Let 'Em All Go! The Story of Auto Racing by the Man who was there Chris Economaki

by Chris Economaki

The most powerful leaders of the sport take great care to cultivate a favorable drivers and mechanics listen carefully to his honest, revealing, direct and then everyman hurries to read Chris's take on whats really happening in the sport of auto racing.

Genres: Sports

Hardcover

Published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

If there was ever anyone who was qualified to tell the story of auto racing, Chris Economaki was the one. His involvement in racing began in the 1930's in the New Jersey midget racing scene and ran until his death in 2012. In that time he knew many greats in the racing world from drivers to promoters. First and foremost he was a fan of racing. He also stooged on midgets, was a crew chief, a writer, a track announcer, an editor and a television personality. He rubbed elbows with greats like Ted Horn, Duane Carter, A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti and Jackie Stewart to name just a few. He personally witnessed and experienced many of the seminal events of racing throughout the 20th century.

I personally remember seeing him on ABC's Wide World of Sports back in the 1970's and 1980's. His voice was distinctive and he always wore black horn-rimmed glasses. While he didn't have the best voice for television, he was a good announcer and interviewer. He never asked the stupid questions that lesser personalities often do. My father and I used to listen to the 500 on the radio in the days before it was telecast live. He was a master of making even the mundane seem exciting and the exciting moments unforgettable. I vividly recall listening to the 1982 race where Gordon Johncock was trying to hold off a charging Rick Mears in the closing laps. His calling of the race was masterful and made what was already an exciting finish a memory of a lifetime.

Economaki is not shy about giving his opinion on drivers, events and racing politics throughout the years. Probably the most significant of these analyses and opinions is about the fracturing of the Champ Car series following the tragic death of most of the primary USAC officials in 1978. This event led to the eventual formation of CART and the gradual decline of Champ Car racing, which is still an issue to this day. He also lets the reader know that the dirt tracks, most notably sprint cars and midgets are his personal favorites.

I would recommend this book to any race fan, although I expect that Americans would be most interested in it since most of the racing he discusses is American. It is written in an engaging, folksy style. It's as if the reader were sitting in a chair across from Economaki and hearing him tell his life story. If you do read this book, I guarantee that you will learn things about racing that you never knew before.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes there were just too many names, but it's cool to hear what racing was like in the old days.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A reread of Chris Economaki's memoirs. From an early age Chris went to the races, sold a stand alone newspaper that he eventually wrote for and edited, National Speed Sport News. He went to races to announce and ended up on t.v. with ABC's Wide World of Sports as an analyst. Lots of stories, funny and sad, about auto racing. Chris recently passed away after a life well lived and we are lucky he took the time to get this book out just a few years ago.