Umbrella Mike: The True Story of the Chicago Gangster Behind the Indy 500
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.51 (600 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 1560257768 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 250 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2014-04-28 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
Robert R. said It's a fun read and was my introduction to vintage Indy racing. Undeservedly over looked. It's a fun read and was my introduction to vintage Indy racing and history.. "Boyle" of the Boyle Special Interesting book that provides the real story of the owner of Wilbur Shaw's last two Indy-winning rides. Gives you a real feel for racing in the 1930's. Only negative is that some of the details are repetitive (Yates described the differences between 1930s Indy Cars and the high-tech German racers at least three times).. "I.M.S. Influence of Mobsters on the Speedway?" according to Timothy D. Pyle. Excellent expose by autoracing expert Brock Yates of Chicago gangster Mike Boyle and his dominance in Indy-car racing in the late 20's through the early post WWII period. Yates brings out the links between Boyle and nearly all of the big name drivers and engineers of the day. With Favorite driver Wilbur Shaw, Boyle's Maserati won Indy twice, and became the most successful Indy car in history. But one wond
He is the author of many works, including the screenplay for "The Cannonball Run." He lives in upstate New York.. Brock Yates is editor-at-large and featured columnist for Car and Driver magazine, erstwhile CBS Sports analyst, and commentator for the Speedvision Motorsports Cable Network
Passionate about high-class automobiles, Umbrella Mike was one of the few who could afford the luxury of racing during the hardship of the Depression. He moved among the elite of New York society with little notice, his sharply cocked fedora, his broad Irish face and his ever-present cigar setting him apart from the celebrities and socialites.Umbrella Mike is Michael Joseph Boyle, the corrupt leader of Chicago's most powerful union and himself a Chicago gangster on friendly terms with Al Capone. He was known as "Umbrella Mike": a hard man among the beautiful people. In 1937, dogged by adverse publicity and a barrage of disasters, the prestigious Vanderbilt Cup was held on Long Island.Brock Yates — noted editor, columnist and sports analyst and commentator — remarkabl
The Vanderbilt competition, which flourished 1904-16 and was revived in 1936 and 1937, attracted European as well as American drivers, thanks to a hefty prize purse. Needless to say, this is also a great book for auto-racing enthusiasts, an excellent shelf mate for Yates' pictorial study of the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cup events, Vanderbilt Cup Race (1997). Until now, Boyle has been overlooked by students of the Chicago Outfit, and Yates does much to make amends. That auto racing got mixed up in the times' turbulent politics isn't surprising, but that Chicago gangsterism was part of the heady mix adds the brio that makes the book special. From Booklist Umbrella Mike, a