16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Vroom . . . Vroom . . . Put the Pedal to the Metal!, July 4, 2001
Review Summary: Those who love candid stories about the origins of stock car racing will have a ball with this behind-the-scenes view of NASCAR racing. The book opens with bumper bumping at Bristol. Most of the original top drivers drove moonshine as their main job before moving to NASCAR, and some stars were still running moonshine whiskey in their spare time into the 1950s. There are unbelievable tales of famous drivers running totally drunk, and rumors of drugs in the 1950s and 1960s. The human drama also includes the sad and untimely deaths of stars like Dale Earnhardt at Daytona in February and of young Adam Petty running over his crew chief, Chris Bradley, in a pit stop accident. Most of the information from the last 20 years will be known to NASCAR fans. The earlier material will not be, and will make this book a joy. So race right on down to get your copy!
Review: No big-time sport has more recent and rough-and-tumble origins than NASCAR does. Stock car racing's humble beginnings are part of its charm. Unlike other big-league sports, this one continues to have a connection to the ordinary fan who sees the drivers as being like him or her. It's unfortunate that such an exciting sport should be conveyed in a book. That's like reading about making love. I hope the author will consider making a video version of the book that can contain wonderful racing footage. For the most part, you'll have to use your mental images of racing to capture all of the excitement of what is being described here.
Having had two sons who were addicted to the Dukes of Hazzard, I was pleased to see that The Wildest Ride contained lots of information about the moonshine running days of the racers. During Prohibition and even later (as liquor taxes rose), running moonshine whiskey was often the best paying job available. But you needed a fast car and the ability to drive fast enough to outrun the "revenuers" as the IRS was called. Since the revenuers could only go 95, that wasn't too tough. Apparently, only about one run in a thousand would include any real risk of being apprehended. The local sheriffs liked to get in on the action because they got up to half of the value of the car that the moonshine was being transported in. After the run was over, there was plenty of time to race the cars for fun . . . or even a little wager.
The book contains lots of colorful (and often controversial) stories about all of the legendary early drivers on the circuit. You will also find out how the sport built up from dirt ovals to Indy-like tracks and stands.
So why is the sport so popular? Mr. Menzer offers several suggestions. The one I found most credible was "the sound . . . the noise . . . the dirt . . . the roar . . . the furor." This comparison also worked well, "like watching a circus where the high-wire acrobats operate without a net." On the other hand, Mr. Menzer argues that "without the ever-looming specter of wrecks, . . . the sport would lose much of its appeal . . . ." He also argues that the danger and Fortune 500 sponsorships mean that the drivers will be more clean-living than most other professional athletes, and so will cause fewer scandals to upset fans. He's probably right about that point, as well.
He found that the drivers have lots of confidence. They agree there will be accidents . . . for other people.
The book contains lots of detailed stories and interviews about each of the most famous racers, especialy the racing dynasties like Pettys. Although its not as much as you would get on a biography, for most people it will fill in gaps.
You will also get a lot of information about the politics of racing especially between the iron hand of Bill France, Sr. and the drivers who were concerned about the risks of higher speeds on the new tracks.
On the other hand, the safety of drivers and pit crews seems to have not been taken seriously enough. That situation appears to be changing now.
Some of the stories from the early days are really hilarious, both for their facts and the way they are told. One driver was leading, but was about to run out of gas. He pulled in for a pit stop to find that his crew was celebrating his "victory" drunk on moonshine and had no gas. They had to scrounge some from another crew. By the time he was refueled, he could finish no further up than second.
The book is equally candid about racist problems in the sport that black drivers have experienced, both in getting proper treatment from officials and finding sponsorship.
After you have had a lot of fun with the stories in this book, think about where else a local rivalry could lead to more fun for all. For example, after the season is over most kids don't have a chance to pursue their sports. How could you help establish and support an on-going competition they could still enjoy year around? For example, could young football, baseball, basketball, and soccer players have a chance to compete on skills outside of the regular season?
Have fun while you race to be the best!
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Accessible & Entertaining, February 16, 2002
I'd have to agree with points made by both of the previous reviewers. Joe Menzer has done new interviews, and some of the sources he's chosen offer fresh insights, particularly Max Muhleman's thoughts. It's also a very concise, reader-friendly encapsulation of the sport's history and recent developments. So, if someone were looking for an accessible, entertaining introduction to NASCAR, especially its early history, I'd recommend the book.
However, if you're very familiar with NASCAR, its legends, and their stories, you might find some of the things he discusses to be old news or slightly cliched. But if you've never heard the anecdotes before, then they're extremely funny.
What would be interesting is a more thorough (yet not dry) history that would discuss aspects of NASCAR usually eclipsed by the moonshining myths and the Southern stereotypes. A treatment beyond just footnotes and asides of NASCAR's diverse roots and participants(Yankees and mid-Westerners like Lorenzen, Marcis, Kiekhaefer, for ex.) along with the Southern legends. It seems that historians to date reinforce a self-referential past.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must read for any NASCAR fan, January 10, 2002
"Know your roots" has always been one of my favorite sayings. When it comes to NASCAR, not many fans are aware of just how deep and strong those roots are. This book helps to change that.
From the days of running moonshine in the South, to the days of multi-million dollar sponsorship deals. From early stars who drove with pet monkeys in their cars, to racing legends who shall never be forgotten. "The Wildest Ride" takes you on a journey through NASCAR's history, and shows you how it has become one of the fastest growing sports in the world today.
You'll read about colorful characters like Tim Flock, Joe Weatherly and Glenn "Fireball" Roberts - and modern legends like Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. You'll celebrate in Victory Lane, and mourn with the entire racing world after the death of Dale Earnhardt at the 2001 Daytona 500.
This book is a must read for any NASCAR fan. It is the story of the foundation of the sport which we all enjoy. Without this story our sport would never be where it is today...
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