Buy Button
Ferrari Red Classic Hat
100% cotton twill. Ferrari shield embroidered on front, piping on the peak and Ferrari logo embroidered on back strap adjuster.
Our Price: $30.00 ($27.00 Member)
Visit Button
Buy Button
Footer Bg
  • Zoom More Photos Button
  • Camera Icon
REVIEWED: “The American Dirt Track Racer” By Joe Scalzo
Written by: Gregg Leary   
02/03/2009
Charlotte, North Carolina
 
ยป More Photos

Joe Scalzo is one of my favorite authors. Dirt track racing is one of my passions. The combination of the two is “The American Dirt Track Racer,” a lively read that I spent a below zero Ohio weekend rereading for this review.

Scalzo’s lively style is illustrated on the back dustcover jacket:

“For 20 glorious years, from 1951-1971, dirt track racing lured some of the best racers and biggest characters to unpaved tracks scattered across the country. Rodger Ward, A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Tony Bettenhausen, and Parnelli Jones are just some of the great drivers who accepted the dirt track challenge, piloting Kuzmas, Meskowskis, Watsons, and Kurtis-Krafts faster than conditions or physics would seem to allow.”

“This was racing at its raw and raucous best. Each race was a chance to make a career, or end one-a mad
scramble that tested every ounce of man and machine, putting the best and luckiest in the winner’s circle and those whose luck had run out in the ‘marble orchard.’”

The front cover photo of Al Unser at Sacramento in 1970 beautifully captures the end of the era covered in the book. Unser won the race and the USAC championship that year-the last year that dirt tracks were included in the IndyCar championship hunt.

“The American Dirt Track Racer” contains five chapters and scores of black and white and color images in its 180 pages.

Chapter 1: 1951-1971: The Panzer and the Flower Child

Chapter 2: Stay Out of the Marble Orchard

Chapter 3: Sleds, Chugs, and Boxes

Chapter 4: The Eleventh Commandment and “Oops!”

Chapter 5: At the ‘Horne

Page 1 of 3
Next Page »
1 2 3 >
View All Comments