The Bahamas Speed Weeks
Published on 15. May 2006
Book
Hardback
368 pages
978-1-84584-018-1 (ISBN)
Description
The vision of one man, Captain Sherman _x0018_Red _x0019_ Crise formed the basis for what was to become the Bahamas Speed Weeks, a series of motor races held on the island of New Providence in the Bahamas. They started in the mid 1950s and continued for 13 years, before ending due to a mix of political decisions, ill fortune and a shift in the direction motor racing had taken over that period of time. These years were described by many commentators as the _x0018_Golden Age _x0019_ of motor racing, where internationally acclaimed drivers attended the Speed Weeks to mix with the many amateur racers from America who came to enjoy the senario of sun, parties and racing. For many drivers the social scene was as important as the racing, and in latter years prize money was an extra incentive to turn up. This well researched account tracks the history of the Speed Weeks with its roller-coaster ride throughout its 13 years existence.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
David & Charles
Dimensions
Height: 250 mm
Width: 250 mm
Weight
2075 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84584-018-1 (9781845840181)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Terry O _x0019_Neil has lived the majority of his life in the Midlands in England, where he worked for what was then a thriving motor industry within the sales and marketing departments for the Rootes Group (Hillman, Humber and Sunbeam) based in Coventry, then with British Leyland (Austin, Morris and MG) based in Birmingham. Terry always had the ambition to own a Ferrari, and this he achieved in 1991. Since that time he has been an active member of the Ferrari Owners Club of Great Britain, and enjoys the role of Archivist for the Club. He has written numerous articles for the Ferrari Club magazine and has contributed articles to Cavallino magazine, Ferrari Market Letter, the Austin-Healey Club of America magazine and Vintage Racecar Journal. His enthusiasm for researching less well-known races led him on a six year adventure, culminating in his first book, The Bahamas Speed Weeks. He is currently working on a history of the Sports Car Club of America races from 1950 up to the end of 1955. _x000B__x000B_ _x000B__x000B_Denise McCluggage is a journalist and author, as well as a former race car driver. As a driver she has won trophies on three continents in rallying and racing. Chief among her victories: first GT, Sebring (Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta); Copa de Damas, Grand Prix of Venezuela (Porsche 550 RS); and 1st in class, Rallye de Monte Carlo (Ford Falcon). As a journalist she is the only woman to have won the Ken W. Purdy Award for automotive journalism. She was in at the inception of Competition Press which is now AutoWeek She has a syndicated column called "Drive, She Said" in some 90 newspapers across the US and Canada.
Content
Foreword by Denise McCluggage. Introduction. Chapter 1. From concepts, to planning and reality. Chapter 2. 1954. Windsor Field Road Course. Chapter 3. 1955. Consolidation. Chapter 4. 1956. Farewell to Windsor Field. Chapter 5. 1957. Oakes Field, a new beginning. Chapter 6. 1958. Professionalism - an added factor. Chapter 7. 1959. Political rumblings in Nassau. Chapter 8. 1960. Introduction of Formula Junior. Chapter 9. 1961. The Italian challenge. Chapter 10. 1962. The new GT contender. Chapter 11. 1963. American Muscle. Chapter 12. 1964. The elusive Hat Trick. Chapter 13. 1965. The beginning of the end. Chapter 14. 1966. The die is cast. Chapter 15. No way back. Appendices. 1967 International Formula Vee races. Bahamas Racing and Sports Car Club. Acknowledgements. Data Sources.