It's Try-Day Friday! September 17, 2010

Product: Legendary Corvettes: 'Vettes Made Famous On Track And Screen (hardcover book)


Website: http://www.qbookshop.com/motorbooks.com/

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/MotorbooksInc

Many of the books I review on http://www.writesides.com/ and elsewhere are NASCAR-related. So, at first glance, you may be wondering why I'm covering this new book about Corvettes.

Here are a few reasons: 1) It's an excellent book about a car that, like NASCAR itself, is a prominent part of American motorsports; 2) There is a NASCAR connection, as you will soon see; 3) The book was just published; and, 4) I have a brand-new copy, retail U.S. price $35.00, to send to one lucky Twitter follower! Details on the giveaway at the end.

Ask anyone to name the iconic American sports car and chances are a majority of respondents will cite the Chevy Corvette. As the inside jacket of the book notes, "The Corvette has remained a beloved symbol of freedom, power, and speed."

But not all Corvettes are created equal. Having been in production for more than half a century now, some 'Vettes have achieved what the author describes as legendary, even "mythical" status. Legendary Corvettes chronicles the stories of 18 such celebrated vehicles in 175 pages of text combined with many breathtaking photos.

The book is an interesting read, not only to Corvette fans and car enthusiasts, but to anyone curious about American tastes and trends in the second half of the 20th century. One chapter, entitled "1960 Tasco Turquoise Convertible," relates the story of that particular car's role in the 1960-64 TV show Route 66, starring Martin Milner and George Maharis.

The premise of the show was that the idyllic life of Milner's character, a Yale University junior named Tod Stiles, is unexpectedly disrupted by the sudden death of his shipping magnate father. Expecting a sizable inheritance, Stiles instead learns he has been left just one possession: a brand-new 1960 Corvette.

Stiles and his buddy then set out on a journey of self-discovery in the iconic vehicle. "Publications such as TV Guide identified Milner and Maharis as the principal players," writes author Randy Leffingwell. "But there were four stars apparent to those who watched the show carefully: Maharis, Milner, the Corvette … and the Road Across America." Leffingwell notes that the Corvette was actually included as a character in the script.

For NASCAR fans, the chapter about the 2001 C5-R-003 includes a brief mention of the 'Vette used by Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Jr. in the 2001 24 Hours of Daytona ALMS race. Father and son were half of a four-man team that finished the grueling event in fourth place. "After the race, the older Earnhardt, who was accustomed to traffic on his way to seven NASCAR titles, compared driving the 24 Hours of Daytona to 'New York, New York,'" writes Pellingham. This chapter also chronicles Chevrolet's efforts to reclaim the title of "America's Sports Car" from the then-popular Dodge Viper with the C5-R-003 model.

Those are just a few of the intriguing stories in a book that will capture the imagination of readers through text and the crisply colorful photos of Corvettes through the years by talented photographer Dave Wendt. For added value, the book's dust jacket actually converts into a glossy Corvette poster, approximately 11 x 28 inches in size.

Legendary Corvettes: 'Vettes Made Famous On Track And Screen is an enjoyable read and will make a great gift for the car enthusiast on your Christmas list.

Order today at the website above or, to win my copy, follow me on Twitter @nscrwriter and RT this message: "Follow @nscrwriter for your chance to win a copy of the book #LegendaryCorvettes"

One winner will be chosen at random.