Chapter 1, Page vii Summary and Analysis

The book begins with introductory writings by the son of the deceased author. Mark Donohue is dead, and this book is published after his death. This is an important point. The son is delighted to have the good memories of his father but has naturally grieved intensely over his loss. His father dies in a car crash during a race. As he is a race car driver, this is a fitting end. After they provide a little background information of this sort, the book moves onto the real story. Mark Donahue wrote the main manuscript prior to his death.

The subject explains that he discovers racing. He is a mechanical engineering student who likes cars. Another young man invites him to race his Corvette one night. He does so; he is rather pleased with the performance of...