In praise of 'ol Smokey

I'm currently rereading Smokey Yunick's 'Best Damn Garage in Town' for the third time in a few years- just 20 or so minutes every morning and I feel compelled to say just how much I enjoy this book and wish I could have met this dude in person. Just about every morning something he says or some story makes me LOL ('faster than a cat can lick it's ass' is an example). I have the big paperback which is, I think, 3 books in one. If you've never read it, you're missing something. It's poorly edited, has typos and other 'non professional' attributes, but that just makes it feel more authentic to me. I always enjoyed his 'Say Smokey' section in Popular Science too.

The early years and his WWII experiences are amazing, the early NASCAR stuff, and especially the Indy section will appeal to just about everyone who is on this forum. There's a lot of life lessons to found in this book too. I think if he had had a good business partner, he could have been fabulously wealthy, but I don't think he was too motivated by money. Just a curious mind constantly asking 'what if...'.

Ok, I feel better getting that off my chest. Thanks for sharing Smokey!

I also own this book. Agreed, highly recommended. However, even the paperback is now quite expensive, used. 

It's beyond expensive. But...your local library can get it to you for free. If they don't have it, WorldCat.

Tis a great story he tells

More of a "stream of consciousness" than an organised story though.

Not much love for Bill France in there. 

I’m here to talk about moonshine.  

Maybe the best automotive book(s)  I've read.   It has typos and grammar problems, but you know it's from the horses's mouth.   No ghostwriter to "clean things up"......just pure Smokey!  

His old shop stood only a mile or two from where I type this. (GRM HQ)  It's gone now, but when I first moved to town the building and  "Best Damn Garage in Town" sign was still up.  I have gotten to be friends with his daughter Trish--- who helped put the books together, and now sells them.  She was nice enough to have me as a guest in the old shop.  She hadn't changed a thing in Smokey's office since he had passed.   It was an amazing trip through racing history.

Smokey was the real deal--- a motorsports pioneer.  If you aren't aware of his exploits, you need to read these books-----for under $100 used on Amazon, they are a bargain.   If it weren't for him, rule books would be a lot skinnier!   

It is like sitting in the garage or Hangar as a youngster listening to the old fellows regaling their past. It ain't polished but it ain't bs . I grew up in race car garages and freight plane hangars

Trans_Maro said:

More of a "stream of consciousness" than an organised story though.

Not much love for Bill France in there. 

Or Bill Clinton either! LOL

I was fortunate enough to buy a copy when it was still in print and reasonably priced.  The timeline jumps around (a lot), but it's absolutely full of gold.  Not just motorsports, either, he also had some dealings with the product-development side with the big 3.  He also lived a "full life" as far as his exploits with the fairer sex. 

I have to get a copy. 

I don't know the address of the GRM headquarters, but I'm sitting directly across from the Speedway, so pretty close myself. 

Tom_Spangler said:

I was fortunate enough to buy a copy when it was still in print and reasonably priced.  The timeline jumps around (a lot), but it's absolutely full of gold.  Not just motorsports, either, he also had some dealings with the product-development side with the big 3.  He also lived a "full life" as far as his exploits with the fairer sex. 

If you want a real laugh, see how many times he claims to try certain aspects of that full life for the first time in the book. There's at least more than one "my first _____" happens several times for the first time.

Was lucky enough to meet Smokey in his shop in 1996 as part of a government sponsored boondoggle. Got the pictures to prove it. Paid for his lunch at Denny's. Genuine and hilariously funny. 

When we were leaving he asked where we were going. My colleague said we were heading to the NASCAR museum. His parting shot - "If you see Bill France, tell him to go berkeley himself" 

Looks like it's available in ebook form so it's not priced out of our hands yet. Seems to go for around $22:

http://shop.carbonpressonline.com/product.sc?productId=51

I happen to have my credit card out so I'll see how it goes...

Update: Dammit, can't pay with a Bajan credit card

Update2: Or even use Paypal outside of a select list of countries...

Floating Doc said:

I have to get a copy. 

I don't know the address of the GRM headquarters, but I'm sitting directly across from the Speedway, so pretty close myself. 

GRM HQ: https://goo.gl/maps/gPH6pMnvnvk

Smokey's Garage: https://goo.gl/maps/rKFRBsAEQj42

about 1.2 miles between the two and Daytona Speedway is about 6-7 miles away.

In reply to Stefan :

Thanks! I spend so much time working, I hardly know what else is out there. 

In reply to Floating Doc :

Yep, Smokey's old shop was right near the foot of the Seabreeze bridge-----kitty corner from the Town Line bar on Riverside.   It's all just a field now, but if you are quiet, and listen very carefully......you can hear race engines being tuned!