Speedway: Auto Racing's Ghost Tracks [Hardcover]

S. S. Collins (Author), Gavin D. Ireland (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 2010

Around the world lies a number of long-forgotten raceways; windswept and abandoned, the derelict pit roads and crumbling concrete are all that remains of once great race tracks. From the NASCAR heartland of North Wilkesboro and Middle Georgia to the great European super speedways at Monza and Brooklands. All photographed as they are now, but remembered in their prime.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The photos are a big draw ... writer Sam Collins' contribution shouldn't be underestimated: he know his stuff." – Octane

"Ireland's photography is suitably moody, his detailed shots of studied corrosion and segmented tarmac sweeping out into woodland contrasting nicely with the busy and purposeful black and white shots of the circuits' glory days." – Classic Cars

 

"Bleak shots of the abandoned Chicago oval have the most impact: maiden race, 1999; final Champ Car thrash, 2002. Gone in a flash." – Motor Sport

 

"The book is well illustrated, with a host of large colour and monochrome photographs throughout its 176 pages. 'Speedway' is a book that the reader will dip into again and again." – Classic American

 

Book Description

Around the world lies a number of long-forgotten raceways; windswept and abandoned, the derelict pit roads and crumbling concrete are all that remains of once great race tracks. From the NASCAR heartland of North Wilkesboro and Middle Georgia to the great European super speedways at Monza and Brooklands. All photographed as they are now, but remembered in their prime.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Veloce (February 15, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1845842413
• ISBN-13: 978-1845842413
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 10.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,019,108 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, January 27, 2010

By 

J. Budzinski - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Speedway: Auto Racing's Ghost Tracks (Hardcover)

This book is a follow up to the fantastic book Autodrome. Autodrome described some of the retired racing circuits in Europe with a combination of history and photography.

In this new volume of stories and photographs of former auto racing tracks, coverage spans both North America and Europe. In fact, some of the circuits described in Speeday are duplicates of those in Autodrome. Some of the new tracks covered in Speedway include Chicago, Augusta, Middle Georgia, and North Wilkesboro. Returnees include Avus, Brooklands, Monza, and Montlhéry.

While Autodrome was quite enjoyable, Speedway is a bit of a letdown. Both the photography and track selection for the North America circuits are somewhat poor. Furthermore, rounding out the book with a bunch of the same tracks (albeit with some new photos) from Autodrome seems like a cheap trick. Surely the authors could have found more worth tracks to include like Marlboro Motor Raceway, Riverside, and others?

If you already have Autodrome, then I'd say skip this volume.

5.0 out of 5 stars Pairing over 175 images with a historical survey of the great drivers and times of these speedways, May 16, 2010

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Speedway: Auto Racing's Ghost Tracks (Hardcover)

SS Collins & Gavin D. Ireland's SPEEDWAY: AUTO RACING'S GHOST TRACKS provides a fine history and survey of forgotten speedways and covers tracks around the world, pairing over 175 images with a historical survey of the great drivers and times of these speedways. Any library strong in race car history will find this a winning discussion.