[rebspeedway]

For the past three years, I have been drawing, painting and researching the first twenty years (1956-1976) of racing action at Sumter, South Carolina's "Rebel Speedway," which I have put into a book, expected to be released in March, 2007, by RoseDog Publishing, Pittsburgh, PA. There are over 250 pages with 115 painted illustrations, and thirty-five photographs.

"Rebel Speedway" is about the lives and wild times of some hotshot drivers, who today are in their sixties, seventies, eighties, and some sadly, are even gone. These are their stories, and they are indeed wild. In 1960, Ralph Earnhardt raced at Sumter and got his tire ripped open by a sharpened, steel spike, welded to a drivers bumper. Also, in 1960, "Gentleman-Ned" Jarrett passed pole-sitter David Pearson on the first lap, and led the entire 200 lap race against a thirteen car field including Buck Baker, and Lee and Richard Petty. In 1968, the horrors of racism were felt when a young black man from a neighboring town came to the track to race.

This is a book filled with paintings that tell the story of memorable times, when cars were big, stock and tough as nails. Coupes', Coaches', Fleetlines', Belairs', Falcons', Fairlanes', Chevelles' and Novas.' If you were a short track racing fan back in the 50's, 60's and 70's, and know what a busted water pump, blown head-gasket, thrown rod and chili dogs cooking in the concession stand smells like, this book is for you. If anything, a great coffee-table book for the old school, short track fan.

Please get a copy of "Rebel Speedway" when released. Read the stories and look at the pictures, which were painted by a fan that grew up watching it from infancy. My work is all from the heart, and I want to dedicate this project to all the drivers that risk their lives to entertain us, the fans.

Hopefully, this book, can bring back some enthusiasm to the hearts of the fans that for some reason today, are no longer going, and will give them the gleem and spark to make them come back. It's up to us, the short-track fans, and the NASCAR fans, to support the little tracks, and go. Remember, the drivers today, will be the heroes of tomorrow.

There are over thirty illustrations from my book, which everyone can view here: http://www.myspace.com/137136736

Thanks,
Mark Osborne