Book of the week...

[capefear01]

I know some of you have read this book and it sure has generated some good conversation. My opinion is that this is a book for anyone wanting to learn more of the behind the scenes of the early days of southern stock racing, who and what the "pathfinders" were all about and the dark side of racing and how nascar came to be. There is more to the name "nascar" than the France family ever wanted us to know. It gave me a whole new perspective on the sport and the business. I would give it 5 stars *****, great reading, even if most of your reading is done sitting on the porcelain. Great Christmas gift too.
You can pick this book on ebay pretty cheap if you can't find it elsewhere.

[DoubleZero]

"Driving With the Devil" is definitely a "10", and a real eye-opener, even it you thought you knew NASCAR's hisory! Chances are it's the France inspired and approved version LOL! A perfect compliment to "Driving With the Devil" is Brian Donovan's "Hard Driving" The Wendell Scott story and Smokey Yunick's "Best Damn Garage in Town". All three offer tons of behind the scenes history, they're a "must read" for vintage fans.

[capefear01]

Bobby, did you read "Full Throttle" about C. Turner and what did you think of it?

My next read is going to be "Hard Driving", thanks for the suggestions.

[DoubleZero]

Jim, I'm afraid I've not read "Full Throttle", wasn't aware of it, but thanks for the update!

[DaveHFulton]

Before his death, the book "Timber on the Moon" was written about Curtis. I have never read it, though. A really good racing book from a few years back, and one of my favorites, is "Sunday Driver" by Brock Yates. From this book came one of the great Bud Moore quotes. When asked why it cost so much more to field a NASCAR team than a Trans Am team, Bud answered, "Cheating is expensive!"

[DaveHFulton]

I'd like to see somebody do a book about Richard Howard, the man who saved the Charlotte and Atlanta tracks and funded (along with the other track owners) the Junior Johnson Monte Carlo built for Charlie Glotzbach.

[DaveHFulton]

A particularly good book I have is "Boss - The Bill Stroppe Story" a 1984 book by Tom Madigan full of great photos. You don't have to be a Ford or Mercury fan to enjoy the behind the scenes stories of early Ford/Mercury stock car racing, particularly on the west coast and the Pan American Road Race through Mexico. Here's a shot of Tim Flock in a Bill Stroppe merc winning on the beach at Daytona, along with Billy Myer's Stroppe ride and Parnelli Jones winning for Stroppe at Pike's Peak.

[DaveHFulton]

A few more good photos from the Bill Stroppe bio, "Boss".

* 1956 Daytona Speed Week - Stroppe Mercurys of Bob Horf & Billy Myers and Art Christman dragster.

* 1963 Daytona - Stroppe Mercury driven by Troy Ruttman

* Bud Moore & Joe Weatherly at Daytona

* 1967 Riverside, CA - 1967 Ford Fairlane of Parnelli Jones - fielded by Holman-Moody, built by Bill Stroppe on West Coast

Color shots are from a Merc website of Parnelli Jones and Darel Dieringer in Stroppe NASCAR Mercurys.

[DoubleZero]

It's not really about NASCAR, or stock car racing, but probably the best auto/racing/hot rodding book I've ever read is Andy Granatelli's autobiography, "They Call Me Mister 500".
In addition to be very historical/factual it's hilarious!