USRRC – A Record of the United States Road Racing Championship 1963-1968

This Dave Arnold photo is typical of the interesting photos in the USRRC book. Here we see the Chaparrals of Jim Hall and Hap Sharp lead the field at Mid-Ohio in 1965.

The first thing you notice about Mike Martin’s new release, “USRRC – A Record of the United States Road Racing Championship 1963-1968 is the size.  This large format book measures just over 12″ x 9” in size and includes 344 entertaining pages. The next factor is the color photos and illustrations which burst off the page. Subsequently is the format. The book is broken down chronologically, each year is a chapter, within each chapter are the races ranging from eight (in 1963) to ten (in 1964). Also included are two informative appendixes which break down the statistics by driver, manufacturers as well as by track.

The 1965 USRRC Champion George Follmer writes the foreword in which he describes how the USRRC “was my beginning, as it was for many of the sports car racers.”  Follmer is one of the few to win in the USRRC, Can-Am and Indy Car and compete in NASCAR as well as Formula One.

Mr. Martin also writes his own foreword in which he explains how he was surprised there was not a book about the USRRC, thus after a twenty year journey, Martin’s book was published earlier this year.

In the introduction Mr. Martin describes how sports car racing evolved into the United States Road Racing Championship.  He details how sports car racing which was the sports of amateurs evolved to pro-racing first with the United States Auto Club (USAC) and later with the SCCA.

If truth be told I thoroughly enjoyed the race-by-race breakdowns. Each race included a capsulated story with multiple photos, event box score and some entries include event posters, most in color.  It’s nice having the box score on the same page of the race. Some heralded books separate the two, making the reader page between the two. Over 400 remarkable photos were included many from notable collections such as the Henry Ford Museum/Dave Friedman Collection and the Rev’s – Collier Collection.

Dave MacDonald won his last race at the USRRC event at Pacific Raceways on May 10th, 1964. Sadly, MacDonald was killed at Indianapolis a little over two weeks later.

I appreciated this book, with immortal drivers like Ken Miles, Pedro Rodriguez, Dave MacDonald, Walt Hansgen, Mark Donohue and greats such as Jim Hall. Roger Penske and Follmer it’s a great way to recollect the golden age of American road racing and is also a valuable motorsports reference book.

USRRC, A record of the United States Road Racing Championship 1963-1968
Dead Pedal Press, Seattle Washington
Boxed, Hardcover, 348 glossy pages, 400 b&w and color illustrations
ISBN 978-0-9857300-1-1
$100.00 plus shipping

Order From http://grimeheel.blogspot.com/ or use PayPal address: grimeheel62@comcast.net.

For U.S. residents this will be available directly from the author, for $115 ($100 + $15 for shipping). Washington State residents pay $125 ($100 + $10 tax + $15 shipping).

For Canadian residents the price is $150 US, which includes shipping.

The price including shipping for European residents is $170.

This book can also be ordered via personal check directly from the author:
Mike Martin
6043 – 45th Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98136-1426

Questions can be sent to the author at: grimeheel62@comcast.net

Steve Zautke

Steve Zautke, a Milwaukee, WI native, was raised in the sport of auto racing. His father, Bill, was a movie photographer that shot racing footage at tracks such as the Milwaukee Mile and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the 1960’s and 1970’s Steve’s first professional job in racing was as an Emergency Medical Technician at tracks such as Angell Park and Hales Corners Speedway (1988-1991). Steve has also worked for the Milwaukee Mile as videographer, in media relations and historian (1993-2011). Steve also has worked as a reporter for Racing Information Systems (RIS) and has written features for ‘Vintage Oval Racing’ and ‘Victory Lane’ magazines. Most recently, Steve has written a book on Road America for Arcadia Publishing. ( http://www.amazon.com/Road-America-Nascar-Library-Collection/dp/1467111457 ) Steve co-hosts “Sparky’s Final Inspection” a motorsports-based radio show with hosts, Steve “Sparky” Fifer and “NASCAR Girl” Summer Santana on Sports Radio 1250AM in Milwaukee and is also available on the internet at www.Sportradio1250.com. A member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Induction Committee, Steve follows all types of racing from the dirt tracks to Formula One.

racingnation.com

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