The Red Racecar

by Thom Ring

Jimmy Pearson and his best friend Danny Houle have just graduated from high school as this
young-adult novel begins. Neither has a clue about what's next in their lives until Jimmy Pearson
spots a bright-red midget racecar for sale at an auto-repair shop in town. Jimmy hasn't laid eyes
on a racecar in years, but his dad once was one of the best dirt-track racers around before he lost
his life in a racing accident. Jimmy immediately decides that the car is the ticket to a summer of
adventure if he and Danny can come up with the money to buy it from its desperately-broke
owners.

But how will his mom feel about his racing in view of the death of his dad? And does he know
enough about going fast to compete with the current class of competitors already in the midst of
their racing season?

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 5, 2015

About the author

THOM RING has written about motorsports for over a quarter of a century. Currently he is a senior editor for Late Model Racer. Previously he published the acclaimed Shorttrack magazine, which featured some of the best writers and photographers covering New England oval-track racing.

He served as Technical Editor for Trackside Magazine as well as New England correspondent for Late Model Digest while also covering racing for a half-dozen daily newspapers in southern New England.

Ring was the color commentator for Speedway Heat, which televised NASCAR Busch North Series auto races in addition to weekly-series competition across the region. He has appeared on numerous television and radio shows as an expert on racing. As a specialist helping people recover from brain injury, Ring is considered an expert on safety-issues affecting the sport.

Ring was a race-winning kart driver and a solid and unspectacular middle-of-the-packer in a dirt midget.

Reviews

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

While tossing up between going to college or joining the army, Jimmy Pearson passes a garage on the way home which catches his eye. What he sees inside lures him in like a magnet – a red dirt-track midget race-car, which seems to be calling his name. Jimmy shows the midget to his best friend, Danny Houle, before they both make an offer to buy it. Jimmy had never before raced one, but his visits to the track as a child are still fresh in his mind. With his newly-formed team close at hand, inclusive of Danny (his mechanic) and Jack (his sponsor), Jimmy fast learns the ropes during the remainder of the racing season, making many new friends... as well as a toxic enemy, in the form Jared Sweet. With Jared bumping Jimmy at every opportunity, Jimmy needs to find his focus in order to survive.

Thom Ring’s amazing tale of a next-generation racer, whose craving for racing, matching that of his father’s, is full of twists and turns throughout, as Jimmy has to learn the ropes from scratch. With so many strict rules and regulations, I cannot help but be in awe of those who race at the tracks, the likes of which I frequented as a child. With every piece of action well written, I was able to visualize being at the racing tracks, not only watching the midgets, but also the sprint-cars in action. Thom Ring’s writing prowess never ceases to amaze me, as he easily seems to write about his love of a sport that he knows so well. I very much enjoyed the fast-paced action of The Red Racecar, and recommend it to gear-heads who not only enjoy the thunderous roar of the speedway or the whirling dust on the dirt tracks, but who also are considering getting into the sport of racing.

- Rosie Malezer for Readers’ Favorite

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review: I have really been enjoying Thom Ring's books, it has been great finding books for young male readers who are more interested in things that go than reading. I think this might be a great book to read first of the racing themed books he has, it is a nice introduction to a lot of the terminology and background aspects of the racing world. Jimmy & Danny are familiar enough to jump into it but we learn a lot along with them about racing and good sportsmanship as well. The other great thing is while this book is geared more toward male readers, there are also female racers so even young teen girls will enjoy this book. There is plenty of excitement, challenges and loads of adrenaline to keep the pages turning.