Thunder at Sunrise - by John M Burns (Paperback)

About the Book

On a bright October morning in 1904, thousands of people flocked to Nassau County on rural Long Island to witness the first international motor sports competition in America: the newly created Vanderbilt Cup. By 1906, the number of spectators multiplied to a quarter million and America's place in motor racing history was assured. In 1908, the Vanderbilt Cup was joined by a second international competition, the International Grand Prize, the first grand prix held outside France. By 1913, the Indianapolis 500 would supplant the Vanderbilt Cup and Grand Prize as America's preeminent race, forever turning mainstream America's attention away from road racing and toward the oval tracks then proliferating around the country.

Book Synopsis

Concentrating on the years between 1904 and 1916 and featuring a wealth of photographs, this book examines America's first three races of international stature: the Vanderbilt Cup, the International Grand Prize and the Indianapolis 500. Researched in great part from contemporary sources such as newspapers and automotive journals, the book covers not only these races, but also the ways in which each spurred development of the American automobile industry, making it at last a true competitor for that of Europe.

Review Quotes

"thoroughly researched"-Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car.

About the Author

Retired lawyer John M. Burns is a freelance writer who lives in Yardley, Pennsylvania.