Overview

Hear the heart-pounding, engine-revving true story of the first Indy 500--America's most celebrated automobile race. In 1911, thousands of spectators gathered at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to watch 40 cars compete in the first annual Indianapolis 500-Mile Race. Better known as the Indy 500, the event was a celebration of the controversial new sport of automobile racing. Dangerous and deadly, auto racing was drawing attention from across the country with its thrilling premise: No windshields, no helmets, no seatbelts-just speed. Fans would flock to race tracks to watch gutsy young men go up to 75 miles per hour in open cockpits. But with fame came complications. Seven people were killed when the Indianapolis Motor Speedway first opened. Racers' wives became widows in the blink of an eye. Drivers encountered exploding tires, bursts of smoke, oily surfaces and pieces of asphalt flying at their faces--not to mention the wrenches and bolts thrown by unruly opponents gunning for the lead. And, while Marmon Wasp driver Ray Harroun was officially declared the winner of the first Indy 500, the decision is disputed to this day by fans and officials of the sport. Listen to Blood and Smoke and go back to when America was first falling in love with automobile racing. Take the driver's seat on this audio-venture and experience the early days of the Indy 500, the controversies that shaped this iconic race, and the young drivers who risked everything for fame, fortune, and first place.

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9781713543909

Table of Contents

Reviews

Leerhsen provides an entertaining history of the automobile's growth in the early twentieth century. . . . Along the way, readers are treated to sharply humorous social commentary bolstered by fascinating details of Indianapolis life and industry. --Booklist When you read this gripping account of the first Indy 500 run May 30, 1911, you'll wonder why they ever had a second. --Doug Clark, Greensboro News-Record (NC) With alternating tales of horrifying crashes and the schemes of Carl Fisher, who promoted the Indianapolis Speedway as a venue for airplane races, this is a ripping good yarn of America in the early 20th century. Leerhsen, a witty storyteller, draws from contemporary articles, histories, and interviews to pull readers into a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the building of the Speedway and the first race.... this book has broad appeal, with laugh-out-loud stories and characters who would be unbelievable if they turned up in fiction. Highly recommended. --Library Journal, starred review Should be required reading for anybody with so much as a vague interest in the birth of the Speedway and the 500. --Bob Kravitz, The Indianapolis Star

Author Information

Charles Leerhsen is a former executive editor at Sports Illustrated. He has written for Rolling Stone, Esquire, and The New York Times. His books include Ty Cobb: A Terrible Beauty; Crazy Good: The True Story of Dan Patch, the Most Famous Horse in America; and Blood and Smoke: A True Tale of Mystery, Mayhem, and the Birth of the Indy 500. He is a winner of the SABR Baseball Research Award. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, the writer Sarah Saffian. Visit him at CharlesLeerhsen.com.

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