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Hot Rod history

To: LSR list <land-speed@autox.team.net>
Subject: Hot Rod history
From: Wester Potter <wester6935@comcast.net>
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2005 13:44:29 -0600
Borders Books had a special deal for educators over the last couple of 
days.  My wife went out to pick up some books for school and I tagged 
along.  While browsing in the Transportation section I ran across a 
book by Brock Yates titled "The Hot Rod ... Resurrection of a Legend".  
Motorbooks, ISBN 0-7603-1598-1 published in 2003.

Of course I had to buy it.  I spent much of the remainder of the 
evening enjoying his recounting the history and restoration of a 1950's 
road racing hot rod.  There's a chapter that details some of the early 
dry lakes racing  that will make this read a must for those of us who 
treasure hearing about those days.  His details about the late 50's and 
early 60's road racing are also fun.  The part I was totally uninformed 
about was the early board tracks in what is now Beverly Hills and West 
Los Angeles.  I know what is in those areas today but had no idea that 
they, like Riverside Raceway, fell victim to property values and family 
housing.

The description of the racing exploits of the car, how it came into his 
possession, the restoration and all make for a fun read.  Some of the 
suspension details may be of interest to salt flats racers.  So will 
the details of his build up of a new car with a similar nose and a 
Wescott body and Viper engine.  Yates tells a fun story.

There are also some fun photos of the specific  car in question and 
some shots of other race cars.  One thing I take exception to is the 
failure to mention Ab Jenkins when talking about cross country driving 
records in the late 1920's.  That's just a private gripe I have.  I'd 
recommend the book as a fun read and a small window on hot rodding 
history.

Wes






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