Overview

Full Product Details

Author:   Randall Cannon ,  Michael Gerry
Publisher:   McFarland & Co Inc
Imprint:   McFarland & Co Inc
Dimensions:   Width: 17.80cm , Height: 2.20cm , Length: 25.40cm
Weight:   0.767kg
ISBN:  

9781476673899

ISBN 10:   1476673896
Pages:   429
Publication Date:   08 October 2018
Recommended Age:   From 18 years
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Available To Order  
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Table of Contents

Table of Contents Acknowledgments viii Preface Introduction: The Play: Joseph Smoot’s Vision and Vice Bring Professional Motorsports to Las Vegas One—Trifecta: Three to Go at Las Vegas Park Speedway Two—The Street: Roots of Racing in the Las Vegas Valley Three—Sawdust Joint: Industrial City Drag Strip, 1958–1961 Four—Wild Card: Henderson Dragway Becomes Thunderbird Speedway, 1961–1962 Five—Discard: Thunderbird Loses Its Thunder, 1962–1964 Six—Carpet Joint: The Gravel Road to Stardust International Raceway Between pages 170 and 171 are 16 color plates with 27 photographs Seven—High Roller: Moe Dalitz Bets Large Eight—Doubling Down: Stardust Adds a Strip Nine—Outside Bet: Welcome the ­Can-Am Series Ten—Full House: Stardust Fills Its Slate Eleven—Numbers Racket: The Cashiering of Stardust International Raceway Twelve—Capped Bet: Racing into the Shadows Thirteen—Down to the Felt: The Far End of Stardust International Raceway Chapter Notes Bibliography Index

Reviews

Thoroughly researched and a good read, this book casts a spotlight into the darkness behind the bright, loud, gaudy scenery that we fans of auto racing normally see. For us, a weekend at Stardust was about speed, sleek cars, fast racers and (as some might have hoped) racier women. -- Pete Lyons, motorsports photographer, author of Riverside Raceway: A Photographic Tour Pete Lyons, motorsports photographer, author of Riverside Raceway: A Photographic Tour The Stardust is an important part of the history of Las Vegas, gambling, and organized crime, but there's still a lot for us to learn about it. Randy Cannon has given us a great look at a part of the Stardust and Las Vegas experience that has long needed more attention. -- Michael Green, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, consultant to and appeared on A&E's Making of the Mob Michael Green, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, consultant to and appeared on A&E's Making of the Mob Meticulously researched and documented, this treasure trove of civic history is far more than a chronicle of the sports-car, open-wheel stock car, and drag-racing spectacles in the 1950s and '60s. -- Competition Plus Competition Plus The authors have uncovered voluminous sources and written about [Stardust International Raceway] in astonishing detail. For anyone who has an interest in Las Vegas history, especially the deeply buried past, or the history of motorsports in general, [this book] is a real find -- Las Vegas Advisor Las Vegas Advisor The iconic superstars of racing rubbed fenders with the promoters of Stardust International Raceway. These promoters were just as noteworthy, serving as front-runners for organized crime, unintentionally making the name 'Stardust' synonymous with mob control! -- Jeffrey A. Silver, former member, Nevada Gaming Control Board Jeffrey A. Silver, former member, Nevada Gaming Control Board

Thoroughly researched and a good read, this book casts a spotlight into the darkness behind the bright, loud, gaudy scenery that we fans of auto racing normally see. For us, a weekend at Stardust was about speed, sleek cars, fast racers and (as some might have hoped) racier women. But a few of those other characters we passed in the pit lane without a glance? Author Cannon tells us who they really were, and about their unsuspected roles backstage. Wow! --Pete Lyons, Motorsports photographer, author of Riverside Raceway: A Photographic Tour; Randy Cannon chronicles, in graphic detail, the rise and fall of big-time auto racing in 'Vegas. How strange bedfellows (mobsters, corporate hucksters and hinky politicians) brought racing to center stage then cut its throat. --Pete Ward, editor Drag Racer Magazine; The Stardust is an important part of the history of Las Vegas, gambling, and organized crime, but there's still a lot for us to learn about it. Randy Cannon has given us a great look at a part of the Stardust and Las Vegas experience that has long needed more attention. --Michael Green, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, consultant to and appeared on A&E's Making of the Mob; The iconic superstars of racing rubbed fenders with the promoters of Stardust International Raceway. These promoters were just as noteworthy, serving as front-runners for organized crime, unintentionally making the name 'Stardust' synonymous with mob control! --Jeffrey A. Silver, former member, Nevada Gaming Control Board.

Author Information

Randall Cannon is a freelance writer and lifelong motorsports enthusiast. Michael Gerry is a race vehicle constructor and has worked on several championship drag racing teams. He resides in North Las Vegas, Nevada.

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