{"product_id":"the-racers-how-an-outcast-driver-an-american-heiress-and-a-legendary-car-challenged-hitlers-best-scholastic-focus-9781338277418","title":"The Racers: How an Outcast Driver, an American Heiress, and a Legendary Car Challenged Hitler's Best (Scholastic Focus)","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe heart-pounding story of an unlikely band of ragtags who took on Hitler's Grand Prix driver.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn the years before World War II, Adolf Hitler wanted to prove the greatness of the Third Reich in everything from track and field to motorsports. The Nazis poured money into the development of new race cars, and Mercedes-Benz came out with a stable of supercharged automobiles called Silver Arrows. Their drivers dominated the sensational world of European Grand Prix racing and saluted Hitler on their many returns home with victory.As the Third Reich stripped Jews of their rights and began their march toward war, one driver, Ren  Dreyfus, a 32-year-old Frenchman of Jewish heritage who had enjoyed some early successes on the racing circuit, was barred from driving on any German or Italian race teams, which fielded the best in class, due to the rise of Hitler and Benito Mussolini.So it was that in 1937, Lucy Schell, an American heiress and top Monte Carlo Rally driver, needed a racer for a new team she was creating to take on Germany's Silver Arrows. Sensing untapped potential in Dreyfus, she funded the development of a nimble tiger of a new car built by a little-known French manufacturer called Delahaye. As the nations of Europe marched ever closer to war, Schell and Dreyfus faced down Hitler's top drivers, and the world held its breath in anticipation, waiting to see who would triumph.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eNeal Bascomb is the author of \u003ci\u003eThe Race of the Century: The Battle to Break the Four-Minute Mile\u003c\/i\u003e, which \u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e calls a \"gripping narrative nonfiction tale\" and \u003ci\u003eThe Nazi Hunters\u003c\/i\u003e, winner of the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award, among numerous other awards. \u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e called his second young adult book, \u003ci\u003eSabotage\u003c\/i\u003e, \"excellent\" in a starred review and \u003ci\u003eThe Grand Escape\u003c\/i\u003e a \"fantastic pick for avid history readers\" also in a starred review. His book \u003ci\u003eThe Racers\u003c\/i\u003e was named a BCCB Blue Ribbon Book and a starred review from \u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e called \u003ci\u003eThe Racers\u003c\/i\u003e \"Highly Recommended.\" In addition, he is the author of six nonfiction books for adults on subjects ranging from a 1905 Russian submarine mutiny to a contemporary high school robotics team. \u003ci\u003eThe Perfect Mile\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eWinter Fortress\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eHunting Eichmann\u003c\/i\u003e went on to be \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e and international bestsellers. Neal lives in Philadelphia with his family and rascal dog, Moses. Please visit his website at nealbascomb.com and follow him on Facebook @nealrbascomb.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Scholastic Focus","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50478170571026,"sku":"9781338277418","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_a53cbd6e-3dae-4567-8f2f-341089421db2.jpg?v=1730286938","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-racers-how-an-outcast-driver-an-american-heiress-and-a-legendary-car-challenged-hitlers-best-scholastic-focus-9781338277418","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}