Description
Book SynopsisMotor Racing at Nassau focuses on the vision of one man, Captain Sherman 'Red' Crise, and his quest to bring motor racing to the Bahamas. From its stuttering start in 1954, his event rapidly developed in stature to become the most important and prestigious sports car event on the race calendar other than World Championship events. The races started in the mid-1950s and continued for thirteen years, and are described by many commentators as the 'Golden Age' of motor racing, where internationally acclaimed drivers attended Nassau to mix with the many amateur racers from America and enjoy the sun, parties and racing. For many drivers, the social scene was as important as the racing, and in later years prize money was an extra incentive to turn up - in 1960, it was claimed to be the highest paying event on the race calendar. Words alone cannot begin to describe the atmosphere generated at the races, so the wealth of previously unpublished photographs together with a complete collection of programme covers, and other material accumulated during six years of research, bring real vibrancy to these fascinating race accounts.
Trade Review"Terry O'Neil's authoritative history, packed with many previously unpublished pictures, captures a bygone ages when partying was an essential part of motorsport and a Caribbean island was a great location for both activities." - The Marshal "Whether it's an incredibly youthful Ricardo Rodriguez, Jim Hall's wrecked Chaparral, Foyt's Hussein-Dodge, or GM's experimental Stingray SR2, you'll be in for some treats when you leaf through this recommended book." -New Zealand Classic Car "This little 96-page book will show you the variety of characters and machines involved ... It captures something of the relaxed ad hoc atmosphere, too." -Classic Cars Classic & Sports Car, January 2009 Latest in Veloce's 'Those were the days' paperback series covers the glamorous Nassau events in the '50s and '60s. If you have Terry O'Neil's earlier book ['The Bahamas Speed Weeks'], parts of this one will be familiar but there are some great photos, particularly of the Rodriguez clan. --- for those who want a quick tutorial on motor racing in Nassau, with excellent photos, this is a solid source. - Auto Racing History
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Foreword 1954 First races at Windsor Field 1955 Consolidation 1956 Final races at Windsor Field 1957 A move to Oakes Field 1958 Oakes Course, a change of direction 1959 Politics and racing 1960 Single seat racing, Formula Junior 1961 Two for Dan Gurney 1962 Lotus XIX stranglehold 1963 American muscle 1964 Penske's year 1965 Foreseeing the future 1966 The final scene Summary of winners Index
