A. J. Foyt

A. J. Foyt is most definitely an American Original. This book was written many years ago, when "Super Tex" was still an active driver. It is frequently entertaining, occasionally maddening, and rarely boring -- at least for a reader who likes auto racing. Foyt is and has always been a character, and has never lacked for ego. But he's earned the right to boast. He was the first man to achieve four Indy 500 wins, and won races in a wide variety of motorsports series and disciplines. It's reasonable to say that he may be the greatest all-around, multi-discipline race car driver of all time (though, personally, I'm parial to Mario Andretti for that title).

The book takes us from his working-class roots in Houston to victory lane in places like Indy, Daytona, and Le Mans, and deals with conflicts between and within race teams, sanctioning bodies, and tire companies. Foyt also shares glimpses and opinions of other drivers around him when he was in his prime -- some of whom, he will admit, were decent drivers but many of whom he didn't feel belonged on the race track.

Especially interesting are his comments about the role of sanctioning bodies -- especially in light of what subsequently happened in American open-wheel racing.

An entertaining trip down motorsports memory lane.… (mehr)

Subtitled: "My Life as America's Greatest Race Car Driver". It's not great literature but it is chock full of self-satisfied memories. He has got a lot to be self-satisfied about. I don't know whether we should all agree with the "America's Greatest" statement but we would have to agree that he was extremely good at what he chose to do in life. I enjoyed reading his story and chose to do so because, as a kid, I loved midget car racing. This guy raced midgets with Bob Tattersall ad Mel Kenyon, two people I saw race in New Zealand while I was growing up. They were great to watch and I'm sure A.J. was as well.… (mehr)