by Ken Gross
You’d expect a masterpiece from Dr. Mark Brinker, after his superb, multi-volume books on “Japan’s Most Astonishing Automobiles” and “The Amazing Denzel Sports Car.” And you won’t be disappointed with his latest effort — “Heroes of the Forest.”
The historic Pebble Beach Road Races, contested on the twisty backroads of the scenic Del Monte Forest, in Monterey, California, for seven remarkable years, from 1950 to 1956, attracted the top drivers and the best sports cars in the country. The grids included production models, many of which were modified, and clever homebuilt specials. More than a racing odyssey, this was a fabulous social event, set in a gorgeous location, with posh patrons hobnobbing among a host of drivers, both amateurs and professionals. The course was wickedly fast. With towering pines and glacial boulders located scarily adjacent to the impossibly narrow road, it could be deadly. Hundreds of cars competed until (spoiler alert) Ernie McAfee’s fatal crash in Bill Doheny’s Ferrari 121LM led to the establishment of the Laguna Seca Race Track. [Read more…] about Heroes of the Forest Reviewed