Brock Yates

Brock Yates (1933-2016) was an American automotive journalist, author, and screenwriter who served as executive editor of Car and Driver magazine for more than two decades. He gained prominence for creating the infamous Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, an unsanctioned coast-to-coast race that inspired several films and became part of American car culture. As a writer, Yates authored numerous books on automotive history and culture, including "Sunday Driver" and "Enzo Ferrari: The Man and the Machine," which was later adapted into a film. His screenplay for "The Cannonball Run" (1981) starring Burt Reynolds brought his underground race concept to mainstream audiences and became a box office success. Beyond his creative work, Yates established himself as an outspoken critic of government regulation in the automotive industry and a defender of car enthusiasm as a legitimate form of American culture. His columns and commentary often challenged conventional wisdom about automotive safety and environmental regulations. Yates also worked as a motorsports commentator for CBS Sports and wrote extensively about racing history, contributing significantly to the documentation and preservation of American automotive heritage. His final years were spent battling Alzheimer's disease, though his influence on automotive journalism and car culture continues to resonate within the industry.

Readers value Yates' insider knowledge of the automotive industry and direct writing style. Reviews highlight his ability to blend technical detail with engaging storytelling, particularly in "Enzo Ferrari: The Man and the Machine" and "Against Death and Time." Readers appreciate: - Deep research and first-hand experiences - No-nonsense approach to automotive journalism - Clear explanations of complex automotive topics - Behind-the-scenes insights into racing and car culture Common criticisms: - Can be overly opinionated and confrontational - Some books feel dated in their perspective - Occasional repetition between works - Political views sometimes overshadow automotive content Ratings across platforms: - Goodreads: "Enzo Ferrari" (3.9/5 from 156 ratings) - Amazon: "Sunday Driver" (4.3/5 from 28 reviews) - "Cannonball!" averages 4.4/5 across platforms One reader noted: "Yates writes with the authority of someone who lived these stories, not just reported them." Another commented: "His bias shows through too often, but his knowledge is undeniable."

Cannonball! World's Greatest Outlaw Road Race Chronicles the author's creation and participation in the infamous coast-to-coast Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash.

Sunday Driver: The Writer Meets the Road - at 175 MPH Documents Yates's experiences racing in the 24 Hours of Daytona and other motorsports events during the 1970s.

The Decline and Fall of the American Automobile Industry Examines the factors leading to the struggles of Detroit automakers from the 1970s through the early 1980s.

Enzo Ferrari: The Man and the Machine A biography of the Italian automotive icon, covering his life from mechanic to racing driver to founder of Ferrari.

Against Death and Time: One Fatal Season in Racing's Glory Years Focuses on the 1955 racing season and its tragic events, including the Le Mans disaster.

The Critical Path: Inventing an Automobile and Reinventing a Corporation Details the development process of Chrysler's 1996 minivan from concept to production.

The Hot Rod: Resurrection of a Legend Traces the history and cultural impact of hot rod cars in American automotive culture.

Outlaw Machine: Harley-Davidson and the Search for the American Soul Explores the history of Harley-Davidson motorcycles and their significance in American culture.

Ralph Stein wrote extensively about classic cars and automotive history from the 1940s-1970s. He shared Yates' focus on American car culture and produced reference works documenting the evolution of automobiles.

Peter Egan writes first-person automotive journalism and mechanical stories for Road & Track and Cycle World. His style mirrors Yates' blend of technical knowledge and personal narrative about cars and motorcycles.

David E. Davis Jr. founded Automobile Magazine and wrote car reviews and industry commentary for decades. His writing contains the same critical analysis of the auto industry and outspoken perspective that characterized Yates' work.

L.J.K. Setright produced detailed technical writing about automobiles and transportation history in the UK. His engineering background and historical focus parallel Yates' deep knowledge of automotive technology and development.

Ken Purdy wrote automotive journalism and books from the 1950s-1970s about sports cars and racing. His work for publications like Playboy and True magazine shared Yates' storytelling about speed, competition, and car culture.