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Miracle: Bobby Allison and the Saga of the Alabama Gang
While you were sitting in the stands or watching at home on TV, did you ever ask yourself what's really going on behind the scenes? Take a ride on the seat next to auto-racing legend Bobby Allison and relive the dramatic saga of the Alabama Gang in this unique look at NASCAR from the inside.
Bobby Allison, who ranks third place in wins in NASCAR history, began his Grand National/Winston Cup career in 1966. After winning eighty-five races, he retired in 1988 when an accident at Pocono Raceway nearly killed him. He was severely brain injured, and it took him a full fifteen years to recover. After the accident, more tragedy struck. In 1992 his younger son, Clifford, died in a crash at the age of twenty-seven. A year later, his other son, Davey, died in a helicopter accident, and in 1994 he lost his close friend and protégé Neil Bonnet in a fatal crash. Then Bobby and his wife, Judy, separated and divorced. Through it all Bobby Allison persevered.
Today Bobby's mind is as sharp, detailed, and analytical as anyone's in sports. Bobby remembers so much, in such great detail, the stories he tells leap off the page. It's all there---the feuds, the infighting, the victories, the accusations of cheating, and worse.
Incredibly, Bobby, the poster boy for hard work, honesty, and integrity, holds nothing back, even when it reflects poorly on him. "It happened, and there's nothing I can do about that," is what he says. The result is raw racing history.
Along with the Earnhardts, the Jarretts, and the Pettys, the Allisons are racing family royalty, and Miracle , a family saga of determination, loyalty, and love, is filled with some of the greatest racing stories of all time. If you ever wanted to read a book that puts you in the garage, in the pits, and in the boardrooms, and at the same time tugs at your heartstrings---this is the book for you.
Bobby Allison, who ranks third place in wins in NASCAR history, began his Grand National/Winston Cup career in 1966. After winning eighty-five races, he retired in 1988 when an accident at Pocono Raceway nearly killed him. He was severely brain injured, and it took him a full fifteen years to recover. After the accident, more tragedy struck. In 1992 his younger son, Clifford, died in a crash at the age of twenty-seven. A year later, his other son, Davey, died in a helicopter accident, and in 1994 he lost his close friend and protégé Neil Bonnet in a fatal crash. Then Bobby and his wife, Judy, separated and divorced. Through it all Bobby Allison persevered.
Today Bobby's mind is as sharp, detailed, and analytical as anyone's in sports. Bobby remembers so much, in such great detail, the stories he tells leap off the page. It's all there---the feuds, the infighting, the victories, the accusations of cheating, and worse.
Incredibly, Bobby, the poster boy for hard work, honesty, and integrity, holds nothing back, even when it reflects poorly on him. "It happened, and there's nothing I can do about that," is what he says. The result is raw racing history.
Along with the Earnhardts, the Jarretts, and the Pettys, the Allisons are racing family royalty, and Miracle , a family saga of determination, loyalty, and love, is filled with some of the greatest racing stories of all time. If you ever wanted to read a book that puts you in the garage, in the pits, and in the boardrooms, and at the same time tugs at your heartstrings---this is the book for you.
- GenresNonfiction
416 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
6 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Peter Golenbock
81 books28 followersGolenbock grew up in Stamford, Connecticut, and in 1963 graduated St. Luke's School in New Canaan, Connecticut. His heroes were Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford. One day in the local library he discovered the book, The New York Yankees: An Informal History by Frank Graham ( G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1943) and it made a strong impression on him.''
Golenbock graduated from Dartmouth College in 1967 and the New York University School of Law in 1970.
He was a radio sports talk show host in 1980 on station WOR in New York City. He was the color broadcaster for the St. Petersburg Pelicans of the Senior Professional Baseball League in 1989-90 and has been a frequent guest on many of the top television and radio talk shows including "Biography on A&E," the "Fifty Greatest Athletes and the Dynasties on ESPN," "Good Morning America," "Larry King Live," "ESPN Classic," and the YES network.
Golenbock lives in St. Petersburg, Florida with his two basset hounds, Doris and Fred.
Golenbock graduated from Dartmouth College in 1967 and the New York University School of Law in 1970.
He was a radio sports talk show host in 1980 on station WOR in New York City. He was the color broadcaster for the St. Petersburg Pelicans of the Senior Professional Baseball League in 1989-90 and has been a frequent guest on many of the top television and radio talk shows including "Biography on A&E," the "Fifty Greatest Athletes and the Dynasties on ESPN," "Good Morning America," "Larry King Live," "ESPN Classic," and the YES network.
Golenbock lives in St. Petersburg, Florida with his two basset hounds, Doris and Fred.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 5, 2007
I'd really like to give this book a four or five star rating because there is a lot of great information here concerning Bobby Allison and his extended racing family. The other book I've read by Golenbock, "Last Lap," was essentially an oral history of some of NASCAR's more colorful early drivers. This book also is mostly told in the oral history fashion but it suffers from a lack of important background information and could have used some serious editing. Portions of the book feel like documents that were merged without any consideration for information that was needlessly repeated. There are surprisingly obvious problems with syntax in many places that a careful editor should have found and fixed.
The book is also very one sided, very much in Bobby Allison's corner. I know it's an 'authorized' type of biography but almost everything is told from the Allison family's viewpoint with very little to no input from those that are portrayed negatively.
The book is also very one sided, very much in Bobby Allison's corner. I know it's an 'authorized' type of biography but almost everything is told from the Allison family's viewpoint with very little to no input from those that are portrayed negatively.
December 15, 2020
MIRACLE peter golenbock
Miracle is a book about Bobby Allison, an amazing NASCAR driver who grew up in Florida and neighboring states, but he started racing on dirt tracks and learned a lot and was an amazing car engineer and driver. Out of 5 stars, I would give it five because of its amazing stories. People who are interested in sports and comeback stories would like this book. This book age limit would probably be 10 years old to any other age. Allison and his family go through many tough times, many babies dying from disease, injuries, and war. Bobby Allison had many siblings and two of his brothers raced with him and all of them made it to the professional level. His own son died flying his helicopter, his wife divorced him, he himself nearly died in a race at Pocono track that ended his racing career, and through all this, he perseveres. As a kid, he knew he wanted to race and worked his way all the way up to NASCAR and became remembered as one of the best of his time. Throughout the book, the author does a great job talking about behind the scenes daily things for a NASCAR driver and how Allison didn’t do things like most drivers today and back then, but in his own way he won 86 cup races through all his terrible hardships. In the end, he owned his own racing team but the wreck in 1988 took everything from him, and never did he race again. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys sports.
Miracle is a book about Bobby Allison, an amazing NASCAR driver who grew up in Florida and neighboring states, but he started racing on dirt tracks and learned a lot and was an amazing car engineer and driver. Out of 5 stars, I would give it five because of its amazing stories. People who are interested in sports and comeback stories would like this book. This book age limit would probably be 10 years old to any other age. Allison and his family go through many tough times, many babies dying from disease, injuries, and war. Bobby Allison had many siblings and two of his brothers raced with him and all of them made it to the professional level. His own son died flying his helicopter, his wife divorced him, he himself nearly died in a race at Pocono track that ended his racing career, and through all this, he perseveres. As a kid, he knew he wanted to race and worked his way all the way up to NASCAR and became remembered as one of the best of his time. Throughout the book, the author does a great job talking about behind the scenes daily things for a NASCAR driver and how Allison didn’t do things like most drivers today and back then, but in his own way he won 86 cup races through all his terrible hardships. In the end, he owned his own racing team but the wreck in 1988 took everything from him, and never did he race again. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys sports.
February 28, 2022
When men were men and racing was racing, or something like that. An incredibly interesting story of the Allison family. The story also captures the evolution of NASCAR, from building racecars with no money in a small home garage, to multi-million dollar sponsors.
September 22, 2022
The allison name is legendary in nascar and this book does a good job talking about the highest highs (84 career wins) the lowest lows (losing both sons so close to each other). For a family to deal with that much heartache in their lives is unbelievable. A must read!
July 11, 2008
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the lives of not only Bobby, but the whole Allison clan. I have been a race fan all of my life, and there was so much I didn't know.
The book is written well, but could use better editing. Thankfully, even after his horrific crash, Bobby Allison has a memory so full of vivid detail that it is like you are right there with them thorugh the good times and the bad. The stories are heartbreaking and heartwarming, and told with a passion that only someone who truly cared about this man and his family could have felt.
This is a book that I would recommend to any NASCAR fan that either wasn't around for the good old days, or would like to live them over again.
The book is written well, but could use better editing. Thankfully, even after his horrific crash, Bobby Allison has a memory so full of vivid detail that it is like you are right there with them thorugh the good times and the bad. The stories are heartbreaking and heartwarming, and told with a passion that only someone who truly cared about this man and his family could have felt.
This is a book that I would recommend to any NASCAR fan that either wasn't around for the good old days, or would like to live them over again.
July 6, 2011
I was torn when it came to how many stars to give this book. To begin with, this book is a amazing collections of history of some of the 'greats' from the past when it comes to NASCAR racing. With amazing details, the author does a great job of making you feel like you are right there as he writes about the races, characters, and cars that are so powerful. There are tons of interesting characters in this book, but my main complaint is that it is so one sided. From the Allisons' viewpoints, they were practically perfect and everybody was pretty much out to get them.
August 27, 2008
Another viewpoint from someone whom I consider one of the top stock car drivers of all time. Good reading about the early days of stock car racing.
June 12, 2013
I like stock car racing so this was a very nice insight into one of its historical figures.
May 14, 2019
The Allison story passes through almost three Nascar eras. This book paints a great picture of them all. Great racing stories.
Bobby clearly has a point of view and boy does he not like Richard Petty or Darrel Waltrip.
Bobby clearly has a point of view and boy does he not like Richard Petty or Darrel Waltrip.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews