At the Altar of Speed: The Fast Life and Tragic Death of Dale Earnhardt - Hardcover

Montville, Leigh

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0786243333 ISBN 13: 9780786243334

Publisher: Thorndike Pr, 1833

Synopsis

An exploration of the life of NASCAR's greatest legend details his childhood in smalltown North Carolina, his rise to success as a champion driver, and his inordinate desire to push his own limits.

About this title

From AudioFile

After a heart-wrenching opening sequence on the accident that killed NASCAR legend Earnhardt, this production settles down into a more or less chronological recap of previously published stories and interviews. There's very little new here, and virtually nothing about Earnhardt's personal life before or during his top years on the circuit. Grover Gardner's sharp vocal tones and clear enunciation could belong to a network sportscaster, although not to a NASCAR commentator. He occasionally mispronounces a major NASCAR name and never attempts the enthusiastic Southern drawl "required" of anyone remotely involved in stock car racing. Even casual Earnhardt fans and NASCAR followers will find the text and performance disappointing. R.P.L. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

From Library Journal

NASCAR brand stock car racing in the last ten years has rocketed past all other forms of American automobile racing (paved and dirt oval, road course, dragstrip) in terms of spectator popularity at the track and on television. Well read by Grover Gardner, this story of the racing career of Earnhardt combines a fascinating portrait of the late stock car driver and legend with an equally interesting account of NASCAR's transition from a regional, good ol' boy sport to today's phenomenon. Montville builds his portrait of the enigmatic Earnhardt from interviews ranging from his son, Dale Jr., and other NASCAR stars to old-timers hanging around the store in Kannapolis, NC. The author seems to paint a fair picture of Earnhardt that, love him or hate him, describes the extraordinary effect he had on everyone who knew him or followed his career. The "Intimidator": tough, talented country boy makes good and dies doing what he loves best. Essential for sports and biographical collections.
Cliff Glaviano, Bowling Green State Univ. Libs., OH
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Thorndike Pr
• Publication date: 1833
• ISBN 10: 0786243333
• ISBN 13: 9780786243334
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 355