Tweet
Have just finished "Hotshoe! A Checkered Past: My Story" --essentially Gary Balough's autobiography penned by Bones Bourcier.
The book starts at the beginning, which was Gary getting hooked on racing at a young age, and like many greats, everything else in life but racing faded pretty quickly.
As he moves up from the first car he drove (which was illegal), it outlines his efforts at Hialeah, the victories, the countless racers and racing people he has known, his efforts in the #112 "Batmobile" on dirt, and his beginnings in NASCAR. It also discusses his rounds with The Law, and stories of prison life.
But the book is so much more than that. Throughout, it is brutally honest, and feels as if you are hearing the story as told by Gary in person over a few beers.
If you are a racer, you will "get" this book. If you are a team member, or have ever gone to ridiculous, irrational lengths for racing, you will "get" this book.
If you are a casual fan, but want more insight into the racer mentality, this book is also for you.
For Gary, the level of commitment was just way, way over the top.
If you like Balough, you will like this book. If you dislike Balough, you will either like him by the time you finish the book, or at least understand him.
By the end, with Gary's race having been largely run, I was very moved emotionally.
As he put it, "If people still want to judge me, well, there's nothing I can do about that. But I would hope that they don't judge me only on the bad parts of my life. I've already been judged for that."
And, imo, it is Gary himself that is his own toughest judge.
(Thanks to Jacalone and Sons Auto Repair, Jacksonville Fl, for being the book sponsor)
The book starts at the beginning, which was Gary getting hooked on racing at a young age, and like many greats, everything else in life but racing faded pretty quickly.
As he moves up from the first car he drove (which was illegal), it outlines his efforts at Hialeah, the victories, the countless racers and racing people he has known, his efforts in the #112 "Batmobile" on dirt, and his beginnings in NASCAR. It also discusses his rounds with The Law, and stories of prison life.
But the book is so much more than that. Throughout, it is brutally honest, and feels as if you are hearing the story as told by Gary in person over a few beers.
If you are a racer, you will "get" this book. If you are a team member, or have ever gone to ridiculous, irrational lengths for racing, you will "get" this book.
If you are a casual fan, but want more insight into the racer mentality, this book is also for you.
For Gary, the level of commitment was just way, way over the top.
If you like Balough, you will like this book. If you dislike Balough, you will either like him by the time you finish the book, or at least understand him.
By the end, with Gary's race having been largely run, I was very moved emotionally.
As he put it, "If people still want to judge me, well, there's nothing I can do about that. But I would hope that they don't judge me only on the bad parts of my life. I've already been judged for that."
And, imo, it is Gary himself that is his own toughest judge.
(Thanks to Jacalone and Sons Auto Repair, Jacksonville Fl, for being the book sponsor)
Comment