152 page paperback book with 32-page photo section

ISBN 978-0-9797337-0-3
suggested retail price $19.95 (U.S.)

Wholesale Contact for bookstores:
Patty Walsh / The Distributors
patty@thedistributors.com
(574) 232-8500

Buy the book directly from us HERE
or at fine bookstores
throughout North America
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PCMP
PO Box 121
Tucson, Arizona
85702  USA

E-MAIL
www.purple-cactus.tv

 



THE BOOK IS NOW AVAILABLE! ORDERING INFO IS HERE

"For fans of the WHA and hockey history in general, Gassen has assembled a treat." — The Hockey News
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SUMMER 2008 RACERS BOOK PROJECT: we need your help!

In this past year we have accumulated so many fabulous WHA and Racers photos, articles, graphics, video, new information and stories that could not fit into the paper book. So we are preparing an electronic supplement to the paper book that can accomodate this mountain of additional material.

The publication of the paper book has brought many fans and players to generously share their own collection of Racers and WHA material — and we invite you to contact us if you have anything that might be of interest to WHA and Indianapolis Racers fans, for inclusion in the elctronic book supplement. We hope to have this book supplement ready for Fall 2008, so please contact us ASAP!
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Timothy Gassen's new Racers feature story, "The Blood of Gilles Marotte,"
is online HERE at Inside Hockey, where the author is a columnist. Thank you
for the kind comments from all who knew Gilles.


Author Timothy Gassen (left) was a guest recently of host
Todd Walsh (right) on the NHL Phoenix Coyotes pre-game
TV show. A video clip of the TV appearance is HERE.
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OUR OWN VINTAGE AUDIO & VIDEO CLIPS ARE HERE

LISTEN TO A 20-MINUTE AUDIO FEATURE ON THE WHA AND THE NEW RACERS BOOK WITH ANAHEIM DUCKS BROADCASTER JOSH BEWSTER HERE

A KIND REVIEW OF THE BOOK IS HERE

GO HERE FOR A NEWSPAPER PIECE ABOUT THE BOOK

ANOTHER GOOD REVIEW OF THE BOOK IS HERE

A GREAT Q&A WITH THE AUTHOR IS HERE

All-time Racers goal scorer REG THOMAS calls the book, "Excellent a great book, especially from the fan's point of view."

CURTIS WALKER, author of the upcoming Winnipeg Jets hockey history book, says, "I highly recommend this book, guaranteed to leave any hockey fan with a smile."
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STORIES ABOUT THE NOVEMBER 2007 BOOK EVENTS ARE HERE
Thank you Indy hockey fans!


(LEFT TO RIGHT) Former Racers Ken Block, Reg Thomas, author Timothy
Gassen, SuperFan Dave Pickering and Indiana Ice Captain Nick Bailen
drop the puck at center ice before a USHL home game in downtown Indy.


(LEFT TO RIGHT) Ken Block, Reg Thomas, "Hockey Bob" Lamey & Hugh
Harris at a Racers book signing in Indianapolis, November 2007.


NEWS: Author Timothy Gassen has completed radio interviews for the national "Inside Hockey" radio show, ESPN950 and WIBC in Indy, and FOX59 TV.
Highlights from these appearances are online HERE
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NEWS: THE BOOK HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE OFFICIAL COLLECTION OF THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME IN TORONTO!

NEWS: WATCH FOR US IN THE PRINTED & ONLINE VERSION OF THE HOCKEY NEWS!
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presented in partnership with

www.insidehockey.com

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When major league hockey came to Indianapolis in 1974, no one knew the sport’s two greatest players would wear the Racers’ red, white & blue.  But the Racers story is so much more than just a launch pad for Wayne Gretzky & Mark Messier — it is a time when the city’s love affair with hockey grew to dizzying heights, then crashed in heartbreaking defeat.  Journalist Timothy Gassen was there and details the only firsthand account of the golden era for pro hockey in Indiana: The Indianapolis Racers.

“Red, White & Blues” is a breakthrough book for fans of sports in Indianapolis, the rebel World Hockey Association, and the game’s greatest player, Wayne Gretzky.  The entry of “The Great One” into pro hockey is detailed for the first time ever, and the curious debut of Mark Messier in a Racers jersey is also explored.

Award-winning hockey writer Timothy Gassen combines years of his recent reporting, interviews and exhaustive research with his personal recollections of his time in Indianapolis interacting with the Racers throughout the franchise’s turbulent, exciting history. 

Major league hockey in Indiana finally gets its due in “Red, White & Blues: a personal history of Indianapolis Racers hockey 1974-1979.”

This is Gassen’s third non-fiction book, and the first presented in partnership with InsideHockey, where he is a columnist. A former daily newspaper reporter, Gassen has also authored countless newspaper and magazine features over the past 25 years.
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ABOUT THE BOOK

THE GREAT ONE:
For the first time, the real story behind Wayne Gretzky and his mysterious million dollar signing with the Racers as a 17-year-old rookie in 1978, and the details of his fateful journey to the Edmonton Oliers — and the Hall of Fame.

A FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT:
The only complete Racers franchise history, told by the players, coaches and fans themselves.

AUTHORATATIVE VIEW:
Expert analysis, historical perspective and additional firsthand anecdotes and insight by award-winning author Timothy Gassen.

READ IT, THEN SEE IT:
32 pages of rare and previously unpublished color and B&W photos of all the Racers greats in action with and against the best players of the 1970s pro hockey era.

THE LOST LEAGUE:
A detailed, expertly researched look at the WHA — the league that changed the NHL and major league hockey forever.

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MORE INFO ABOUT THE NEW RACERS BOOK HERE

ORDER THE BOOK DIRECTLY FROM US HERE

SEE THE WEB-ONLY RACERS BOOK BONUS MATERIALS HERE

LINKS TO OTHER WHA AND HOCKEY SITES HERE

BOOK CORRECTIONS HERE

SIGN OUR RACERS GUESTBOOK

MORE FREE HOCKEY WRITING FROM TIMOTHY GASSEN HERE