Friday 6th August 2021

BOOK REVIEW  By Peter Baker 

SAM’S SCRAPBOOK - MY MOTORSPORTS MEMORIES 

The name Sam Posey to someone like me, who was deep into their American motorsport during the mid-sixties, immediately conjures up pictures of a young man with oil-stained goggles holding up yet another trophy.

Not exactly poor, with a mother who owned part of Lime Rock Raceway, his first road car was a Mercedes 300 SL. Sam claims he was just 14 at the time.

In 1964, the 20-year-old was racing, and winning. Guess where? You’re right. Lime Rock. Lucky breaks always come in handy and a year later Harry Theodoracopulos offered him a ride at Bridgehampton, sharing an Alfa Romeo GTZ, resulting in a class win. From then on, the only way was up.

In 1966 Sam bought a Porsche 904GTS, using loose change, but failed to finish that year’s Daytona 24 Hours. Never mind, he made up for it with a Marlboro 12-Hour outright win which led to his first appearance at Le Mans, also in 1966. A race Ford scooped with a famous GT40, one-two-three win. Sam Posey driving a Bizzarrini was disqualified for a minor rule infringement.

It was inevitable he would be part of the newly announced Can-Am Series, finishing last at St. Jovite. Things could only get better.

Personally, I like his recall of 1968/69 best of all, when he was first hired by Roger Penske to compete in the Trans-Am Series with a Chevy Camaro, before meeting Dick Fritz, boss of the Luigi Chinetti Ferrari team. A Dino 206GT gave him a class win at Sebring. Then Carroll Shelby grabbed Sam by the arm and paid him to drive a Shelby-entered Mustang. Good decision. Returning to Lime Rock, Posey won.

This is a great read, full of trigger moments that carry one back to another time. Le Mans 1969. Four-wheel-drive Lotus. NASCAR. A punch-up with Peter Revson. And Le Mans for Ferrari in 1970 and 1971, where David Hobbs chased him to the flag, fourth in France was not at all bad, third was even better.

Okay, I’ll stop now. But I beg you, go out and buy this book, or whatever one does nowadays. At just £30.00 it’s a steal.

SAM’S SCRAPBOOK - MY MOTORSPORTS MEMORIES
Written by Sam Posey with  John Posey
ISBN 978- 1-910505 65-6
Published by EVRO Publishing
Price £30.00