Roy Richter, Striving for Excellence

Los Alamitos, California: Art Bagnall Publishing, 1990. New and unread but with minor bumps to corners of the cover -- but NO pages are affected (i.e. there are NO page creases). PERFECT condition inside. Square and tight. NO owner's name or bookplate. NOT a remainder. NOT a library discard. Pages are fresh, crisp, clean and unmarked. NO underlining. NO highlighting. NO margin notes. Profusely illustrated with vintage racing photos. Bound in the original white laminated pictorial boards, with full color painting of Roy Richter on the front and photo of a racing scene on the rear. Oversize Hardcover. 8.75" wide by 11.25" tall. This large, heavy book will require SUBSTANTIAL extra postage for International shipments, but only the standard charge for priority or media mail. From Wikipedia: "[Roy Richter] began his career after graduating high school by going to work at Bell Auto Parts store in Bell, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. At that time he took an interest in auto racing in 1933. For a short time he was a professional auto racer, but came to realize his talents were more of building race cars and racing products than racing them. His cars in numerous racing divisions won hundreds of races, setting many track records and taking many victorious championships. In 1945, he sold his car and spent all he had to buy Bell Auto Parts for $1000. His auto parts store was said to be the county's first speed shop. And he is also known for bringing to market the Cragar custom stainless steel wheel. In 1946, after the death of the second close friend by a racing accident, he devoted more of his life to creating safer racing products. In 1949, with the start of the Bonneville National Speed Trials he was there selling spare parts and also provided shade for contestants; he did this for 30 years. A short time after he bought Bell Auto Parts, one of Roy Richter's friends was killed in a racing accident. Richter had already witnessed many racing accidents and was already turning his attention to improving safety, but with a focus mainly improving track conditions. He soon began to focus on helmets." From a 2019 review by Duane Lavely: "Excellent reference book on the early days of auto racing & the speed equipment manufacturing industry. As a race car builder & driver pre & post WWII & the owner and/or founder of Bell Auto Parts, Bell Helmets, Cragar Industries, & Desert Dynamics, the story of Roy Richter includes many of the greats in both oval & drag racing.". First Printing (so stated). Oversize Hardcover. New condition/No dust jacket, as issued. Illus. by NOT a library discard. (vi), 379pp. Great Packaging, Fast Shipping.