Richard McDonell began racing in 1965 and took several class wins, claiming second place in C Sedan Class in the Prairie Region Championship in 1968. After a long break, he returned and raced IMCA Modifieds for six seasons. He retired in September 1995 as Race City Speedway champion. He lives in Red Deer, Alberta with his wife, Diane.
The Speediest Land Traveller
The Speediest Land Traveller
A History of Alberta Auto Racing
Richard McDonell
Automobile racing, the world’s fastest sport, began almost as soon as the first cars were built. It developed and thrived in the Province of Alberta, far removed from the world power centres of racing. Former race driver Richard McDonell spins a story of the heroes and geniuses who built and raced cars against the best on the planet, and of the developers, politicians, promoters and wheeler-dealers who gave them places to practise.
At times hilarious and others tragic, this book paints a memorable portrait of an exciting sport and the century of change in which it grew. This is must-have book for anyone with an interest in auto racing or Alberta history.
Editions:
ISBN: 9781894694353, $29.95 CDN, $29.95 USD
Available via your local bookstore, or Amazon.ca (soon)
Reviews / Testimonials:
Wow! Richard McDonell has done a remarkable job of chronicling the complete history of racing in Alberta. From Barney Oldfield’s barnstorming days to the Model T Fords, sprint cars, sports cars, stock cars, CAMRA modifieds, rally cars, and dragsters, it’s all here—tales of the cars, the tracks, and the people. As a bonus there’s McDonell’s sense of humour—it’s rare to get a laugh out of a racing history book!
—Don Radbruch, author of Dirt Track Auto Racing 1919 to 1941 and Roaring Roadsters
The Speediest Land Traveller tells the stories of the great, the near-great, and the backmarkers that make up our sport. It becomes the document of record for people trying to understand auto racing and the contributions that Albertans have made.
—George “TheCar” Daszkowski, Archives Chair, Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame, Toronto www.cmhf.ca
Richard McDonell has done what most good historians do—he wrote it down before it was lost to human memory. In the future, people in Alberta will say, “I’m glad McDonell had the passion to write this book.” I feel that way right now.
—Tom Johnston, Honourable Member, Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame; author of Sports Car Road Racing in Western Canada
The Speediest Land Traveller is a benchmark centennial gift to the province. An authentic, pleasurable read, it will be lapped up by auto enthusiasts, and may even tweak the interest of those who would like to be.
—Robert Lampard, M.D., President, Alberta Medical History Foundation
