Never before has a national publication featured a collection of photos of the Northeast’s favorite stock car racing’s division – the modifieds. The author brings together photos and text of the region’s best-loved drivers and their cars, as well as the “also-rans,” during the ‘60s and ‘70s when modifieds were built in backyards by local mechanics utilizing junkyard parts, no two cars looked alike, and there were so many tracks to race at. See them now as they were!
Human beings have always been driven to compete. Foot racing became horse racing became automobile racing, and we continue to redefine the word “fast.” Whether you prefer the tales of American bootleggers customizing Prohibition-era automobiles to outrun the law or the natural progression of cars replacing horses on the streets and on the racetrack, automobile racing flourished as a sport for many years in the United States before stock car racing truly came into its own in the 1950s. The economy rebounded after the end of World War II. The GIs brought home skills and knowledge about advances in technology, and civilians had learned how to get the most out of old machines during the war. Scrap steel was no longer reserved exclusively for the War Effort, and the junkyards were filling up with worn out cars as people started to invest in new ones to replace them. A very competitive stock car could be purchased at the junk yard for $25 or so. By adding another $75, a clever builder could make it race ready. Teams of weekend warriors could compete head to head against well-funded, highly trained teams and have a real shot at winning. It was a perfect combination: knowledgeable mechanics and fearless drivers in cars that the public recognized from their daily life. The grandstands filled and new tracks turned up all across the countryside to satisfy the public's interest in watching these race cars compete. Associations formed to standardize the tracks, which were often farm fields that had been lovingly sculpted and paved by the farmers themselves to give the drivers and their crews a place to showcase their talent. These men and women entertained, awed, and inspired a generation of "motor heads" and race fans. This book is a tribute to the drivers and other figures from Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania who shaped stock car racing in the 1950s.
Enter the thrilling world of stock car racing! Readers will discover the history of stock car racing, what a typical race day looks like, who the hottest racers are, and more.
"Bubba Wallace started racing cars at nine years old. He began competing in 2010 and hasn't slowed down since, setting records as the youngest winner at many races. He was the first Black driver to win Rookie of the Year for NASCAR. Find out how Wallace's talent has led him to success in the world of stock car racing"--
United States, stock car racing has become a national passion. Featuring expert commentary by International Motor Sports Hall of Fame driver Benny Parsons, this photographic documentatary highlights a year on the NASCAR circuit, as top drivers and their crews race their way through the Winston Cup series. 120 photos.
The First State of Delaware has a legendary history of automobile racing. Since the first racers roared down the dusty Delaware State Fairgrounds track in 1915 at Wawaset Park, Wilmington, Delaware, auto racing has thrilled capacity crowds all over the state. Images of Sports: Delaware Auto Racing documents and explores the tracks, cars, and people that made racing what it is today. The history of racing can be seen in historic photographs from the legendary dirt tracks, like Delmar and Georgetown Speedways, to the high banked turns of Delaware's NASCAR track--Dover Downs. Rare images have been collected from drivers, car owners, fans, and historians to provide an insightful look into auto racing in Delaware. Many of the historic photographs have never been published.
The photos in this edition are black and white. Take a comprehensive look at the history, design evolution and performance of Triumph sports cars from the 1930s to the final cars built in 1981, including the TR series, Spitfires, and GT6s. Triumph historian G. William Krause reviews every model in the sports car lineup. Throughout Triumph's history, a number of pivotal moments could have significantly changed the company's fortune. This book also reveals photos of the "what if" cars that never made it into production. The Triumph Motor Company is known around the world for its iconic sports cars. The hugely popular TR series, Spitfires, and GT6s represent the quintessential British sports car: rugged good looks were combined with performance and economy at a price everyone could afford. These sports cars are always in demand and prized by British car collectors, racers, and open-air motoring enthusiasts. Triumph understood the connection between competition success and sales success and was able to parlay rally and road racing wins into the best-selling sports cars in the world, particularly in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s. The Works competition cars notched victories at Le Mans, Sebring, the Monte Carlo rally, and many others and inspired privateers to take their cars to the track. Every model came from a bloodline of racing. Although they have not been built for more than three decades, their mark on sports car history is undeniable. Whether you're a fan of the spartan brutes of the 1950s or the refined comfort and performance of the last TRs, the backstory of your favorites is here.
