By Willem Oosthoek. Successor volume to the
Cugnot Prize award winning Sports Car Racing in the South, 1957-1958. 60% bigger than the earlier volume!
This is the second volume in a series of three exploring the
history of sports car racing in the Southern United States. With the exception
of the Sebring 12 Hours, the meets were largely ignored by the national press,
and no comprehensive research material is available for the numerous events
organized between Texas and Florida, when amateur competition surged in the
late 1950s. Yet, the South offers a rich road racing history, often fueled by
wealthy oilmen from Texas and Oklahoma.
Many of the events were hosted on airport courses and
featured the top echelon of European sports cars. Late-model Ferraris,
Maseratis, Jaguars, Listers, Porsches, OSCAs and Climax-engined cars such as
Lotus, Cooper and Elva did battle with American V8-powered vehicles, both Corvettes
and homebuilt Specials. This book offers a race-by-race account of all 1959 and
1960 Southern events, from Novice Races to the weekend-ending Features
competition.
The author has scoured local newspapers of the period for
race reports and results and interviewed many of the drivers, mechanics and
owners that were involved in the competitions. He provides an exhaustive report
of the time, vividly illustrated by period photographs, many from the archives
of Bob Jackson, the acclaimed press photographer.
Residing in Weddington, North Carolina, Willem
Oosthoek is a retired international banker and a lifelong
Maserati aficionado. As historian of The Maserati Club in the US he has written
numerous articles for its magazine Il Tridente. His articles have also been
published in Vintage Motorsport, VintageRacecar Journal, Motor Sport, Prancing
Horse, Cavallino, Forza, Der Dreizack and Sports Car International. Oosthoek’s
2004 book Birdcage to Supercage, and the 2008, The Magnificent Front-engined
Birdcages, written with Michel Bolleé, are the defining history of the Maserati
Birdcage racing cars. He is a recognized authority on the subject of
competition Maseratis, often consulted by private owners, museums and auction
houses. Volume I of Sports Car Racing in the South was awarded the 2012 Cugnot
Award by the Society of Automotive Historians.
- Publication Date March 2013
- 330 mm x 240 mm
- 454 pages
- 571 black and white, and color photographs
Click here to view sample pages
