Published: Nov. 28, 2010
Words: 93,448 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781458191281

Short description

Hoosiers on Wheels. Keeping a promise, Grant Kelly enters his son, Shannon, in the Formula 2000 race series with only a dream and a prayer. When things go from bad to worse it takes a crusty old mechanic, Charlie Pepper, to show them how to win. They soon learn that with Pepper almost anything is possible. Based on a true story about the author and his son.

Extended description

FORMULA 2000, THE DREAM
(action-drama based on a true story about my son)

Logline:
Hoosiers on Wheels (Read more) FORMULA 2000, THE DREAM
(action-drama based on a true story about my son)

Logline:
Hoosiers on Wheels

The road to the INDY 500 is impossible at best, but first you must conquer the Formula 2000 race series. For a father and son with no money, the only way to win is with a prayer. But things go from bad to worse until a crusty old mechanic, Charlie Pepper, offers to help. They soon find that with Pepper almost anything is possible.

This story details races at Sebring, Road Atlanta, Road America, Charlotte, Mid-Ohio, Mosport, Watkins Glen, Indianapolis Raceway Park, and others in the SCCA professional series. Indy type cars using the Van Diemen, Reynard, Crossle and Swift chassis

Synopsis:
Grant Kelly's son, Shannon, flunked eighth grade. A single male parent, Grant explains the importance of school and good grades, then asks Shannon what he wants to be when he grows up.

The revelation is startling when Shannon says he wants to be a professional race car driver. Grant makes a promise to his son that as long as Shannon passes eighth grade, he will help Shannon fulfill his dream.

At age nineteen Shannon Kelly has developed into more than just a good racer. Only money and experience hinders his natural talent. Grant sells their house and buys an Indy type car called a Formula Continental. With the remaining money the father-son team enters the tough USAC-2000 series run in the United States and Canada.

But the competition has money and experience. Two Canadian teams control the series along with a California team, BSR, run by the driver’s rich father, Anthony Benson. The driver, TJ Benson, has the best team including one of the finest mechanics, old Charlie Pepper.

It is Charlie who sees the potential and untapped natural ability possessed by Shannon. Charlie realizes that first Shannon must get rid of his inferior car. Charlie comes to their aid, helping Grant unload the race car for a cheaper car Charlie knows is still competitive.

TJ doesn’t like Charlie helping the father and son duo, but it is more out of jealousy for the time TJ’s father fails to spend with him. TJ is also angry because Shannon is making time with Hanna, another racer, and it appears like it’s one of the first times TJ has lost on or off the track. Angered at Hanna seeing Shannon, TJ orders Charlie to stop helping Shannon. Just as stubborn and hardheaded, Charlie refuses, quits working for TJ, and starts helping Shannon full time. Within a few races Shannon becomes more than just competitive as he mounts a challenge to the top racers.

As the season progresses Shannon becomes more competitive and begins to win in spectacular fashion. TJ is still leading in points and seems assured of the championship, but the Frenchman, Ian Poirier, still has an outside chance to win the series. Then it happens. A questionable racing incident involving Ian’s teammate Marcoux and TJ takes TJ out of the next to last race. TJ sustains injuries that will eliminate him from the last race. If Ian wins the last race he will take driver and team honors for the season. No one has beaten Ian at Road Atlanta. Only Shannon has the capability to beat Ian Poirier.

During qualifying for the last race one of the Canadian drivers, Marcoux, sacrifices his car and puts Shannon's race car out of the race, destroying the race car. Marcoux is suspended but Shannon no longer has a racer to compete with. This is when TJ, who is on crutches, offers his car to Shannon making Shannon promise to beat Ian, thus giving TJ the championship. TJ also humbles himself and apologizes to everyone, especially Charlie Pepper.

When the race starts there are problems only Charlie can solve as he again works his magic against impossible odds. Shannon manages to get on the track but at the back of the pack. He runs a spectacular race and beats Poirier on the last turn of the last lap.
(Less)

Tags

race, race track, imsa, dallas grand prix, roadrace, ruan grand prix, paddock, pit lane, hotpits, grid, chief steward, corner workers

Available ebook reading formats

Single purchase gains access to all formats. How to download ebooks to e-reading devices and apps.

Format	Full Book	Sample First 20%
Online Reading (HTML, good for sampling in web browser)	Buy	View sample
Kindle (.mobi for Kindle devices and Kindle apps)	Buy	Download sample
Epub (Apple iPad/iBooks, Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo, and most e-reading apps including Stanza, Aldiko, Adobe Digital Editions, others)	Buy	Download sample
PDF (good for reading on PC, or for home printing)	Buy	No sample available
RTF (readable on most word processors)	Buy	No sample available
LRF (Use only for older model Sony Readers that don't support .epub)	Buy	Download sample
Palm Doc (PDB) (for Palm reading devices)	Buy	Download sample
Plain Text (download) (flexible, but lacks much formatting)	Buy	No sample available
Plain Text (view) (viewable as web page)	Buy	No sample available

Reviews

Log-in to write a Review   Log-in to add a Video Review

Review by: TJ Flynn on March 18, 2011 :
Talk about a dream! This is a must read, about working hard to make your dreams come true.

The book starts off a little slow, but pay attention to the explanations about car racing, because you’ll need that knowledge later as you follow the story of Shannon Kelly, a young man with a passion and determination to succeed. By the time you get through the first 10% of the book, you’ll be hooked.

The author has created a great cast of characters and gives the reader a truly great insider’s view of car racing all wrapped up in a terrific story.
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

Reason for report:
— Select a reason — Book is or contains spam Book infringes copyright Same content is published elsewhere with different author (for ex., by private-label rights) Duplicate Incomplete work (such as sample or serial) Should be marked adults-only Category is inappropriate Poorly formatted Nudity or other inappropriate content on cover Nudity or other inappropriate visual content in book Inappropriate erotica content Cover image is improper Content is inappropriate Other violation of Terms of Service Other reason not shown above.

Additional details: