Blood on the Wall
by Deke Houlgate
A great interview features information beyond corporate boilerplate, clichés, and trite comments. This book is the antithesis of the cookie-cutter corporate monitored driver interviews and the homogenized and pasteurized state of racing today. If you want a peek at the devious and socially outrageous version of racing from yesteryear, then this is your book.
Blood on the Wall, penned by legendary PR man turned fiction author Deke Houlgate is a fascinating tale of the seedy side of racing. All of the action takes place both on and off the track at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the month of May – circa 1970’s. Sex, alcohol, the mob and other miscreants are all included in heaping portions of this feast for those who hunger to know about the “other” side of racing.
As I started to read this book I tried to figure out who Houlgate was really talking about, but after a few short chapters I was mesmerized by what was going to happen next. As you may imagine from the title, yes, there’s an accident at the speedway. Was it ‘just racing’ or was there foul play? That’s the journey you’ll go on with our protagonist, and intrepid reporter, who goes to the limit in a quest for the truth and more.
IndyCar aficionados will especially enjoy reading this short novel; however, anyone who loves racing will get a real kick out of it. Houlgate doesn’t pull any punches with language or descriptions of situations that take place from start to finish.
I highly recommend that you add this book to your racing library collection. Although it’s fiction and not about how to shave another two-tenths off of your lap time, it’s a great diversion and an action-packed destination to travel to. Who knew Indy could be so wild?
Blood on the wall is available direct from the publisher at Infinitypublishing.com, or call them toll-free at (877) BUY BOOK.
Locally, it’s available from Autobooks-Aerobooks in Burbank, California (autobooks-aerobooks.com 818-845-0707).
If you’d like an autographed copy, you can contact the author at: houlgate@sbcglobal.net.
Book Details:
Author – Deke Houlgate
Format - Soft cover, 5 ½” x 8 ¼", 169 pages
ISBN – 0-7414-4019-9
Price - $12.95
Copyright © Larry Mason 2008
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