The Fast Times of Albert Champion: From Record-Setting Racer to Dashing Tycoon, An Untold Story of Speed, Success, and Betrayal

by Peter Joffre Nye

RACER. INNOVATOR. CELEBRITY. MOGUL. CHAMPION.This is the first biography of the short but exciting life of Albert Champion-record-setting bicyclist and motorcyclist, daredevil racecar driver, early automobile innovator, charismatic ladies' man, and celebrity of the Jazz Age.Though most Americans have heard of the companies Albert Champion founded-ACDelco and Champion Spark Plug-few know much about the charismatic man behind them.Like a Richard Branson of the early 20th century, or an Evel Knievel with a business degree, Champion was a powerhouse whose life was defined by both speed and success.Champion rose from poverty in Paris to great wealth and fame in both his native France and the United States. As a bicycle racer, Champion set more than a hundred world records. When the urban speed limit was 8 mph, he was the first ever to drive a motorcycle a mile under a minute. A car-racing crash snapped a leg bone that kept him in traction for eleven weeks. Undeterred, he hobbled out of the hospital on crutches and recovered to win the French national cycling championship. Champion invested his prize money to become a tycoon in the new and revolutionary American auto industry, working closely with the leading players and amassing thirty US. His contemporaries included Charles Lindbergh, who endorsed Champion's product by saying, "AC Spark Plugs kept my engine running perfectly."; Louis Chevrolet, whom Champion backed financially until it came out that he was trying to seduce Chevrolet's wife, which led to a fight and the end of their friendship; and William Durant, founder of a "new holding company" called General Motors.A notorious ladies' man, Champion's many dalliances were fodder for the papers and finally ended in a love triangle that resulted in his death under mysterious circumstances.

462 pages, Hardcover

First published November 4, 2014

About the author

Peter Joffre Nye has worked as a prize-winning author, journalist, and magazine editor in Washington, DC. He is the author of several books, including The Fast Times of Albert Champion: From Record-Setting Racer to Dashing Tycoon, an Untold Story of Speed, Success, and Betrayal. His articles have been published in a variety of venues, including the Washington Post, USA Today, and Sports Illustrated.

Reviews

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first few chapters of this are incredibly immersive, making you really feel like you're in turn-of-the-century Paris, but the remainder is just OK. The middle reads like an article that was fleshed out to form a book, with many of the stories from the beginning repeated in condensed form. There are also a few errors toward the end that had me questioning the factual correctness entire book (placing Woodward Avenue in Flint rather than Detroit, for example). Still a worthy read on an interesting topic though.

[Cal Littlehales]

J'ai adoré

I read this book whilst in Paris and it was truly fascinating to link the story with the locations. Whilst no aficionado of cycles, motorcycles or cars I thoroughly enjoyed this biography of Albert Champion. Whilst his career was fascinating and his contribution to the future of the cars that we now have was interesting, his private, tangled life was thrilling too.

I was gutted that I was back in England when I finished the book and found out that he was buried in Pere Lechaise which I'd hoped to visit but didn't. I am definitely going back to Paris to reconnect with Mr Champion.

Anyone could enjoy this book and I believe you don't have to be an auto fanatic to appreciate it.

[Sarah Alawami · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book that reads like today's history of business. It's a shame that the man who punched Champion and caused the hart attack that would kill him was never charged with merger.