Waterlooville author pledges all royalties of new non fiction book The Stock Car Ghosts to Rowans Hospice in Purbrook

A WATERLOOVILLE author has pledged to donate all the royalties from his new non fiction book to charity.
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Steve Daily’s self-published history book The Stock Car Ghosts will be raising money for the Rowans Hospice in Purbrook.

This charity is close to Steve’s heart as the hospice cared for his father-in-law, and now the author wants to give something back.

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The Stock Car Ghosts tells the true story of the 1955 American stock car tour across England.

Steve Daily holding a copy of The Stock Car GhostsSteve Daily holding a copy of The Stock Car Ghosts
Steve Daily holding a copy of The Stock Car Ghosts

It revisits the early days of NASCAR and the origins of oval racing in the UK, and reveals what became of the USA team drivers, who were known to English fans as The White Ghosts.

Steve, 69, said: ‘Since my retirement I have been researching the world of stock car racing in the 1950s and this book is about a UK tour in 1955 by a group of Americans of which little was known.’

It has taken Steve a year to research, collate, and write The Stock Car Ghosts, which is his first book.

The front cover of The Stock Car GhostsThe front cover of The Stock Car Ghosts
The front cover of The Stock Car Ghosts
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He said: ‘The first two seasons of racing here in the UK were a huge success with record numbers of spectators drawn into following this new sport and with many enthusiastic drivers signing up to build and race their own stock cars enticed by the fame and big prize money on offer, including the young racing driver, Bernie Ecclestone.

‘The bubble was to burst in 1956 due to both the Suez Crisis and waning public interest. The sport in the UK reformed into what we know today as, small oval racing.

‘I have been able to talk to two of the American race drivers, now in their 80s and living in the United States, who were glad to share their memories of the tour across England.’

Steve’s own oval racing experience as both a spectator and a driver on the track has also informed his writing.

An advert from The News in 1955 regarding a stock car race meeting in SouthamptonAn advert from The News in 1955 regarding a stock car race meeting in Southampton
An advert from The News in 1955 regarding a stock car race meeting in Southampton
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He added: ‘Growing up in the monochrome world of 1950s London myself, I was able to include the realities of living through that era.’

The Stock Car Ghosts is priced at £9.99 and is available on Amazon.

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