{"product_id":"american-road-race-specials-1934-70-glory-days-of-homebuilt-racers","title":"American Road Race Specials, 1934-70: Glory Days of Homebuilt Racers","description":"Once upon a time, there was a guy named Max Balchowsky who decided he wanted to beat Ferrari and Jaguar at their own game-road racing. The trouble was, he didn't have the cash for a factory racer. So he built his own. Using a Ford homemade tube frame, a souped-up Buick V-8 and running on recapped whitewalls, Ol' Yaller whipped them all.\nWelcome to American Road Race Specials 1934-70. These were the glory days of road racing in the United States, from the first races between imported MGs to the world-winning Made-in-the-USA Scarabs and Chaparrals, and on to the downfall of the Shadow.\nThis is the story of the men who built and ran their own homemade cars in pioneer SCCA and Cal Club races on town streets, airports and then the first purpose-built American racetracks. Here is Jim Hall, Lance Reventlow, Ken Miles, Carroll Shelby, Ak Miller, Balchowsky, Troutman and Barnes, Phil Hill, Dan Gurney, Roger Penske, George Follmer, and all the rest. . . .\nAnd the cars: Ol' Yaller, Cunningham, Scarab, Chaparral, Kurtis, Devin, Zerex Special, Bocar, Caballo de Hierro, Pooper, Shadow, Ferraries with Chevy V-8s and every other possible chassis-engine combination a racer could think of. Some were crude, others deceptively homespun; most were half hot rod, half sports car-all of them were unique and built with passion.\nHistorian Allan Girdler's straight-talking technical writing and colorful storytelling brings to life the home-builts' history as no other could. Girdler is a former Car Life and Cycle World editor and is currently an editor-at-large for Road \u0026amp; Track. His other books include Harley-Davidson Racing 1934-1986 and Harley-Davidson XR-750.\u003cbr\u003eASIN: 1626549338\u003cbr\u003eVSKU: BVV.1626549338.G\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Good\u003cbr\u003eAuthor\/Artist:Girdler, Allan\u003cbr\u003eBinding: Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNote:\u003c\/b\u003e Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition Notes\u003c\/b\u003e: The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and works perfectly. All pages and cover are intact  including the dust cover, if applicable . Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.  \u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Blue Vase Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43525830180925,"sku":"BVV.1626549338.G","price":20.61,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0589\/4225\/9261\/files\/1626549338-0.jpg?v=1787952420","url":"https:\/\/www.bluevasebooks.com\/products\/american-road-race-specials-1934-70-glory-days-of-homebuilt-racers","provider":"Blue Vase Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}