Vukovich: The Man Who Wouldn't Lift

by Angela Angelopolous, Mark Montieth (Editor)

Bill Vukovich was the greatest race driver of his era, a grim, hard-charging product of a humble and difficult childhood. He honed his racing skills and temperament on the midget and sprint car tracks in California and then went on to dominate the Indianapolis 500. He led 150 laps of the race in 1952 before steering failure forced him out eight laps before the finish. He won the race in 1953 and ’54, and still is the only driver to have led the most laps in the race for three consecutive years. He had a 17-second lead after 57 laps in 1955 when a multi-car accident on the backstretch sent him flying over the outside wall. He landed upside down on parked cars and was killed instantly. Indianapolis sportswriter Angelo Angelopolous, widely recognized as one of the best in the country at his craft, was the only media member to grow close to Vukovich. He dedicated himself to telling Vukovich’s dramatic life story after giving up his newspaper career to become a freelancer for national magazines. He was working against a tight “deadline,” however, because he was slowly dying of leukemia – contracted from the radiation he received while flying over the Hiroshima bombing site as a Navy pilot during World War II. Angelopolous, who died in 1962 at age 43, had a contract with a publishing house and left behind an edited manuscript that for unknown reasons never reached print. He had insider access to Vukovich’s garage at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and socialized with him as well. He presents never-before-published details of Vukovich’s life and career, including dialogue that will make readers feel as if they are along for the ride. The story reads like fiction, a Hollywood movie script, but is thoroughly researched and entirely truthful. Both Vukovich and Angelopolous are members of all the halls of fame that are appropriate for their careers, and together they present an unforgettable story. Although private by nature and gruff with strangers he was generous with friends and extremely close to his wife and two children, and regarded as a man of great integrity.

207 pages, Hardcover

Published April 1, 2024

Reviews

[Shelby · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was so depressing, but I love reading anything about IndyCar.

[Stephen Terrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vukovich: The Man Who Wouldn't Lift is a well-written (and excellently edited) sports book about the legendary, enigmatic and perhaps most spectacular race driver who ever tried to take a racecar to its limits -- and maybe beyond. But the story behind the book is nearly as fascinating as the story itself.

Let's start with Bill Vukovich. Anyone with an interest in the Indianapolis 500 or open wheel racing is familiar with the legendary story of Vukovich. A product of a hardscrabble life growing up in the agricultural areas around Fresno, California, Vukovich spent the post-WWII years racing midgets in the hard-nosed life around California short tracks. He ventured to Indianapolis in 1950, taking his rookie test in the 12-year-old Maserati that legend Wilbur Shaw had twice driven to wins in the Indy 500. But the car was too ancient to compete with newer cars. The following year, 1951, he made the race but after 29 laps, his car broke down, and he finished 29th. It was an inauspicious beginning for a legend.

For the following 4 years, Vukovich set the racing world on edge. He set records for laps led and came within a whisker of winning the Indianapolis 500 four years in a row. In 1952, he dominated the race, but with just 7 laps left, a 50-cent connection in the steering mechanism broke, sending Vuky into the wall.

He returned in 1953, dominating what was termed the hottest 500 ever, leading 195 of the 200 laps on his way to his first win. He repeated in the same car in 1954. Then came 1955. After disposing of early challengers, he had opened a 20-second lead on lap 57. It was smooth sailing to win number 3 in a row -- something never accomplished before or since. Then it happened. Four cars crashed in front of him. There was no where to go. And in an instant, in one of the most spectacular crashes ever seen in the Indianapolis 500, he was gone. And Bill Vukovich the man became legend.

But this book tells far more than racing history and results. It tells an inside story about who Vukovich was, and how the unassuming gas station owner and mechanic from Fresno left an indelible impression on motor racing.

But as fascinating as Vukovich's story is, the story of the book is equally so. Angela Angelopolous was a hero and highly-regarded sports writer in Indianapolis and New York. He was the only reporter, and one of the few people, who penetrated Vukovich's defensive shield and became close to him. A year after Vukovich's death, Angelopoulas began working this book about Vukovich. By 1960, the draft was complete and there were plans for publication. But like Vukovich, on the verge of accomplishment, life slapped down Angelopoulas' plans.

Angelopoulas served as an aviator in the Pacific Theater in World War II. One of his assignments at the close of the war was to fly low-level over the sites where the U.S. dropped atomic bombs to end the war. He was diagnosed with leukemia in 1955, shortly after Vukovich's death, and died in 1962.

For nearly 60 years, the unfinished manuscript, complete with hand-written notes, corrections and re-writes, sat in closets of his relatives, most recently his nephew. Finally, the nephew got in contact with sports writer Mark Montieth. Montieth, with the help of his wife, set about polishing the manuscript and also researching Angelopoulas' life. The final product includes both a prologue that is a tribute to Angelopoulas' life, and an epilog that deals with the further tragedies in the Vukovich family.

This is a well-written book that reflects on the decade when more than half the drivers in the Indianapolis 500 died in racing accidents. For racing fans, sports fans in general, and those interested in mid-century history, it is an OUTSTANDING READ.

[Jeff Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always been interested in the Indy 500 but was born less than three years before the 1955 Indy 500. So I never got a chance to experience Bill Vukovich directly. As I became a fan of the race in the early 60s I learned some stories.

This biography is excellent for any auto racing fan.

I will forewarn you I found the prologue some tough reading. I'm not sure why. It might be something as simple as minor type difference from the biography part of book. Ori was anxious to get to the biography. It's worth fighting through. And book picked up immediately when starting the biography.

I have found any of the Mark Monteith books I've read to be interesting and comfortable reads. I think I have one more to go.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in one sitting. Retrieved from the author's nephew's closet, this 60+ year-old unfinished manuscript was reworked by Indianapolis sports writer Mark Montieth. A great account of Bill Vukovich's Indy racing career, back in the day where 80-some cars of all different configurations would attempt to qualify for the Indianapolis 500. He could've been the first three-, or even four-, time winner had it not been for a mechanical failure with just laps to go in the 1952 race, or his fatal accident in 1955. He won in 1953 and 1954. NB: The author's name is Angelo Angelopolous, not Angela. His story (the prologue of the book) is interesting as well.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

The closeness of the author to his subject is apparent in this well written read. The backstory of the book being saved for publication is alone worth the read. Didn’t know a lot about Vuky before reading this.

[John Goebel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible story both on the subject and author. Writing was superb. Writing like none other. And the then the ending! Most know vukovich’s story but how it is written is so deeply felt.

[tbonethy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a great biography. Mark Monteith and Angelo Angelopolous are and were truly great authors respectively. Fantastic biography.

[Tommi Dukes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book and the history of the 500 at the time! While I have only been to a few races, the 500 is still the one to win. Definitely recommend reading this if you are a race fan.