Loved this unforgettable, life shaping book, as a kid; plan to read it again as an adult. ( )

This is more of a reminisce than a review. I wasn't much of a reader in my youth, but I picked up Street Rod at the library in my preteens and read this and it has haunted me since, which is about 40 years ago.

As I remember, it is a story of a troubled teen named Ricky who is struggling to make something of himself. At first, he is caught up in street racing, but a mentor comes along side to help him use his knowledge of cars for legitimate purposes. The teen responds positively, but Link, Ricky's nemesis on the streets, doesn't believe it.

The ending was so disturbing to me at the time that I can still see it play out in my mind having only read it once 40 years ago.