Riverside International Raceway: A Photographic Tour of the Historic Track, Its Legendary Races, and Unforgettable Drivers

The place was dry, dusty, windy and cold in winter, insufferably hot in summer and anything but scenic compared even to Laguna Seca and Sonoma, let alone Pebble Beach, Torrey Pines, Road America or Mid-Ohio. Even so, it was The Scene in SoCal from the day it opened until it closed. Phil Hill, Richie Ginther, Dan Gurney, Stirling Moss, Jim Clark, Jack Brabham, Bruce McLaren, Roger Penske, Ken Miles, Dave MacDonald, John Surtees, A. J., Mario, Parnelli, Richard, Daryl, on, and on, and on. But more than anyone else by far, Lyons and his contributors have left us with far more than an historical record. This is right there in visual quality and emotional impact with Tim Considine's =American Grand Prix Racing= and Mark Dees' =Miller Dynasty=. Which makes it pretty d----d good.

I didn't give this book five stars because it's a great book so much as because it's a NECESSARY book.Riverside Raceway was a huge part of Southern California's role in 1960's automotive culture, and as such its story deserved to be told. It is fitting that Pete Lyons published this book, because not many others would have been nearly as qualified or capable as he is to write it. I have met Pete on one occasion (at the Riverside Museum) and among all of his wealth of motorsports knowledge this is a story that needed to be told and he is the guy who probably knew more about the subject than anyone.It's not any kind of magnum opus, but it tells the entire story of the place thoroughly without going into too much boring minutiae, the photos are well chosen, and to someone like myself who didn't get to see any real racing there (with the dubious exception of a track day mere months before they closed it for good) it kind of provides a sense of closure.If you're not really into motorsports but you're interested in Southern California history, this is an essential book. If you are into motorsports in any way, this is an essential book. And while you're at it, get all of Pete's other books too, and throw in a calendar for your wall...

I never made it to Riverside while it was operating, and I regret that, but Pete Lyons' great photo book on the track makes up for that, at least in part. And Pete didn't miss anything; there are even chapters on club racing, motorcycles, drag racing and vintage racing. Dan Gurney writing the Foreword (and one more eloquent and heartfelt than in most books) was a natural choice. While each chapter lists the overall winners of all the races pertinent to the chapter, one might have wished for more complete results tables, but I guess that information can be found elsewhere if one has the time and energy to search.I actually did visit the shopping mall that was built on part of RIR's property, and it all seemed sacrilegious and unnecessary. I'm amazed that SoCal has not built a significant road course to replace this one; maybe they realized that it would be a tough act to follow! Thank you, Pete Lyons for the memories.

What a wonderful compilation of racing history. It is especially great for me as I was able to experience the track from its early days and have wonderful memories. Gurney's Preface is very well done and right on. As he notes, we can look in the past with 20-20 hindsight and think of the possibilities to have the track fit into the new developed area to save it for future race fans... woulda, shoulda, coulda... But didn't,.. and it's gone. The drivers from all over the world came to Riverside recognizing what a wonderful and special track it was. All venues of racing loved it, The versitile configurations, all great layouts, made the trade even more desirable. And to think,even more track (7+ ,miles) were graded for future paving... but it never made it.If you love racing history, you will like this book. Very well done with mix of great photos and descriptions of each. Great coffee table book.

Like others have said in reviews, this may be the best motorsports book ever. Very well researched and written, outstanding photographs (most I've never seen published before), this is a must have for anybody who made (or wished they had) the trip out to the legendary road course. You really can't miss with a Pete Lyons book, but this one tops them all. Lyons didn't miss a story or personality in this book. Brought back a lot of memories, and easy to see why so many retired drivers (like Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, etc.,) love the book also. Hope the author will do books about the history of the Long Beach Grand Prix, Ontario Motor Speedway, and the making of the movie "Grand Prix" sometime.

I raced at R.I.R. for more than a decade in addition to my wife working as a race recorder. When the closure became evident with the equipment having been posted to do their damage but races kept being scheduled so we as a family kept doing what we enjoyed. When the final race was complete we & the all of the Cal Club members that were workers present for that sad day celebrated all of great history & all of the activities that will go into the history of GREAT RACEWAY. This book is a tribute to one of the now lost but never forgotten ROAD RACEWAYS in the history of road racing history.

As I would have expected from Pete Lyons, the pictures are wonderful, in composition and subject, just as I had hoped. A tribute to a great track from a great photographer.I couldn't help but think as I enjoyed every page, that the production or perhaps printing had not done the photos justice. As great as each image is, each one seems a little flat compared to other books featuring photographs and other Peter Lyons published pictures.I hate to be critical of a book I enjoy, but I suspect even the critical eye of the photographer and author might agree.Wade

Terrific historic and photographic work for those fans of Sports car racing who grew up in the 1960's and always wanted to be at Riverside to experience SoCal's most famous racing venue. Incredible photography and enlightening text brings the great( and small) events run at Riverside right into your lap. If you are a serious fan who grew up in the "Golden Age" of Big Time US Sports car racing this book is absolutely a must have !

Wonderful book with lots of info and plenty of pictures of the many interesting and diverse cars that raced at Riverside in its heyday.

A well-researched and fascinating history of the brief but high-flying career of an iconic road racing circuit, playground of the American greats and the world's best all-rounders. Engagingly written and supported by terrific photographs and comprehensive results. Wonderful.