Drivers Books

Todd Gould has written a number of articles and books on Indiana business and history. With this book he has addressed a fascinating time in racing history and Indiana history as well.

The main focus is Charlie Wiggins, an African-American auto mechanic originally from Evansville, Indiana who moved to Indianapolis in 1922 to take advantage of the bustling (yet segregated) cultural and business climate around Indiana Avenue. At the same time, several Indianapolis businessmen (both black and white) are looking into starting up the Colored Speedway Association, a racing division for Blacks that was to be modeled after Negro League Baseball. The hope was to demonstrate that African-Americans were fully capable of driving high-performance racecars and create a groundswell that would cause the American Automobile Association, the main sanctioning body of most races back then, to de-segregate big-time auto racing. Their main goal would be to race in the hometown Indy 500.

The title, 'Gold and Glory', comes from the name of an annual race started by the CSA at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. This one mile dirt track hosted 10 'Gold and Glory' 100 mile races. Charlie Wiggins won 4 of them and earned the nickname 'Negro Speed King' in race cars of his own design and manufacture.

Gould tells about the active role the KKK played in Indiana politics in the 1920s and does a nice bit of 'parrallel lives' biography with Klan leader D.C. Stephenson and Charlie Wiggins for about 50 pages in the book. He also tells about the mini-Harlem Renaissance that occurred in Indianapolis in the 1920s and the cultural life of Indy's near west-side. He also ties in a lot of basic history of the early days of auto racing - of the dangers and pitfalls of dirt track racing, of mechanics building cars in their garages, of having to tow your race car with a rope and having a young apprentice steer it while it was being towed, of race tracks being built in the middle of a cornfield for a one day event, and so on.

Gould tells the story of the CSA, Charlie Wiggins and the racial politics of the time in a near-seamless fashion. He ties it all together and leaves the reader a bit amazed. Amazed at how far we have come politcally, amazed at the changes that have taken place in racing (long gone are the days of a big-time racer building his own car in his spare time) and heartened by the fact that racing really knows no color. While the sport was strictly segregated by rule, every racer and race fan knows that every advantage has to be pursued in order to win - white teams helped black teams and black teams helped white teams. Why? Because regardless of color, racers are a group unto themselves.

This is a must read for all auto racing fans, but especially for fans of the Indy 500.

I give this one a grade of A-.

Like the tittle: If you are a formula 1 fan or simple you like the racing world,this book is for you, a great Alain Prost Life's review, since his birthplace until the actual time. Really a good book.

Gerald Donaldson has a reputation for penning Formula One books that are exaustively researched, beautifully written, and a pleasure to read. His biographies of the late Gilles Villeneuve and James Hunt fleshed out a very thorough, and human story of these extraordinary men. His 1990 release, "Grand Prix People" gave an incomparable snapshot of the F1 "circus", with remarkably candid interviews with all the principals of the sport at that time, from the drivers and engineers to the caterers and members of the governing body.

In this latest book, Mr. Donaldson has co-ordinated and edited a massive tome, with various chapters being penned by some of Formula One's best journalists. It attempts what many have tried, but few have succeeded - a complete and compelling history of grand prix racing, from the late 1800s to the present day. Produced by the same publishing team that produced last year's "Beatles Anthology", this heavy coffee table book is packed with stellar photos, and tells the story of F1 through the words/quotes of the principal players of every era. It is an awesome achievement, and a treasure to all true lovers of the sport. Highly recommended.

Four Men went to War is a moving account of the experiences of four soldiers during World War Two. Each account gives us an opportunity to experience the war from a different side, giving us a feel of what it meant to be a German, an Italian, a Brit or an American during World War Two. The stories of the four men are all so diverse that it really turns out to be a unique and eloquent book. Get it, read it, it is superb.

I have read a number of these Cavalry histories. They are very thorough and offer information not found in books that just cover the main battles.
These tell you situations involving skirmishes and and exactly who and what troop is involved. If you are a intermediate Civil War buff or expert you will enjoy being able to take in more information than most on the subject.

A definite must have for the Civil War fanatic! I love them.

This is a great compulation of short stories and experiences from owning a limo business. Aileen has a refreshing writing style and it is a very easy read. This would be a great coffee table book.

The Bettenhausens have to be the most hard-luck racing family in the history of auto racing and the Indianpolis 500. Father Tony was killed at the Indianapolis 500. Merle lost part of an arm in a crash at Michigan and Tony (Jr.) was killed in an airplane crash (along with his wife Shirley and 2 other people). This book is in my auto racing memorabilia collection and it should be in yours as well.

This CD covers all 50 united states. It includes actual handbooks for over 22+ states and a hybrid - best of - handbook for all the others.

I think its great because it allows the user to take practice tests and if you get wrong answers it links to the actual handbook section that explains it.

Better than that, it includes a whole course for parents to follow so they don't freak out when they get in the car with their teenager.

It got a best buy recommendation from The Library Journal.

I am a goodguy's club member 4 years now and i love it the monthly magazine is my favorite .I have every thing the club has published there work is the best out there I recomend if you dont have the book that buy it YOU WONT BE sorry RICK PEASE hazelton indiana

While not the sort of book that lends itself to being read cover-to-cover, it is exceedingly well organized, so looking up just about any Formula One statistic is a snap. It contains the full results of every World Championship race from 1950-1997 (and not just the points winners). Also included are profiles and results for every driver and constructor.