Rodger Ward: Superstar of American Racing's Golden Age (10 X 10) - Hardcover

Mike O'Leary regularly covers American open-wheel racing, writing from his home in Bloomington, Indiana. He is personal friends with Rodger Ward's son and had exclusive access to family photos as well as new insights into the career of this legendary driver. He is the author of two previous Motorbooks titles: Outlaw Sprints; and Mario Andretti: The Complete Record.

He built a car from parts scavenged from his father s junkyard

business, then dropped out of high school so he could take it street racing at night. If nothing else, this typifies the determination that defined Rodger Ward. But there was far more to the man than sheer determination, like the twinkle in his eye and the smile that endeared him to a generation of race fans.

Ward s success put him into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame, but even his defeats were of note. Looking back on his 1964 Indy 500 loss to A. J. Foyt, he said, in typical Rodger Ward fashion, But I made Foyt famous, so what the hell. Told for the first time, this is the story of a true motorsport legend.

In addition to his '59 Indy 500 triumph, Ward finished second in '60 (recognized as one of the best 500 races in history), third in '61, first in '62, fourth in '63 and second in '64. For decades historians recalled that record as the most successful six-year finishing record in Indy history." Tim Kennedy, Racing Scene

"The Indy record is remarkable by any standard but I have felt for many

decades that he was every bit the equal, if not superior, to both Bryan and

A.J. on the 1-mile dirt tracks. He was always on the gas and never fell out

of the seat. In particular after hooking up with Watson, if the car was

functioning correctly he was just about unbeatable." Jim Chini, MSPA Hall of Fame racing photographer

"At Lime Rock, Connecticut on July 25, '59 on the 1.5 mile road course, Rodger whupped up on several of the sporty car crowd s best in a Formula Libre race, which means run what you brung . Such names as Pedro Rodriguez, in a 3-liter Maserati, Lance Reventlow in a Formula II Cooper, John Cooper in a Cooper Monaco and Jokko Maggiacomo driving 4.9-liter Ferrari --- among others. Oh yeah, I forgot: Rodger was driving a little ole 110 Offy midget with an in-and-out gear box and [the engine] offset to the left." Dick Ralston, Legendary motorsports editor

Rodger was more than a successful car racer and two-time Indy 500 winner. He was literally the hub of any gathering around which the other racers and auto racing community and fans congregated." Richard N. Parks, Racing writer

In his time on the championship trail, Rodger Ward became a symbol of the most beloved era in American racing. Rodger Ward: Superstar of American Racing's Golden Age tells his story. From his Kansas boyhood to the busy postwar Southern California midget racing scene to his emergence as a world-class driver, it s all chronicled in words and pictures.

Racing writer Mike O Leary brings to life the curly-haired hero whose broad smile and irrepressible twinkle won the hearts of racing fans from coast to coast. Although he started his career by exaggerating his abilities, he soon backed up his promises. By the time he was done, he had used Ford power to beat the Offys at Gilmore, risen to 9th all-time in Indy 500 laps led and 8th in Indy car victories overall, won two national championships, won two national stock car titles, and raced sports cars at Monza.

Of course, it wasn t all wine and roses. The racing circuit was a close-knit group of men who worked, played and traveled together. The twenty-year period during which Ward raced saw almost as many die as win, and those who took the final checker weren t just competitors--they were friends.

In addition to the brilliant successes and devastating failures that endeared Ward to generations of racing fans, O Leary also describes Ward s little-known stint as an Army P-38 fighter pilot during World War II and the business ventures that kept him involved in racing after he retired. Best of all, this biography not only provides the first in-depth portrait of one of racing s heroes, it recreates a unique and fondly remembered era in American racing.