Black Noon--The Year They Stopped the Indy 500

March 10, 2014
Coming up on the 50th anniversary of one of the most tragic days in Indianapolis 500 history, when Eddie Sachs and Dave MacDonald were killed in a fiery crash in 1964, first-time author Garner recounts the tragic accident and the events leading up to and following the race. An avid race fan and former automobile public relations executive, Garner covers almost every aspect of the race from the drivers and their cars to the emergence of the “funny cars,” the competing tire brands, and the ongoing controversial ethanol debate. While machines dominate much of the work, Garner is careful to not forget legends like A.J. Foyt and Bobby Unser, and his descriptions of the carefree Sachs and reticent MacDonald keeps the work focused. A great way for motor sports fans to learn about how their favorite sport’s dark past influenced its bright future, this work proves Garner is off to a fast start as a racing writer.

April 1, 2014

For its 50th anniversary this May, Garner, a former automotive PR executive, examines the events and personalities of the 1964 Indianapolis 500 in which seven cars crashed in a fiery collision. It was the first casualty to halt the race, and the only one to claim the lives of two drivers, quiet rookie Dave MacDonald, an experienced Corvette and Shelby Cobra racer, and veteran Eddie Sachs, a crowd favorite nicknamed the "Clown Prince of Racing." Garner interviewed surviving drivers, including some of the biggest names in racing--Dan Gurney, A.J. Foyt, Parnelli Jones, Bobby Unser, and Johnny Rutherford. Track safety crews were ill prepared for the massive fire that erupted when MacDonald's car hit the track's inner wall. Officials were criticized for suspending the race for two hours, rather than cancelling it. Subsequently, the U.S. Auto Club set limits on the type and amount of fuel that cars could carry and changes were made for car and racetrack safety. VERDICT This book, definitive on the drivers, cars, and racing politics surrounding the 1964 event, is accessible to nonracing fans while providing the details and color commentary automobile race fans demand.--Susan Belsky, Oshkosh P.L., WI

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2014
Using hundreds of sources, including books, newspaper articles, and personal interviews, Garner re-creates in great detail the awesome spectacle of the Indianapolis 500, one of America's great sporting events, and the tragedy that took two drivers' lives in 1964. That year, the 48th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes showcased advances in engine technologies, chassis design, and tire development as well as offering a huge reward for the winning company. Garner profiles the men who drove the cars and contrasts some lighthearted moments before the race with the tragedy on the track. Especially poignant are the moments after the crash, as everyone from drivers to family members watching on television wondered who was trapped within the billowing smoke. Although the book's pace is slowed at times by Garner's attempt to include every detail related to the race, from practice runs in May through A. J. Foyt's bittersweet victory, this is a fitting tribute to the men who helped transform racing, sometimes with their lives, 50 years ago.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)