From Southern California's earliest drag strips to the prestigious Raceway Park outside Indianapolis, Tom "The Mongoo$e" McEwen blazed a trail peppered with historical "firsts." Mongoo$e's uncanny ability to chase the almighty dollar made this enterprising racer a natural with the glitz and glamour associated with being a touring race car driver.
This entertaining volume contains a magical mystery tour of drag racing's glory days, where McEwen recalls his exploits and antics from 40 years of intense quarter-mile acceleration contests. Of course, some came with big prize money while others were waged primarily for bragging rights, where the payoff merely kept the show on the road for another week. Throughout, you'll see what it takes to maintain a top-notch professional drag racing team and meet the loveable characters it produced along the way.
Diehard fans will recognize familiar names that have all been part of the journey, while those who don't necessarily follow the sport as closely are also sure to enjoy these amazing stories. Plus, delight in 100s of rare photos showing the sport in all its glorious infancy.
"MONGOO$E" is a recollection of drag racing's glory days, when men and machines crisscrossed the United States to determine who'd prevail as Top Eliminator on any given day.
We invite you to dig in, folks. Join "The Mongoo$e" as he tells how the game was played, how he "played" the players, and what made him one of the fiercest competitors in the sport's storied history. Successful drag racers from this era were all about bravado, machismo, and showmanship. It's all here for you, including colorful stories, exciting images, and candid conversations. "Mongoo$e" is a must read, whether youíre a casual racing fan or a dedicated follower of the sport.
You know the legend. Now get the story behind the legend. Direct from the driver's seat comes a fascinating insider's look at Tom "The Mongoo$e" McEwen, drag racing's most flamboyant driver and promoter. Tom recalls memorable moments from his sometimes dangerous, but always-exciting years of driving the fastest piston-driven machines on the planet. His exploits feature an incredible cast of characters, including Don "The Snake" Prudhomme, "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, and many, many more.
Learn how McEwen developed the Mattel Hot Wheels sponsorship; get a behind-the-wheel look at his match-race days; discover how Mongoo$e and the Snake got their nicknames and then turned it into the biggest rival in the sport's history; and be front and center for the hotly contested "Tire Wars", when M&H Racemaster went head-to-head with Goodyear.
Written by "The Mongoo$e" himself, with Pete Ward and Randy Fish, and taken from the pages of DRAG RACER magazine, Mongoo$eóThe Life and Times of Tom McEwen, is an amazing, wonderful read from cover to cover. Available this Fall from Beckett Media for $29.95. To order, contact Tim Yoder at (972) 448-9003, tyoder@beckett.com or visit www.beckettstore.com