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The Last Open Road #2
Montezuma's Ferrari
2nd novel in "The Last Open Road" series.
410 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 31, 2023
Montezuma’s Ferrari’, Part deux to the ‘The Last Open Road’, which was the author’s first novel. The vintage racing story continues down to Mexico for the 1950s aura of rambunctious racing in those good old days, with good old cars (now rare classics) down what might loosely be called roads, with the young Buddy and his group of cohorts, characters and crazies.
Once again, there are a variety of star and cameo appearances by all kinds of exotic cars and real life racers, engineers mechanics and automotive wheeler dealers.
There’s an unusual, and wonderful 32 page glossy color, photo section of various auto related advertisements , really sets the tone !
I’ve heard some reports that folks who liked the first book, couldnt get into this one. I think it’s because he originally had a 700 page first novel and his smart friends told him, cut it in half ! So the first few chapters of this one is spent filling the gaps, making the transition with a lot of repetition, so just in case you didn’t read the first one, you’d still know what was happening. I almost gave up but stuck with it and the entertaining pace resumed through the esses.
Once again, there are a variety of star and cameo appearances by all kinds of exotic cars and real life racers, engineers mechanics and automotive wheeler dealers.
There’s an unusual, and wonderful 32 page glossy color, photo section of various auto related advertisements , really sets the tone !
I’ve heard some reports that folks who liked the first book, couldnt get into this one. I think it’s because he originally had a 700 page first novel and his smart friends told him, cut it in half ! So the first few chapters of this one is spent filling the gaps, making the transition with a lot of repetition, so just in case you didn’t read the first one, you’d still know what was happening. I almost gave up but stuck with it and the entertaining pace resumed through the esses.
December 14, 2018
I am not the audience for this book. If you're really, and I mean REALLY, into vintage racing you'll love it! All of the historical easter eggs were lost on me. The characters grew on me. Buddy is sweet. The author set the scene and tone of the time well. There were good things but it just wasn't for me.
September 28, 2022
Excellent novel and very detailed of the period including race tracks like Sebring among others. Annoying to me was mention of fellow Reds in GreenwichVillage as well as Mccarthy mention and authors overuse of word 'Natch. Love the cover, cars I much preferred his first novel but this one is a good read.
December 22, 2021
Another fun chapter in The Last Open Road series. Love this one too.
November 28, 2023
Loved this one almost as much as The Last Open road. This one was more exciting in my opinion.
September 22, 2025
A lot of names of 50s sports cars. If thats your thing.
June 12, 2013
I read racing books like nobody's business. Anytime I find one, it gets added to my to read list and...I love them. And most of the fiction ones don't really work for me because they over dramatize an already dramatic world and it ruins the magic...
This series and especially this book...capture it perfectly (which says how little racing has changed in the last 60 years...). There's nothing I love about racing that's not in this book. The friendships, the bonds, the speed, the thrills, the adventures of going to races, the sense of belonging...everything just comes to life in this book and I loved every second of it. It gave me the same feeling being at a track and that's...saying a lot.
It also included everything I hate about racing...the money drain, the danger, but in a way that was so honest that it had me in tears.
The story aside from the racing was also wonderful this time. A lot of character growth for Buddy, and so many relationships grew deeper. The first book the characters were a little weak, besides Buddy, but this one really gave them all personalities and stories and definitely built some awesome bonds. It made for a very warm and fun read.
Also...I loved reading about Sebring in its starting years. Go to that race every year so...it was my world.
Really good read, especially for a real sports car fan (which why did we drop sporty car and start using sports car?? Sporty car sound like so much more fun!)
This series and especially this book...capture it perfectly (which says how little racing has changed in the last 60 years...). There's nothing I love about racing that's not in this book. The friendships, the bonds, the speed, the thrills, the adventures of going to races, the sense of belonging...everything just comes to life in this book and I loved every second of it. It gave me the same feeling being at a track and that's...saying a lot.
It also included everything I hate about racing...the money drain, the danger, but in a way that was so honest that it had me in tears.
The story aside from the racing was also wonderful this time. A lot of character growth for Buddy, and so many relationships grew deeper. The first book the characters were a little weak, besides Buddy, but this one really gave them all personalities and stories and definitely built some awesome bonds. It made for a very warm and fun read.
Also...I loved reading about Sebring in its starting years. Go to that race every year so...it was my world.
Really good read, especially for a real sports car fan (which why did we drop sporty car and start using sports car?? Sporty car sound like so much more fun!)
September 28, 2022
Excellent novel and very detailed of the period including race tracks like Sebring among others. Annoying to me was mention of fellow Reds in GreenwichVillage as well as Mccarthy mention and authors overuse of word 'Natch. Love the cover, cars I much preferred his first novel but this one is a good read. I have the version with the beautiful artwork of the Ferrari 340 at panamericana on the cover.
July 25, 2008
The second book in the series about a race mechanic in the 1950s. If you are remotely a car buff and and want a quick fun read, you should try these out.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews