Motor Racing at Nassau in the 1950s and 1960s

A collection of images that complements the descriptive account of the larger book, The Bahamas Speed Weeks. It conveys in pictures the roller-coaster story of the eclectic mix of people and their cars, that came to Nassau to enjoy each other's company at the end of the motor racing season in America.

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Motor Racing at Nassau focuses on the vision of one man, Captain Sherman 'Red' Crise, and his quest to bring motor racing to the Bahamas. From its stuttering start in 1954, his event rapidly developed in stature to become the most important and prestigious sports car event on the race calendar other than World Championship events. The races started in the mid-1950s and continued for thirteen years, and are described by many commentators as the 'Golden Age' of motor racing, where internationally acclaimed drivers attended Nassau to mix with the many amateur racers from America and enjoy the sun, parties and racing. For many drivers, the social scene was as important as the racing, and in later years prize money was an extra incentive to turn up - in 1960, it was claimed to be the highest paying event on the race calendar. Words alone cannot begin to describe the atmosphere generated at the races, so the wealth of previously unpublished photographs together with a complete collection of programme covers, and other material accumulated during six years of research, bring real vibrancy to these fascinating race accounts.