Gentlemen, start your engines

by Wilbur Shaw

1955: An autobiography of Wilbur Shaw, one of America's most colorful sports figures, before his death in 1954 in, ironically, an airplane crash.

Genres: Biography

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1955

Reviews

[David Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been a fan of motorsports most of my life. I've followed Formula One since 1994 and Champcar for many years before that. I was never a big fan of oval racing, though, so Nascar and the Indy 500 were never that interesting to me.

That said, when I came across this book I couldn't resist buying it. I'm a big fan of history and biographies, and have developed a curiosity about some of the big names in racing from before my time.

Wilbur Shaw won the Indy 500 three times in the 1930s and 1940s. Safety never seemed to be a big concern for the drivers until Jackie Stewart took the bull by the horns in the 1960s and 1970s. When Shaw was driving, drivers were getting killed at the 500 nearly every year. He took it all in stride.

Anyway, I was prepared for the casual treatment of safety. What surprised me was how different the rules were back then. For example, when the checkered flag was waved, most drivers did an extra lap at speed because they worried that somebody miscounted the laps. Also, the race was 500 miles. As long as I've been watching, the race is over for each car as it crosses the finish line behind the winner. Back then, a 500 mile race was 500 miles. Drivers who were several laps down continued to race until they got their 500 miles. Also, in the 30s, drivers often were swapped out during the race and mechanics rode in the cars. How bizarre.

Shaw wasn't just a winning driver. He was instrumental in reviving the Indy 500 after WWII. The facility had fallen into disrepair during the war and many people had plans to tear it down and build houses there. Without Shaw, perhaps the Indy 500 would never have come back after the war.

Recommended for race fans.

[Mark Dill · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read with a strong set of insights into one of the most consequential leaders in 20th century American motorsport. A word of caution is in order. While the book was marketed as a Wilbur Shaw autobiography, it was largely written by Indianapolis Motor Speedway PR chief Al Bloemker. While a ton of useful information about Shaw and his times are presented, it is best consumed with the understanding that Bloemker wrote with as much focus on the spin as the historical record. All that said, it is essential racing if you want to develop expertise in Indianapolis Motor Speedway history.

[David Bennion · Rating 5 out of 5]

65 years ago I borrowed this book from my local library. It gave me an insight into the American motor racing scene at the Brickyard, the Indianapolis Speedway. Many year later I visited the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and I got to see the actual cars raced by Wilbur Shaw along with many others. I searched in vain for a copy of that original book and then on my birthday a second hand copy was given to me as a wonderful surprise.