Terry O'Neil – författare

This book details the origin and racing history of the Ferrari 333 SP. Uniquely, none of the 333 SP models were entered into races by Ferrari itself. The cars were built specifically for customer use; a purchase price of $900,000 included two spare engines and race technical support supplied by Ferrari engineers. A total of 40 cars were built; the first four by Ferrari, the remainder manufactured by Dallara & Michellotto using Ferrari engines. All of the cars were sold to, and race entries made by, privateer teams.From 1994, the cars contested the IMSA World Sports Car Championship, the United States Road Racing Championship, and the American Le Mans Series, at circuits throughout North America. In 1997, the cars also featured in the Europe-based International Sports Racing Series, as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Two years later, the Doran-Lista team installed a Judd V10 engine into its 333 SP, with the aim of increasing power and improving fuel efficiency.In all, from the 126 races entered, 47 victories were claimed by the 333 SP.

Most people with an interest in motor sport will be familiar with the acronym N.A.R.T., yet few people profess to know too much about the North American Racing Team.Starting in the the second half of the 1950s, NART existed for three decades, during which it experienced successes on the tracks of America and Europe. It also suffered financial difficulties, and arguments with track organisers.This book explains what NART was, how it was formed, and what it achieved over three decades of competition. It wasn''t just sports cars that were entered into races, NART entered Formula One cars and Formula Junior cars as well.Never as financially stable as his rival team owners, Chinetti did deals with Ferrari to purchase the latest specification sports cars at the end of a season, in order to attract the best drivers to drive for NART. It was also an opportunity to lease the cars on a race-by-race basis, an arrangement that appealed to some of Chinetti''s clientele.Whilst success on the track was significant, problems were never far away. Working on the cars with a limited number of staff, and not receiving spares from Ferrari on time, NART always appeared to be in a state of crisis.No matter … despite the difficulties, the formula worked well for Luigi Chinetti, and the acronym N.A.R.T. has rightly become legendary.

The growth of sports car racing in Northeast America was not painless. Tragedy, mystery, subterfuge, intrigue, and an adherence to a particular club philosophy all featured in its story during the 1950s, when professionalism in the sport was always bubbling under the surface.The northeast area of America has long been considered the cradle of post World War II sports car racing; the Sports Car Club of America was founded there, and it was the entry point to America for a host of European sports cars. Early in the 1950s, road races had been permitted by some State authorities, but due to fatal accidents a ban on such racing came into effect. Forced to find alternative venues, the motor clubs were attracted to civil airports and a few military bases. But the drivers craved more challenging venues on which to hone their skills. This resulted in a few individuals chancing their reputation - and a great deal of money - and opening purpose-built circuits.This book gives a unique insight into this intriguing journey through the decade. Extensively researched, the compelling story and stunning contemporary photos, many previously unpublished, paint a fascinating portrait of a nascent sport coming into its own.

Runways and Racers concentrates on the short transitional period, 1952-1954, for sports car racing in America following the ban on public road racing in many of the States. The ban left the rapidly expanding Sports Car Club of America with a problem: where to hold races. At precisely the same time, Curtis LeMay, head of Strategic Air Command, was having problems obtaining funds from Congress to improve conditions on the many air bases located around the country. The solution was a marriage of convenience, whereby the SCCA was allowed access to active SAC air bases to hold its race programmes. In return, the SAC base would receive the net profits from the event, which would be put into the Airmen''s Living Improvement Fund. As a result of some initial financial success for the SAC bases, the scheme was also adopted by non-SAC bases together with regional clubs, with the same agreement in place.Complaints from airmen alerted Congressman Errett Scrivner to potential irregularities, and he ordered an audit to be conducted to ascertain precisely what it was costing the air bases to host the races. His findings led to the cessation of the races, ordered by Congress.The product of a long period of extensive research by the author, this book gives a fascinating insight into this two-year period, complemented by over 150 period pictures, many previously unpublished.