Book Review: Velocity: Heroes of American Auto Racing Calendar 2015

Pete Lyons has done it again. Just when you thought there can’t be another vintage racing calendar worthy of purchase, Mr. Lyons finds a way to produce a beautifully-done tribute to some of racing’s great rivalries. His new release for the 2015 calendar year offers 12 months of stunning images of vintage Formula One, his favorite subject the sensational Can-Am series as well as the USRRC and FIA Sports cars.

Some vintage racing calendar fans may remember his original calendars that were stocked with magnificent Can-Am images. However, for 2015 he has decided to go in a different direction with Velocity: Heroes of American Racing. This edition not only has his photos but some of his father’s also.

Most of the photos are classic F-1 cars such as Mario Andretti in the Parnelli Jones Viceroy effort (featured on the cover), Jimmy Clark in the historic British green Lotus 49 and Sir Stirling Moss in the unforgettable Rob Walker Lotus 18. There are also sports cars, prototypes, and Trans Am cars included. Drivers across the racing spectrum are included from Parnelli Jones in the Bud Moore Mustang to a classic image of American sports car pioneer, Briggs Cunningham. This calendar is not just photos as Lyons tells a story about the driver, his accomplishments and his influence on American racing.

I particularly like the beautiful large-format (17″ x 11-1/2″) that show the feature photo in all its glory and its high-quality is sure to please any racing or car fan.

Not familiar his Mr. Lyons? Pete has over 50 years’ experience as a photographer and journalist in motorsports reporting on the North American scene for Autosport and has regularly attended all the great events like the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the Indianapolis 500, the 12 Hours of Sebring as well as the annual Formula One Grands Prix in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. A special favorite of his was the popular Can-Am -the Canadian-American Challenge Cup series which was essentially unlimited big sports racing cars. Today Lyons contributes to a wide variety of automotive publications, including AutoWeek, for whom he is now a Senior Contributing Editor, and Vintage Racecar Journal, which carries his regular column, “Fast Lines.” He also serves as editor of MilePost, the monthly organ of the Motor Press Guild (MPG). Other prestigious publications in which Pete’s byline has appeared include Racer, Road & Track, Corvette Quarterly, Car and Driver, Vintage Motorsport, Cycle, Cycle World, Private Pilot and many others. To date Pete Lyons is the author of six books. His work has been honored with the Dean Batchelor Award of the Motor Press Guild, an Award for Journalism given by the Road Racing Driver’s Club, and the International Motor Press Association’s Ken Purdy Award. The Historic Grand Prix Association periodically awards its Pete Lyons Cup to owners of vintage F1 cars whom Pete feels best recreate the spirit of the historic times he remembers so vividly.

Available at: https://www.octanepress.com/book/velocity-historic-auto-racing-calendar-2015

Product Details
· Calendar: 24 pages
· Publisher: Octane Press
· ISBN-10: 1937747409
· ISBN-13: 978-1937747404
· Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 16.8 x 0.2 inches

Steve Zautke

Steve Zautke, a Milwaukee, WI native, was raised in the sport of auto racing. His father, Bill, was a movie photographer that shot racing footage at tracks such as the Milwaukee Mile and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the 1960’s and 1970’s Steve’s first professional job in racing was as an Emergency Medical Technician at tracks such as Angell Park and Hales Corners Speedway (1988-1991). Steve has also worked for the Milwaukee Mile as videographer, in media relations and historian (1993-2011). Steve also has worked as a reporter for Racing Information Systems (RIS) and has written features for ‘Vintage Oval Racing’ and ‘Victory Lane’ magazines. Most recently, Steve has written a book on Road America for Arcadia Publishing. ( http://www.amazon.com/Road-America-Nascar-Library-Collection/dp/1467111457 ) Steve co-hosts “Sparky’s Final Inspection” a motorsports-based radio show with hosts, Steve “Sparky” Fifer and “NASCAR Girl” Summer Santana on Sports Radio 1250AM in Milwaukee and is also available on the internet at www.Sportradio1250.com. A member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Induction Committee, Steve follows all types of racing from the dirt tracks to Formula One.

racingnation.com

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