1969
First Published
3.90
Average Rating
307
Number of Pages
The story of Parnelli Jones is the story of American auto racing. Jones grew up in Torrance, a tough city on the edge of Los Angeles. A teenage love affair with cars turned into a full-blown relationship with adult speed, running hardscrabble races across the from jalopies at Carrell Speedway to the dirt track at Ascot Park to sprint cars in the Midwest to the stock circuit in the South. By today's standards the racing was unbelievable in its recklessness. His life was on the line in every race, but his courage was impenetrable. In 1963 Parnelli qualified for Indy and won. In 1964 he was almost killed at the same race. In 1967 he was eight miles from victory when his car broke down, leaving him unable to finish. In 1968 he was the lion in winter, battling equipment and overwhelming odds. This is a gritty, American tale of survival and the unlikely birth of a savage and spectacular sport.
Avg Rating
3.90
Number of Ratings
31
5 STARS
29%
4 STARS
39%
3 STARS
29%
2 STARS
0%
1 STARS
3%
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Author
Bill Libby
Author · 2 books
Bill Libby was an American writer and biographer best known for his prolific work on sports figures, authoring more than 65 books that chronicled the lives of athletes and explored the world of professional and college sports. A Navy veteran and graduate of Indiana University, Libby began his journalism career as a sports editor before moving on to the New York Post. His writing captured the stories of legends such as Wilt Chamberlain, Rocky Marciano, and Pete Rose, and he also co-wrote books on celebrities and public figures. His 1975 book Champions of College Football remains a notable effort to retrospectively designate national champions across decades.
