McDonough has wanted to write about aristocratic Spanish ace Alfonso de Portago for years, but making contact with his former wife last year proved the turning point. The New York socialite gave access to the family archives, including Fon's own scrapbooks, as well as providing her memories of motor sport's original dude. Contemporary drivers offer little fresh about the character or motivation behind the man whose death ended the Mille Miglia, but McDonough weaves in a wealth of anecdotes from de Portago’s friends and lovers. These - together with race reports, the Riverside interview and Ken Purdy's 1972 feature - enliven the story and finally separate myth and truth. Nice touches include boxes on the cars he raced, and only poor editing and a clumsy layout detract from this highly absorbing book. reviewed by Classic and Sports Car November