The Indy Book Nook is Open - Selling Salt Walther's Book For the Race of Your Life

After a year in the making. Salt's book is out this morning and can be purchased at www.etsy.com/shop.indybooknook

SALT WALTHER BOOK “FOR THE RACE OF YOUR LIFE” RELEASED

November 22, 2013 Press Release - Dayton, Ohio - Kings Road West Publications, LTD would like to announce the publication of The Salt Walther Story “For the Race of Your Life” just in time to honor Salt's 66th birthday today. This e-Book chronicles the life and times of Dayton, Ohio born racer David “Salt” Walther through stories told in Salt’s own words, remembrances from one of Salt’s long time friends and racing archives. Salt had been working on this book before his untimely death in December of 2012. And it is our pleasure to have completed his journey.

Born on November 22, 1947 to Dayton corporate magnate George Walther who took the reins from his father to become CEO and Chairman of the Dayton Walther Corporation. George was also a race car owner who began taking cars to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1955 and continued until 1990 when he and Salt put a car into the Indianapolis 500 only to be bumped by the last man on the track that Sunday. 

The book is not just a racing story, but will tell Salt’s story of drug dependency following his near fatal racing accident during the start of the Indianapolis 500 race in 1973. You’ll come to understand why a kid from Centerville High School who was a gifted athlete, stayed in top physical shape and never took drugs, relied on drugs to remove the pain both physically and mentally after the accident. 

The book will bring Salt’s racing career into better understanding from his “little rich kid” who daddy bought him a race car to an accomplished racer with 64 career champ car races and Unlimited Hydroplane Calvert Cup Trophy Winner. Salt is the only driver to have raced IndyCars, NASCAR and Unlimited Hydroplanes.

The e-book can ONLY be purchased on-line at www.etsy.com/shop/indybooknook starting Monday November 25, 2013.   

We Say Good Bye to Dario Franchitti

Dario Franchitti announced this week that doctors recommended he retire for racing due injuries he suffered during the Houston Grand Prix.

We watched Dario grow to a powerhouse in IndyCar racing winning Indy three times. I can remember his first win, when the weather was moving in. We were on our way back from our childhood homes in west central Indiana at the time. I told my wife as Dario took over the lead and didn't pit as other did, that he was going to win staying out there as we could see in our rear view mirror that a storm was right behind us.

Dario, we hope you stay in racing.... as a car owner or in some capacity. We always enjoyed watching you. You are real champ and gentleman.

Final Chapter of Salt Walther Book in Progress and Release Next Week

We should be finished with final draft by this Friday. I am having a couple of proof readers take a look at it before we offer it to the public.

We have created a book shop on Etsy.com where you can buy/download the book. Etsy is kinda like an Amazon without all the expensive fees. Add it to cart and pay using your PayPal account. It will sell for $5.99 and come in formats that cover hopefully all the readers out there. IPAD, Kindle, Nook, Smart Phones and PC/Mac. We do not plan paper copies of the book at this time.

The shop will go live Friday morning at Indy Book Nook

Salt

Indycar Racer Salt Walther Book Update Chapter 1 Sample

We have been moving towards the finish line with Salt's book and its targeted release in November just in time for Salt's birthday. Here is a sample of chapter 1 from "For the Race of Your Life".

May 29^th 1973 Indianapolis, Indiana  -- It was a typical warm and humid summer day as A.J. Foyt’s private Lear jet departs the runway of the Indianapolis International Airport. It was on course to Ann Arbor Michigan and the University of  Michigan Burn Center. On board the now the modified jet, as seats were removed to accommodate a single hospital gurney was a dying race driver David “Salt” Walther.

May 28^th The Start of the Indianapolis 500 -- With the start of a race everything starts to get real tense. The thing this year was Mother Nature was not cooperating “Rain” it won’t stop. So now we have delays’ and out go the track dryers. I haven’t eaten for two days and today the green flag was finally gon’a drop.

Salt Walther Book July Update

We are working through the 1980's of Salt's life. This is some of the most troubling times with his addiction, but there are some great adventurous tales of some Salt's wild escapades and it usually involves some sort of car or boat stunt. It will also include his try at coming back to racing at Indy.

Just got a copy of George Walther's estate sale. Man would that have been fun to attend. They had the Tom Sneva 200mph qualifier Penske there as well as some of Salt's earlier cars.

The title will be For The Race of Your Life and we are still on target for release around Salt's birthday in late November.

40th Anniversary of Salt Walther's Crash at the Indianapolis 500

This year will be 40 years since the fiery crash of the No. 77 car of Salt Walther at the start of the race. May 28th 1973 crash would mar what was to be fire and rain of Indy that May. Art Pollard was killed on May 12th running hot laps after already qualifying for the race in turn 1, dying from flame inhalation. After the race was eventually restarted days later after Salt's crash ended the attempt on Monday, Swede Savage hit the inside wall in turn 4 during the race and the car came apart with Swede sitting in the cockpit on the track and on fire, he passed in July from medical complications.

Salt told us that he was very anxious to get the race started and hadn't eat'n in 2 days. At the start cars were swerving wildly jockeying for position. Salt to the day he passed in 2012 maintained he was bumped from behind and that caused the accident.   

We took Salt's daughter Brittney who just turned 18 to the track on pole day this year and was able to put her in touch with the track and even people from the IMS Safety Team who had assisted her father after the accident. We walked by the infield hospital and explained what the process was and showed her the helicopter that would have rushed her dad to Methodist Hospital. 

Most people remember the crash, but forget that after giving only a 5% chance to live and massive injuries to his body, Salt Walther returned to the track in 1974 and put his new No. 77 McLaren in the field at the 14th position with a speed of 180.920 and finished in 17th when a piston failed on lap 141.

With the race this Sunday, lets hope it's a safe one. This will be the first Indianapolis 500 since the early 60's that Salt Walther will not be around for. We will have more details on this and more in the new book coming later this year "For the Race of Your Life".