One of the most enjoyable—at least for me—of fifties events was the Pebble Beach Sports Car Road Races. The last...
Art Evans There used to be a monthly feature in the Reader’s Digest called something like “The Most Unforgettable Character...
Whether or not most of us realize it, a most unusual man is among us. Until the late ’50s, he was one of the very few Americans of international road racing caliber. As you read this, John Fitch is 88 years old. His life is the stuff of legend. Fitch...
I’m writing this column during the waning days of 2006. Fifty years is traditionally a significant anniversary. What I remember...
My column in the October 2006 edition of Vintage Racecar was titled, “Shelby, the Early Years.” For the most part,...
During the early fifties, one of the biggest sports stars in the United States was Sam Hanks. Notice I said “sports,” not motor sports. He was one of the best-loved sports figures to come out of Southern California. For many of us enthralled with racing, he was our hero. Sam...
Quite a few younger folk seek me out and want to hear about how wonderful sports car racing was during...
During the fifties, everyone’s hero was Juan Manuel Fangio. He won the World Driving Championship five times, an achievement that...
I don’t remember when I first met Lance Reventlow, but it must have been through my buddy, Bruce Kessler, who was Lance’s best friend. Lance became a significant figure in fifties-era racing because of his creation of the Scarabs. I knew him, but not well, so recently I talked with...
One of the most successful relationships in motor sports during the sixties was between Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles. It...
During the Fifties, a number of women were involved in the sports car craze. This was during a time when...
For the last 20 years or so of his life, Rodger Ward and I were friends. Even though I had met him only once during the fabulous fifties when he drove a customer’s Devin SS when I was the Devin distributor. We became close friends when I asked him to...
As old age creeps up, I think of things that are a must for me and perhaps also for readers...
I’ve always been fascinated with the Goodwood Revival concept of “a magical step back in time.” For some time, I’ve...
When I first talked with Vintage Racecar editor Casey Annis in 2005, the conversation revolved around the subject of me writing about the fifties, the fabulous fifties as it were. After all, this was what I was known for. I had written seven books about the decade. One of my...
It is well known that some great stock car road racing took place at the Riverside International Raceway. Dan Gurney...
Automobile racing started soon after the appearance of autos themselves. Those first events, on public highways and byways, went from...
There is a man who is not only unknown to the general public but also to much of the racing community. He was, however, of vital importance to modern American road racing. With the exception of those who organize races, he is virtually anonymous. Jim Haynes, however, is my own...
I had just been discharged from the Army and was pursuing my education with the help of the GI Bill....
In the February 2010 edition of Vintage Racecar, editor Casey Annis reported that a concours d’provenance had been held in...
On August 4, 2007, an icon of American racing and my dear friend, John Fitch, turned 90 years old! In this day and age of medical advances plus many of us watching our diets and exercising, 90 is not nearly as unusual as in previous times. John, however has lived...
Art Evans Fifty years ago, the world-famous Laguna Seca race course was created by a tree. It’s interesting as well...
John Von Neumann is an important name in the history of the second half of the twentieth century. A Princeton...
My first car after leaving active duty in the Army in 1953 was a 1948 Buick convertible that I sort...
On this, the thirty-fifth anniversary of the Monterey Historics, I thought it would be interesting to look back and see...
I remember that the Reader’s Digest used to have a series of articles titled some-thing like “The Most Unforgettable Character I’ve Ever Met.” High on my own list of such characters is my close friend, Andy Porterfield. Andy is amazing for a number of reasons. Among other accomplishments, Andy has...
On August 28, we lost our great and good champion, Phil Hill. The entire world of motor sports is saddened....
Some of our California sports car races during the fabulous ‘50s were not just for current vehicles. At some SCCA...
This is a little-known story, but the real father of Riverside Raceway was Jim Peterson. I thought this would be a good time to tell it, because the new Riverside International Raceway Museum is having a “Legends of Riverside” celebration on March 27-29. It might be appropriate to include at...
