Customer Reviews

Proving Ground: A History of Dodge, Chrysler, and Plymouth Racing

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book could have done for Chrysler what Leo Levin's book, Ford: The Dust and the Glory, did for Ford, provide a definitive history of corporate involvement in auto racing. Instead it is a thin (190 pages) coffee table book filled with huge pictures and minimal text.

The author tries to cover 85 years of racing history but doesn't have space for transitions between topics or background information. Half the available space is filled with largee pictures; too many of them are of hemi engines, drivers kneeling next to their cars, new cars just off the assembly line, and full page reprints of magazine ads. Too much is written about marginal topics like the Viper's lackluster racing career and USAC and World of Outlaws sprint cars. The last five pages are devoted to the 2009 Dodge Challenger drag package; current but not significant. The IROC series is given more space then the Trans-Am. The SCCA Formula 5000 is completely ignored.

This book needs twice as many pages and half as many photographs. It could also use a timeline illustrating the parallel involvement of Chrysler in different series at the same time.

This is an awesome book. To me, page eight is worth the price of the book. Put yourself in that picture in 1928. Think of the young car company with new cars and young drivers getting ready to race at Le Mans, all getting ready to prove themselves and their products. The name of this book tells it all and every page tells a story. Look at Garlits, Petty and every person in this book. They were not only working to prove their cars, they were working to prove what they could do with determination, skill, and the need to always improve on past performance. The amount of time it took to pull all the pictures and details together for this book is way over the top.

As the previous reviewer stated Trans Am and Formula 5000 are virtualy ignored. No mention of Team Starfish Barracuda or Shadow Dodge. I don't regret buying this book. I just wish road racing was covered more thoroughly.