The Fabulous Fifties – Sports Car Races in Southern California
By Art Evans
In the first line of this book’s introduction, the author poses the question, “Why a book about one section of one sport during one decade in one part of the country?” Fortunately, the answer is a simple one. During the early postwar period, Southern California was not only a hot bed of the newly revived American car culture, it was also a breeding ground for the introduction of road racing in the United States.
During the 1950s, Southern California boasted more than 20 separate racing venues, and as many as 12 major events in any given year.
In “The Fabulous Fifties: Sports Car Races in Southern California,” author and historian Art Evans examines the history of all the well-known and not so well-known Southern California racing venues.
Some of the 22 venues covered include Torrey Pines, Santa Barbara, Willow Springs, March Field, Terminal Island, Carrell Speedway, Chino, Del Mar, Santa Maria and Riverside, just to name a few.
Each chapter is richly illustrated with program covers, entry lists, site maps and numerous never-before-seen photographs from private colections. The writing is a lively enjoyable read and includes history of the given venue, a recap of significant race results and wonderful personal insights, as Evans was an active competitor at many of the events included in the book.
This book will certainly become a must-have for any one interested in this significant period of racing history. Get your copy, before this very limited production book runs out and you’re scouring eBay for it at 3-times the cost! $65 plus $5 s&h to Photo Data Research, 800 South Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 8#332 Redondo Beach, CA 90277 or (310) 540-8068.
Reviewed by Casey Annis
Our Rating: Excellent
