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| Book Reviews of The Last Open
Road |
Sports-car racing in America during the Fifties! This was an era that historians and fans alike have rediscovered as being one of the most exciting and splendid periods in this sport. And Burt S. Levy has brought it all to life in this marvelous novel. The narrative is told by a young mechanic working in a gas station who is fortunate to be invited by a benevolent customer to tag along to the races. The spirit and excitement of the times are captured wonderfully in the story - from his early morning wait on his porch, the melodic sound of his mentor's Jaguar XK-120 arriving, to his discovery of the thrilling world of sports-car racing at Bridgehampton. The story is replete with a real cast of entertaining people - some that you may associate with your own friends, acquaintances and/or knowledge of sports-car racing folks. They range from the dilettante trophy baggers to the long-suffering mechanics who actually do all the work. It is in this completely new world that our young mechanic is introduced to a life of excitement, challenges and the opportunity to travel with the group around the country. In these travels, he encounters all types of characters - snobbish salesmen, overbearing "officials", playboys, team owners and, of course, a bevy of lovely young girls. There have been a number of stories about sports-car racing, but in most, the "hero" was a character that most people wouldn't care to know any better or call a friend. But here, the author has given his characters more balance and makes the reader feel a part of the group. This reviewer was around the sports-car scene in the Fifties and found it remarkable how well the author has re-created the whole era - the characters, cars, race courses and atmosphere. [Ed. note: Levy's article about the Dekon Monza, "Us vs. Them," appeared in R&T, April 1994.] It recalls to mind Catcher in the Rye and Holden Caulfield - a story of a gentler time in America. If you have any interest
in cars, sports cars and/or racing, I heartily recommend you read
this book. And if you do, I'm sure you will find yourself looking
forward to a sequel, as I did.
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