Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys

On May 2, 1982, the green flag flew for the NASCAR Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, and among a grid of legends like Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliott, Benny Parsons, and more was a mystery racer no one had ever heard of before: L. W. Wright. Wright managed to nab a competition license, a race car, and some positive press, but there was just one problem. He wasn't a race car driver. He was a conman with a big dream and studied confidence so strong that no one much questioned this stranger. At least, not until his checks started bouncing.  Today, we're digging into the story of L. W. Wright, the NASCAR driver who never existed. To find out more about Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys: https://linktr.ee/deadlypassionsterriblejoys  Subscribe on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/deadlypassionsterriblejoys Subscribe on Substack: https://deadlypassionsterriblejoys.substack.com/  Follow DPTJ on BlueSky: @deadlypassions-pod.bsky.social Follow DPTJ on Instagram: @deadlypassionsterriblejoys Follow DPTJ on Twitter/X: @terriblejoy_pod Watch on YouTube: @eliz_blackstock Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on BlueSky: @elizablackstock.bsky.social Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Instagram: @elizablackstock Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Twitter/X: @eliz_blackstock Order Racing with Rich Energy: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/racing-with-rich-energy Episode Bibliography:  Driven to Crime: True stories of wrongdoing in motor racing by Crispian Besley https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-lw-wright-debut-announcem/29780910/  https://www.newspapers.com/image/215977023/?clipping_id=29781516 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-officials-searching-for/29780992/ https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salina-journal-nascar-fell-for-bogus/29781484/  https://www.thescenevault.com/podcast/episode/7995e7c6/episode-193-lw-wright https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLCPWLKaOVE https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/story/_/id/33839544/the-story-lw-wright-one-nascar-enduring-mysteries https://historicalf1stories.wordpress.com/2024/11/27/driver-profile-helmut-koinigg/ 

The AAA Contest Board was the primary sanctioning body for motorsport in the United States until 1956, but the organization that sanctioned the Indy 500 refused to allow Black drivers to compete in its disciplines. Those barriers, however, didn't stop Rajo Jack from pursuing his dream of racing competitively — and he became one of the most influential Black racers in early American motorsport history. To find out more about Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys:  https://linktr.ee/deadlypassionsterriblejoys  Subscribe on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/deadlypassionsterriblejoys Please give DPTJ's new sponsor, Homefield Apparel, a warm welcome by subscribing for updates and checking out all FOUR new motorsport-themed clothing launches this year. Don't forget to use code DPTJ15 for 15% off your first order! https://www.homefieldapparel.com/ Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Instagram: @elizablackstock Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Twitter/X: @eliz_blackstock Follow DPTJ on Instagram: @deadlypassionsterriblejoys Follow DPTJ on Twitter/X: @terriblejoy_pod Order Racing with Rich Energy: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/racing-with-rich-energy/  Follow Grand Prix Gastronomy: https://grandprixgastronomy.substack.com/  Grab some merch on Redbubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/eablackstock/shop?asc=u  Episode Bibliography: The Brown Bullet: Rajo Jack's Drive to Integrate Auto Racing by Bill Poehler https://www.gordonkirby.com/categories/columns/theway/2016/the_way_it_is_no525.html  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elizabeth-blackstock/support

Motorsport safety is an ever-evolving process, but American open-wheel was ground zero for some of the most exceptional innovations in motorsport medical history — be that in the form of a traveling medical staff, a permanent infield hospital, or a mobile medical center capable of handling severe trauma. This is the story of how IndyCar's groundbreaking safety team came to fruition. To find out more about Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys:  https://linktr.ee/deadlypassionsterriblejoys  Subscribe on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/deadlypassionsterriblejoys Please give DPTJ's new sponsor, Homefield Apparel, a warm welcome by subscribing for updates and checking out all FOUR new motorsport-themed clothing launches this year. Don't forget to use code DPTJ15 for 15% off your first order! https://www.homefieldapparel.com/ Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Instagram: @elizablackstock Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Twitter/X: @eliz_blackstock Follow DPTJ on Instagram: @deadlypassionsterriblejoys Follow DPTJ on Twitter/X: @terriblejoy_pod Order Racing with Rich Energy: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/racing-with-rich-energy/  Follow Grand Prix Gastronomy: https://grandprixgastronomy.substack.com/  Grab some merch on Redbubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/eablackstock/shop?asc=u  Episode Bibliography: Rapid Response: My inside story as a motor racing life saver by Stephen Olvey https://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1010&context=jmotorsportculturehistory  https://www.911.gov/assets/1997-Reproduction-AccidentalDeathDisability.pdf  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elizabeth-blackstock/support

Achille Varzi is one of the most iconic pre-war racing drivers of all time — but we know so little about him outside of his fierce rivalry with Tazio Nuvolari. Why? Perhaps because Varzi nearly lost his career to a morphine addiction that saw him disappear from the public eye and be shunned from polite society. Varzi's story is as complex as his legacy, and today, we're delving in to learn more. To find out more about Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys:  https://linktr.ee/deadlypassionsterriblejoys  Subscribe on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/deadlypassionsterriblejoys Please give DPTJ's new sponsor, Homefield Apparel, a warm welcome by subscribing for updates and checking out all FOUR new motorsport-themed clothing launches this year. Don't forget to use code DPTJ15 for 15% off your first order! https://www.homefieldapparel.com/ Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Instagram: @elizablackstock Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Twitter/X: @eliz_blackstock Follow DPTJ on Instagram: @deadlypassionsterriblejoys Follow DPTJ on Twitter/X: @terriblejoy_pod Order Racing with Rich Energy: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/racing-with-rich-energy/  Follow Grand Prix Gastronomy: https://grandprixgastronomy.substack.com/  Grab some merch on Redbubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/eablackstock/shop?asc=u  Episode Bibliography: Fangio: The Life Behind the Legend by Gerald Donaldson Nuvolari by Count Giovanni Lurani Enzo Ferrari: The Man, the Cars, the Races by Brock Yates Enzo Ferrari: Power, Politics, and the Making of an Automotive Empire by Luca dal Monte https://ehne.fr/en/encyclopedia/themes/gender-and-europe/european-man-a-hegemonic-masculinity-19th-21st-centuries/european-man-a-hegemonic-masculinity https://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/id/eprint/2293141/1/CDP%202014-0512%20Final%20accepted.pdf  https://www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/epdf/10.3828/cfc.2019.19 https://sportscardigest.com/silver-arrows-key-people/#google_vignette https://www.tracksracingthesun.com/about-the-book https://www.italyonthisday.com/2022/07/achille-varzi-racing-driver.html https://www.crash.net/f1/feature/207273/1/kate-walker-achille-varzi https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/ask-nigel-october-17-5048684/5048684/ https://www.goodwood.com/editorial/chequered-past/  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elizabeth-blackstock/support

The motorsport world is full of fantastic and particular experiences, but there is one driver's life story that has always particularly fascinated me — that of Roberta Cowell. See, Cowell was a fighter pilot, a prisoner of war, and a racing driver, which alone would have been enough to build up an impressive resumé. However, she was also the first documented person to receive gender affirming surgery in the United Kingdom, making her the first known trans woman to compete in motorsport. Today, we're discussing her life and her experiences in an era where her mere existence was criminalized. To find out more about Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys:  https://linktr.ee/deadlypassionsterriblejoys  Subscribe on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/deadlypassionsterriblejoys Please give DPTJ's new sponsor, Homefield Apparel, a warm welcome by subscribing for updates and checking out all FOUR new motorsport-themed clothing launches this year. Don't forget to use code DPTJ15 for 15% off your first order! https://www.homefieldapparel.com/ Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Instagram: @elizablackstock Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Twitter/X: @eliz_blackstock Follow DPTJ on Instagram: @deadlypassionsterriblejoys Follow DPTJ on Twitter/X: @terriblejoy_pod Order Racing with Rich Energy: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/racing-with-rich-energy/  Follow Grand Prix Gastronomy: https://grandprixgastronomy.substack.com/  Grab some merch on Redbubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/eablackstock/shop?asc=u  Episode Bibliography: Roberta Cowell's Story: An Autobiography by Roberta Cowell Roberta Cowell by Queer as Fact https://open.spotify.com/episode/0uz4EG1xkR1VFsrPXmmDAf?si=be4060a1bf7a4158 https://www.lizhodgkinson.com/journalismArticle/interview_with_transsexual_roberta_betty_cowell  https://blog.bham.ac.uk/historybham/lgbtqia-history-month-trans-pioneers-michael-dillon-roberta-cowell/  https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/it-s-easier-to-change-a-body-than-to-change-a-mind-the-extraordinary-life-and-lonely-death-of-roberta-cowell-8899823.html  https://blog.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/2022/06/13/roberta-cowell-in-our-newspapers/ https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/05/obituaries/roberta-cowell-overlooked.html  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elizabeth-blackstock/support

The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, or FIA, is one of the most powerful sanctioning bodies in all of motorsport — but its control has rarely included racing in the United States. Why, then, did the FIA step in to kill the Chaparral 2J, a car that raced OUTSIDE of its jurisdiction?  Today on DPTJ, we're covering the story of Jim Hall, one of motorsport's most innovative minds, and his Chaparral 2J, the car so quick that the FIA stepped in to kill it — which, by proxy, killed America's greatest racing series, the Canadian-American Challenge Cup. To find out more about Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys:  https://linktr.ee/deadlypassionsterriblejoys  Subscribe on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/deadlypassionsterriblejoys Please give DPTJ's new sponsor, Homefield Apparel, a warm welcome by subscribing for updates and checking out all FOUR new motorsport-themed clothing launches this year. Don't forget to use code DPTJ15 for 15% off your first order! https://www.homefieldapparel.com/ Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Instagram: @elizablackstock Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Twitter/X: @eliz_blackstock Follow DPTJ on Instagram: @deadlypassionsterriblejoys Follow DPTJ on Twitter/X: @terriblejoy_pod Order Racing with Rich Energy: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/racing-with-rich-energy/  Follow Grand Prix Gastronomy: https://grandprixgastronomy.substack.com/  Grab some merch on Redbubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/eablackstock/shop?asc=u  Episode Bibliography: Texas Legend: Jim Hall and His Chaparrals by George Levy Can-Am by Pete Lyons Can-Am 50th Anniversary: Flat Out With North America's Greatest Race Series by George Levy https://www.roadandtrack.com/motorsports/a32350/jim-hall-chaparral-2j-history/ https://www.magnetomagazine.com/legendary-racer-and-constructor-jim-hall-on-his-chaparrals-at-american-speed-festival/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elizabeth-blackstock/support

At the 1977 Firecracker 400, NASCAR invited two of Europe's most exceptional female racers — Christine Beckers and Lella Lombardi — to make their Cup Series debut… but its goals may not have been particularly noble. Janet Guthrie, who was also competing in that race, felt that NASCAR was attempting to end her career by paying foreign talent to take her down. Today on "Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys," we're delving into those accusations, and the drama surrounding the race. To find out more about Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys:  https://linktr.ee/deadlypassionsterriblejoys  Subscribe on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/deadlypassionsterriblejoys Please give DPTJ's new sponsor, Homefield Apparel, a warm welcome by subscribing for updates and checking out all FOUR new motorsport-themed clothing launches this year. Don't forget to use code DPTJ15 for 15% off your first order! https://www.homefieldapparel.com/ Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Instagram: @elizablackstock Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Twitter/X: @eliz_blackstock Follow DPTJ on Instagram: @deadlypassionsterriblejoys Follow DPTJ on Twitter/X: @terriblejoy_pod Order Racing with Rich Energy: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/racing-with-rich-energy/  Follow Grand Prix Gastronomy: https://grandprixgastronomy.substack.com/  Grab some merch on Redbubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/eablackstock/shop?asc=u  Episode Bibliography: A Life at Full Throttle by Janet Guthrie https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/trailblazing-racer-lella-lombardi-remembered-30-years-on-from-her-death.6zz9pupcxc97yy5SEL1kkR  https://www.reed.edu/reed-magazine/in-memoriam/obituaries/2018/rolla-vollstedt-1940.html https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-05-24-sp-2407-story.html https://www.newspapers.com/image/303640537/?match=3&terms=guthrie%2C%20firecracker  https://www.newspapers.com/image/319067010/?match=1&terms=guthrie%2C%20firecracker https://www.newspapers.com/image/224846339/?match=1&terms=guthrie%2C%20firecracker  https://www.newspapers.com/image/111800501/?match=1&terms=guthrie%2C%20firecracker https://www.newspapers.com/image/54071698/?match=1&terms=guthrie%2C%20firecracker https://www.newspapers.com/image/622854875/?match=1&terms=guthrie%2C%20firecracker https://www.newspapers.com/image/398599913/?match=1&terms=guthrie%2C%20firecracker https://www.newspapers.com/image/398599913/?match=1&terms=guthrie%2C%20firecracker https://www.newspapers.com/image/233364880/?terms=guthrie%2C%20firecracker https://www.newspapers.com/image/284009301/?match=1&terms=guthrie%2C%20firecracker --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elizabeth-blackstock/support

On June 11, 1955, Pierre Levegh's Mercedes-Benz 300SLR launched off the back of Lance Macklin's Austin Healey and into a crowd of spectators gathered for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Over 80 people were killed, with an additional 120 injured. It was a tragedy, and it was one that instantly transformed the racing world.  Today on "Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys," we're delving into the complex aftermath of this horrific event in order to better understand how the global racing world changed. To find out more about Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys:  https://linktr.ee/deadlypassionsterriblejoys  Subscribe on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/deadlypassionsterriblejoys Please give DPTJ's new sponsor, Homefield Apparel, a warm welcome by subscribing for updates and checking out all FOUR new motorsport-themed clothing launches this year. Don't forget to use code DPTJ15 for 15% off your first order! https://www.homefieldapparel.com/ Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Instagram: @elizablackstock Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Twitter/X: @eliz_blackstock Follow DPTJ on Instagram: @deadlypassionsterriblejoys Follow DPTJ on Twitter/X: @terriblejoy_pod Order Racing with Rich Energy: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/racing-with-rich-energy/  Follow Grand Prix Gastronomy: https://grandprixgastronomy.substack.com/  Grab some merch on Redbubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/eablackstock/shop?asc=u  Episode Bibliography: Cars at Speed by Robert Daley,  Le Mans 100: A Century at the World's Greatest Endurance Race by Glen Smale https://www.newspapers.com/image/1007192672/?match=1&terms=%22le%20mans%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/844754210/?match=1&terms=%22le%20mans%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/784186964/?match=1&terms=%22le%20mans%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/784183293/?match=1&terms=%22le%20mans%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/789197818/?match=1&terms=%22le%20mans%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/987448431/?match=1&terms=%22le%20mans%22 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian/40254005/ https://www.dailysportscar.com/2013/04/27/le-mans-1955-a-lawyers-view.html https://www.racingcircuits.info/europe/france/le-mans.html --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elizabeth-blackstock/support

We all know motorsport is dangerous, but for many years, one profession was more dangerous than the rest: Riding mechanics. These men were effectively passengers tasked with making repairs on the fly, keeping an eye on traffic, and even feeding the drivers. Unfortunately, riding mechanics had very little protection, making them especially prone to brutal injuries and deaths in big events like the Indianapolis 500. This is the history of that short-lived — and often fatal — role. To find out more about Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys:  https://linktr.ee/deadlypassionsterriblejoys  Subscribe on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/deadlypassionsterriblejoys Please give DPTJ's new sponsor, Homefield Apparel, a warm welcome by subscribing for updates and checking out all FOUR new motorsport-themed clothing launches this year. Don't forget to use code DPTJ15 for 15% off your first order! https://www.homefieldapparel.com/ Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Instagram: @elizablackstock Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Twitter/X: @eliz_blackstock Follow DPTJ on Instagram: @deadlypassionsterriblejoys Follow DPTJ on Twitter/X: @terriblejoy_pod Order Racing with Rich Energy: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/racing-with-rich-energy/  Follow Grand Prix Gastronomy: https://grandprixgastronomy.substack.com/  Grab some merch on Redbubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/eablackstock/shop?asc=u  Episode Bibliography: The Last Lap: The Mysterious Demise of Pete Kreis at the Indy 500 by William Walker Blood and Smoke: A True Tale of Mystery, Mayhem, and the Birth of the Indianapolis 500 by Charles Leerhsen https://www.newspapers.com/image/55385261/?match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/700800591/?match=1&terms=%22race%2C%22%20%22riding%20mechanic%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1017829515/?match=1&terms=%22race%2C%22%20%22riding%20mechanic%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/37471607/?match=1&terms=%22race%2C%22%20%22riding%20mechanic%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/107036405/?match=1&terms=%22race%2C%22%20%22riding%20mechanic%22  https://www.newspapers.com/image/274760126/?match=1&terms=%22race%2C%22%20%22riding%20mechanic%22  https://www.newspapers.com/image/951652355/?match=1&terms=%22race%2C%22%20%22riding%20mechanic%22  https://www.newspapers.com/image/1020578881/?match=1&terms=%22race%2C%22%20%22riding%20mechanic%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/74286307/?match=1&terms=%22race%2C%22%20%22riding%20mechanic%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/83155869/?match=1&terms=%22race%2C%22%20%22riding%20mechanic%22  https://www.newspapers.com/image/689241114/?match=1&terms=%22race%2C%22%20%22riding%20mechanic%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/888534259/?match=1&terms=%22race%2C%22%20%22riding%20mechanic%22 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elizabeth-blackstock/support

In 1907, one Paris newspaper challenged drivers and automakers to a seemingly impossible challenge: Be the first car to race from Peking, China to Paris, France. Five different teams took on the 8,000-mile adventure across brutal terrain, including the Gobi Desert and the Ural Mountains. This week on DPTJ, we're delving into the scandals, lies, cheats, and near-death experiences that comprised this race — and we're also talking to Kassia St. Clair, author of "The Race to the Future: 8,000 Miles to Paris - The Adventure That Accelerated the Twentieth Century," a new book that demolishes the Peking-to-Paris myths of the past! To find out more about Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys:  https://linktr.ee/deadlypassionsterriblejoys  Subscribe on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/deadlypassionsterriblejoys Please give DPTJ's new sponsor, Homefield Apparel, a warm welcome by subscribing for updates and checking out all FOUR new motorsport-themed clothing launches this year. Don't forget to use code DPTJ15 for 15% off your first order! https://www.homefieldapparel.com/ Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Instagram: @elizablackstock Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Twitter/X: @eliz_blackstock Follow DPTJ on Instagram: @deadlypassionsterriblejoys Follow DPTJ on Twitter/X: @terriblejoy_pod Order Racing with Rich Energy: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/racing-with-rich-energy/  Follow Grand Prix Gastronomy: https://grandprixgastronomy.substack.com/  Grab some merch on Redbubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/eablackstock/shop?asc=u  Episode Bibliography: The Race to the Future: 8,000 Miles to Paris - The Adventure That Accelerated the Twentieth Century by Kassia St. Clair https://www.amazon.com/Race-Future-Paris_The-Adventure-Accelerated/dp/1324094915  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elizabeth-blackstock/support

The Indianapolis 500 is a race that stands alone, outside the pantheon of championship-directed open-wheel racing in America — and it's one of the most coveted events for a sanctioning body to organize. In 1996, the Indy car realm had blown to pieces over access to the iconic event, and dissatisfied teams attempted to set up their own version of the 500. This is the story of the short-lived rivalry between the Indianapolis 500 and the U.S. 500. To find out more about Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys:  https://linktr.ee/deadlypassionsterriblejoys  Subscribe on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/deadlypassionsterriblejoys Please give DPTJ's new sponsor, Homefield Apparel, a warm welcome by subscribing for updates and checking out all FOUR new motorsport-themed clothing launches this year. Don't forget to use code DPTJ15 for 15% off your first order! https://www.homefieldapparel.com/ Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Instagram: @elizablackstock Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Twitter/X: @eliz_blackstock Follow DPTJ on Instagram: @deadlypassionsterriblejoys Follow DPTJ on Twitter/X: @terriblejoy_pod Order Racing with Rich Energy: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/racing-with-rich-energy/  Follow Grand Prix Gastronomy: https://grandprixgastronomy.substack.com/  Grab some merch on Redbubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/eablackstock/shop?asc=u  Episode Bibliography: Indy Split: The Big-Money Battle That Nearly Destroyed Indy Racing by John Oreovicz The IndyCar Wars: The 30-Year Fight for Control of American Open-Wheel Racing by Sigur E. Whitaker Blood and Smoke: A True Tale of Mystery, Mayhem, and the Birth of the Indy 500 by Charles Leerhsen https://web.archive.org/web/20100813130152/http://www.automobilemag.com/features/racing/0906_indianapolis_motor_speedway_birthplace_of_speed/index.html https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/138159883/ https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/us-scene/indycar/remembering-the-split-that-nearly-sunk-indycar-racing/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elizabeth-blackstock/support

Sanctioning bodies don't just set the rules for a race series — they also determine the culture and ideologies of the series they represent. In post-war America, the two biggest sanctioning bodies of sports car racing were the SCCA and the AAA Contest Board, and they both had very distinct ideas about what should constitute a series. One faction was determined to embrace an international focus; the other wanted to keep racing strictly regional and strictly amateur. The battle between them almost KILLED motorsport in America. To find out more about Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys:  https://linktr.ee/deadlypassionsterriblejoys  Subscribe on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/deadlypassionsterriblejoys Please give DPTJ's new sponsor, Homefield Apparel, a warm welcome by subscribing for updates and checking out all FOUR new motorsport-themed clothing launches this year. Don't forget to use code DPTJ15 for 15% off your first order! https://www.homefieldapparel.com/ Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Instagram: @elizablackstock Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Twitter/X: @eliz_blackstock Follow DPTJ on Instagram: @deadlypassionsterriblejoys Follow DPTJ on Twitter/X: @terriblejoy_pod Order Racing with Rich Energy: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/racing-with-rich-energy/  Follow Grand Prix Gastronomy: https://grandprixgastronomy.substack.com/  Grab some merch on Redbubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/eablackstock/shop?asc=u  Episode Bibliography: Watkins Glen, The Street Years 1948-1952: Glory, Drama, and the Birth of American Road Racing by Philippe Defechereaux https://www.racingarchives.org/blogpost/road-racing-wars-the-fight-for-control-of-post-war-sports-car-racing-in-america-part-one/ https://www.racingarchives.org/blogpost/road-racing-wars-the-fight-for-control-of-post-war-sports-car-racing-in-america-part-two/ https://www.scca.com/articles/2000732-sportscar-feature-game-changer https://www.historicracing.com/driverDetail.cfm?driverID=5106 https://openpaddock.net/2014/01/13/indycar-how-did-we-get-here-pt-1-when-did-we-start/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elizabeth-blackstock/support

Cheryl Glass is a name that every motorsport fan should have known. For years, any time she showed up to a race track, she was the first Black woman to have competed there. She carved a path of broken records through the Washington state area before spreading her wings to take on challenges all across America. She should have been a star. Instead, her chances to race became fewer and farther between. She got married and divorced. She tried some new cars and failed. She reported that her home was burglarized, and that she was raped. On July 15, 1997, Cheryl Glass' body was found beneath the Aurora Bridge in Seattle. The cause of death was ruled a suicide. But what really happened to Cheryl Glass? To find out more about Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys:  https://linktr.ee/deadlypassionsterriblejoys  Subscribe on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/deadlypassionsterriblejoys Please give DPTJ's new sponsor, Homefield Apparel, a warm welcome by subscribing for updates and checking out all FOUR new motorsport-themed clothing launches this year. Don't forget to use code DPTJ15 for 15% off your first order! https://www.homefieldapparel.com/ Episode Bibliography: The First Lady of Dirt: The Triumphs and Tragedy of Racing Pioneer Cheryl Glass by Bill Poehler https://www.roadandtrack.com/motorsports/a10307202/the-life-and-death-of-cheryl-glass/ https://jalopnik.com/the-motorsport-world-owes-cheryl-linn-glass-the-first-1848166884  https://www.newspapers.com/image/335215637/?terms=%22cheryl%20glass%22&match=1  https://www.newspapers.com/image/121000328/?terms=%22cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/769790973/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/178083383/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/769825567/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/769811503/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/769793859/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/682400000/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1028897638/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/874798024/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/736251764/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/121000328/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/691345914/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/120986782/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/335215637/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/736435915/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/704604380/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/106098294/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/312569696/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/81270945/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/81270985/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/312571507/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/131768072/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/874151343/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/312673303/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/633690290/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/519924860/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/401481267/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/175606195/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/805066912/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/740182691/?terms=%22Cheryl%20glass%22&match=1 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elizabeth-blackstock/support

Mario Andretti is, without a doubt, the finest motorsport legend that America has ever produced — but his 1978 Formula 1 World Championship was won under tragic circumstances: His teammate, Ronnie Peterson, was killed at the Italian Grand Prix. Peterson was Andretti's biggest challenger for the title. Without that competition, Andretti took the win. Today on "Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys," we're speaking with Mario Andretti himself in order to better understand just what an emotional challenge that 1978 season was for him. To find out more about Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys: https://linktr.ee/deadlypassionsterriblejoys  Subscribe on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/deadlypassionsterriblejoys Please give DPTJ's new sponsor, Homefield Apparel, a warm welcome by subscribing for updates and checking out all FOUR new motorsport-themed clothing launches this year. Don't forget to use code DPTJ15 for 15% off your first order! https://www.homefieldapparel.com/ Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Instagram: @elizablackstock Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Twitter/X: @eliz_blackstock Follow DPTJ on Instagram: @deadlypassionsterriblejoys Follow DPTJ on Twitter/X: @terriblejoy_pod Order Racing with Rich Energy: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/racing-with-rich-energy/  Follow Grand Prix Gastronomy: https://grandprixgastronomy.substack.com/  Grab some merch on Redbubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/eablackstock/shop?asc=u  Episode Bibliography:  Mario Andretti: World Champion by Nigel Roebuck (Thank you to my wonderful friend Zoe for sending along the relevant sections I asked for!) Ronnie Peterson: Superswede by Alan Henry Colin Chapman: The Man and His Cars by Gerard Crombac My Greatest Defeat: Stories of Hardship and Hope from Motor Racing's Finest Heroes by Will Buxton Life at the Limit: Triumph and Tragedy in Formula One by Sid Watkins. https://www.indianapolismonthly.com/arts-and-culture/sports/the-wrecked-rebuilt-life-of-aldo-andretti --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elizabeth-blackstock/support

In 1961, Formula 1 crowned its first-ever American World Driver Champion. Californian Phil Hill — a driver whose ulcer-ridden body should have prevented him from racing at the top levels of motorsport — never quite seemed like the prototypical race car driver. But if an American earned the highest honor in motorsport within the first 11 years of F1's existence, why don't we better remember and celebrate Phil Hill? The answer lies in the title-deciding 1961 Monza Grand Prix, a tragic, deadly race that immediately overshadowed Hill's greatest success. This is the first of a two-part series focusing on the tragedies of F1's American World Champions.  To find out more about Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys: https://linktr.ee/deadlypassionsterriblejoys  Subscribe on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/deadlypassionsterriblejoys Please give DPTJ's new sponsor, Homefield Apparel, a warm welcome by subscribing for updates and checking out all FOUR new motorsport-themed clothing launches this year. Don't forget to use code DPTJ15 for 15% off your first order! https://www.homefieldapparel.com/ Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Instagram: @elizablackstock Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Twitter/X: @eliz_blackstock Order Racing with Rich Energy: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/racing-with-rich-energy/  Follow Grand Prix Gastronomy: https://grandprixgastronomy.substack.com/  Grab some merch on Redbubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/eablackstock/shop?asc=u  Episode Bibliography:  The Limit: Life and Death on the 1961 Grand Prix Circuit by Michael Cannon Phil Hill: A Driving Life by Phil Hill Monza: A Glorious History by Paolo Montagna The American Legacy in Formula 1 https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Carrera_Panamericana-1952-11-23.html https://www.automotivehalloffame.org/honoree/phil-hill/ https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/who-was-phil-hill-the-legend-who-shunned-the-spotlight-58307 https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/october-1961/44/xxxii-italian-grand-prix/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elizabeth-blackstock/support

The 1952 Watkins Glen Grand Prix should have been yet another leap toward solidifying road racing's popularity in the United States — but instead, the death of one seven-year-old-boy in a crash brought American motorsport to its knees. This is the story of Frankie Fazzary, the young boy whose death changed the tides of racing and created the automotive world we know today. This is a story that has, tragically, been forgotten. To find out more about Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys: https://linktr.ee/deadlypassionsterriblejoys  Subscribe on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/deadlypassionsterriblejoys Please give DPTJ's new sponsor, Homefield Apparel, a warm welcome by subscribing for updates and checking out all FOUR new motorsport-themed clothing launches this year. Don't forget to use code DPTJ15 for 15% off your first order! https://www.homefieldapparel.com/ Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Instagram: @elizablackstock Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Twitter/X: @eliz_blackstock Order Racing with Rich Energy: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/racing-with-rich-energy/  Follow Grand Prix Gastronomy: https://grandprixgastronomy.substack.com/  Grab some merch on Redbubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/eablackstock/shop?asc=u  Episode Bibliography:  Watkins Glen, the Street Years 1948-1952: Glory, Drama, and the Birth of American Road Racing by Philippe Defechereaux  Watkins Glen: From Griswold to Gordon, Fifty Years of Competition at the Home of American Road Racing by J.J. O'Malley and Bill Green Watkins Glen Racing: Images of Sport by Kirk W. House and Charles R. Mitchell https://www.newspapers.com/image/279393633/ https://www.newspapers.com/image/279589937/ https://www.newspapers.com/image/276687494/ https://www.nytimes.com/1952/09/21/archives/sports-car-rams-crowd-kills-boy-12-spectators-at-annual-race-in.html https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/95370544/Frank-%E2%80%9CFrankie%E2%80%9D-Fazzari --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elizabeth-blackstock/support

In 1933, FIVE racers got together to fix the Tripoli Grand Prix, an African race run with a lottery system that would award three lucky fans with millions of dollars if their driver won the race. Those drivers selected one man to win the race and scoop up the prize money to be shared amongst the group in a ridiculous race that saw one uninvolved driver die so that the conspirators could make millions. Except… none of that actually happened. Today on "Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys," we're setting the record straight and breaking down an almost century-old myth. To find out more about Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys: https://linktr.ee/deadlypassionsterriblejoys  Subscribe on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/deadlypassionsterriblejoys Please give DPTJ's new sponsor, Homefield Apparel, a warm welcome by subscribing for updates and checking out all FOUR new motorsport-themed clothing launches this year: https://www.homefieldapparel.com/ Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Instagram: @elizablackstock Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Twitter/X: @eliz_blackstock Order Racing with Rich Energy: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/racing-with-rich-energy/  Follow Grand Prix Gastronomy: https://grandprixgastronomy.substack.com/  Grab some merch on Redbubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/eablackstock/shop?asc=u  Episode Bibliography: "Enzo Ferrari: The Man, The Cars, The Races" by Brock Yates "Enzo Ferrari: Power, Politics, and the Making of an Automotive Empire" by Luca dal Monte "Nuvolari" by Giovanni Lurani https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/july-2012/140/the-tangled-tale-of-tripoli/ https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/june-1934/18/tripoli-grand-prixwon-at-116mph/ https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/march-1978/58/tripoli-dip-past/ https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/january-2000/73/swindle/ https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/september-1969/36/the-lottery-grand-prix/ https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/july-1933/5/the-late-sir-henry-birkin/ https://sportscardigest.com/1933-tripoli-grand-prix/  https://atlasf1.autosport.com/2001/bri/capps.html  https://simanaitissays.com/2014/04/11/tripoli-tangles-1933/ https://petrolblog.com/articles/an-ill-informed-history-of-the-tripoli-grand-prix --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elizabeth-blackstock/support

With five World Driver Championships to his name, Juan Manuel Fangio is an icon of Formula 1 and motorsport as a whole — but in 1958, he also turned the tides of global politics. Fulgencio Batista's dictatorship had ravaged Cuba, but in 1958, the right-wing leader decided to stage a non-championship Formula 1 race to draw in the crowds. That plan was turned on its head when Fangio was kidnapped by a group of young revolutionaries — and it was that very kidnapping that helped lead to a full-on overhaul of the Cuban government. To find out more about Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys: https://linktr.ee/deadlypassionsterriblejoys  Subscribe on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/deadlypassionsterriblejoys Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Instagram: @elizablackstock Follow Elizabeth Blackstock on Twitter/X: @eliz_blackstock Order Racing with Rich Energy: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/racing-with-rich-energy/  Follow Grand Prix Gastronomy: https://grandprixgastronomy.substack.com/  Episode Bibliography: Fangio: The Life Behind the Legend by Gerald Donaldson Driven to Crime: True Stories of Wrongdoing in Motor Racing by Crispian Besley The International Grand Prix Book of Motor Racing by Michael Frewin https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/march-2023/7/when-fangio-was-kidnapped-in-cuba/ 

From race fixing attempts to kidnappings, the backbone of motorsport is built on scandal, intrigue, danger, and deception. Rev your engines and dive into the heart-pounding world of motorsport with Elizabeth Blackstock's captivating new podcast, Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys. Join us on an adrenaline-fueled journey through the scandalous, the intriguing, and the perilous tales that define this high-octane universe. Subscribe to the Patreon: patreon.com/deadlypassionsterriblejoys Follow DPTJ on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deadlypassionsterriblejoys/ Follow Elizabeth on Twitter: https://twitter.com/eliz_blackstock