Requiem of a Champion

A recently retired, championship-winning, road racing driver's reflections, and remembrances, about his long career competing on America's top racing circuits. This book explores the origins of his lifelong passion for the sport- a passion kindled as a child by the glamour of the nearby Sebring Twelve Hours of Endurance. It describes his struggles as a young man to compete in the sport he loved so much. And, in detail, reviews the successes, failures, lessons, and regrets from nearly thirty years of racing (both at amateur, and professional, levels). This memoir uses a most unusual structure to tell this passionate tale- The Catholic Requiem for the Dead. The author uses this format in a humorous, self-deprecating, but still respectful manner, as he honors the sport that he clearly so passionately loves. The book describes many of the key American racing circuits upon which the author competed during his career. As part of this description he discusses his thoughts on some of the right, and wrong, ways to negotiate the most important corners on these tracks. The author also takes the time to describe the occasional crashes and wrecks that marred his, otherwise, successful racing career. As part of those descriptions he analyzes the causes of those misadventures, and, where appropriate, assigns blame. He also shares with the reader his most important "Speed Secrets"- twelve lessons learned from his decades of competing against some of the most (and least) talented road racers in America. He doesn't guarantee that these hints will necessarily make you "quicker"- but he does believe that, if diligently applied, they will, without question, make you a better racer.The author uses this book to reflect on what racing has meant to him, and why. And, to document, and to thank, the many people whose assistance helped him to achieve what he was able to accomplish in racing. This book will, hopefully, appeal to anyone who truly loves sports car racing- at any level. It is not just an instruction manual on how to drive a road racing car; it is not just a history lesson about a few forgotten races of the past; and, it is not just a sentimental look back at one man's fading career. It, hopefully, is some of all of these things- written by a man who's love for the sport is deep; and for those who share that passion.