Pro Sports Car Racing in America
By Dave Friedman
Dave Friedman has done it again (previous work includes 1998’s Chaparral: Can-Am & Prototype Race Cars) with this beautifully illustrated book that covers one of the most exciting times in American auto racing. As you turn each page, you get a feeling of what it was like in the early days of professional racing – large cars, fast and loud – blasting down the straight and into the turns!
This book has a great collection of photos spanning front-engine cars such as Ferrari, Jaguar, Maserati, Chaparral and Scarab through the purpose-built, rear-engine Can-Am ground pounders. This was a time when you could walk up to the drivers and talk or just sit on the ground next to the track and feel the heat and excitement through the swirling dirt.
Friedman’s photos give you a look behind the scenes at the activities of the men and women who were there. Unlike some picture books, you get great captions with each photo, detailing all the cars, drivers and personalities – not just the front runners.
This book depicts the major technical change in auto racing, from front-engine cars to the rear-engine revolution, which resulted in faster cornering speeds, greater balance and better aerodynamics. This was quickly adopted by the sports car industry and just as quickly, front-engine race cars became obsolete.
Moving forward to the late 60’s and 70’s, Friedman chronicles the influx of European Hot Shoes and with them bigger prize money. By then, the big names were Mclaren, Lola, Shadow and Porsche, with drivers Hall, Donohue, Andretti, Hulme and Surtees – gone was the ability for the fan to get close. Corporate sponsorship and politics were taking over and by 1974, car racing had evolved into one of the fastest and most exciting American sporting events ever. In his photos, Friedman has captured the feeling and atmosphere that was early pro sports car racing in the United States. This book would be a great addition to any library.
