Motor sport fiction

[robmarsh]

I don't know if any of you read motor racing fiction but I enjoy the odd foray into a motor racing novel, preferably with historic facts entwined, now and then. Sometimes it can give you some historical human background that the non-fiction books don't, and if written well can take you back to times gone by.

One such author is Burt Levy or B S Levy who first wrote a book called The Last Open Road which describes the American sporty car racing scene in the early 50s as seen through the eyes of a young mechanic of Italian heritage living in New Jersey. I found it a lovely nostalgic look at a time gone buy which at times was downright funny. 

Levy originally approached a number of publishers who all turned him down so he self published and the book is in its third or fouth reprint. The hardbacks are about 400 of 500 pages and the conversations are written in the idiom of the day. He has written a further three books based on the characters in the Last Open Road. I have read the first three and am now into the fourth. He also wrote two books on the Ford invasion of Le Mans through the eyes of a motor magazine reporter. I enjoyed both of those. They may not be to everyone's taste but I enjoyed the nostalgic wallow immensely.  Take a look if you haven't already.

[Carl]

Jul 27, 2019 6:59:15 GMT robmarsh said:

I don't know if any of you read motor racing fiction but I enjoy the odd foray into a motor racing novel, preferably with historic facts entwined, now and then. Sometimes it can give you some historical human background that the non-fiction books don't, and if written well can take you back to times gone by.

One such author is Burt Levy or B S Levy who first wrote a book called The Last Open Road which describes the American sporty car racing scene in the early 50s as seen through the eyes of a young mechanic of Italian heritage living in New Jersey. I found it a lovely nostalgic look at a time gone buy which at times was downright funny. 

Levy originally approached a number of publishers who all turned him down so he self published and the book is in its third or fouth reprint. The hardbacks are about 400 of 500 pages and the conversations are written in the idiom of the day. He has written a further three books based on the characters in the Last Open Road. I have read the first three and am now into the fourth. He also wrote two books on the Ford invasion of Le Mans through the eyes of a motor magazine reporter. I enjoyed both of those. They may not be to everyone's taste but I enjoyed the nostalgic wallow immensely.  Take a look if you haven't already.

Rob,

         On your recommendation I ordered the hardback from Amazon.  The entire amateur racing scene, although not the 1950s personally, is very familiar as I went to countless SCCA National weekends at Riverside, one of my favorite events because the racing in all classes was always high caliber and fiercely contested, although Formula A (F5000) grids were often small because few amateur drivers could afford one.  Many serious fans attended, but overall things were uncrowded compared to the professional events, and a nice room at the Holiday Inn was easily gotten.  Thanks for the tip!

Cheers, Carl

[charleselan]

I have to admit to not reading much in the way of fictional motor racing books, however many years ago I did read one book that was of that genre but cannot remember the title. It was I believe about F1 and involved espionage and drug dealing but that is all I can remember.

The book you mention sounds much more realistic Rob and is from what one would describe as a true golden age, should be a good read.

[mikael]

Not motor sport fiction; but a mathematical proof "by racing cars"!

First time I have ever seen anything like it (although the book is now new - it was published first in 1966. In has since become a classic and was republished (in a "Classics" series) in 2016). I found it amusing ...

The author (Cornelius Lanczos(*)) was one of the many "refugee scientists" that came to the US as a consequence of the persecution of people of Jewish heritage in the years leading up to WWII. I imagine he had then seen a motor race in the US, which must have fascinated him. (He worked in Lafayette, Indiana, which is not far from Indianapolis, so it's tempting to think it could perhaps have been the Indianapolis 500 ...)

(*) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornelius_Lanczos

[robmarsh]

Jul 28, 2019 10:16:37 GMT charleselan said:

I have to admit to not reading much in the way of fictional motor racing books, however many years ago I did read one book that was of that genre but cannot remember the title. It was I believe about F1 and involved espionage and drug dealing but that is all I can remember.

The book you mention sounds much more realistic Rob and is from what one would describe as a true golden age, should be a good read.

The book you may be thinking about Charles was "A way to a dusty death" by Alistair McLean.  I finished it but stopped treating it as a serious book when he wrote about the F1 cars having headlights.  F1 was starting to rise in the general pubic consciousness around then ,early 70s, so this was just publishers and author jumping on the bandwagon. Carl did you enjoy the BS Levy book by the way.

[Carl]

Apr 25, 2021 20:14:03 GMT robmarsh said:

Jul 28, 2019 10:16:37 GMT charleselan said:

I have to admit to not reading much in the way of fictional motor racing books, however many years ago I did read one book that was of that genre but cannot remember the title. It was I believe about F1 and involved espionage and drug dealing but that is all I can remember.

The book you mention sounds much more realistic Rob and is from what one would describe as a true golden age, should be a good read.

The book you may be thinking about Charles was "A way to a dusty death" by Alistair McLean.  I finished it but stopped treating it as a serious book when he wrote about the F1 cars having headlights.  F1 was starting to rise in the general pubic consciousness around then ,early 70s, so this was just publishers and author jumping on the bandwagon. Carl did you enjoy the BS Levy book by the way.

Rob,
          I have been very lazy during the pandemic and "The Last Open Road" is one of several promising books which remain closed. Although aware that a good book is far more rewarding, I spend more time reading newspapers (hence my occasional bad dream) and searching cable televison for excellent movies I'd earlier missed when in theatres.

[charleselan]

Apr 25, 2021 20:14:03 GMT robmarsh said:

Jul 28, 2019 10:16:37 GMT charleselan said:

I have to admit to not reading much in the way of fictional motor racing books, however many years ago I did read one book that was of that genre but cannot remember the title. It was I believe about F1 and involved espionage and drug dealing but that is all I can remember.

The book you mention sounds much more realistic Rob and is from what one would describe as a true golden age, should be a good read.

The book you may be thinking about Charles was "A way to a dusty death" by Alistair McLean.  I finished it but stopped treating it as a serious book when he wrote about the F1 cars having headlights.  F1 was starting to rise in the general pubic consciousness around then ,early 70s, so this was just publishers and author jumping on the bandwagon. Carl did you enjoy the BS Levy book by the way.

That is the very book Rob. Bought it way back when its as first published and I belonged to a book club. I was a fan of Alistair McLean as I had read and enjoyed some of his previous novels; "Break Heart Pass" comes to mind the book being so much better than the film. I had forgotten the bit about the F1 car having headlights.