Every now and then, a name comes up that commands the respect of racers, builders, and hot rod historians alike. Gentleman Joe Schubeck is one of those names.

From the early days of drag racing to the boardrooms of motorsports safety, Schubeck has lived a life that spans the full throttle range of American ingenuity. Now, for the first time, he’s opening up the scrapbook and telling it in his own words—with the release of his autobiography, Hot Rods, Trains, & Planes: from the Scrapbook of Gentleman Joe Schubeck Drag Racing Entrepreneur.

This is more than a memoir—it’s a personal archive from one of the sport’s true originals. Even better, every copy available through JoeSchubeck.com is personally autographed by Joe himself.

From Dragstrips to Innovations That Saved Lives

Schubeck’s racing career kicked off in the late 1950s, behind the wheel of a homebuilt dragster that went head-to-head with the Arfons brothers. But it wasn’t just raw horsepower that defined his legacy.

He saw firsthand the danger of catastrophic clutch explosions and decided to do something about it. That something became the Lakewood Scattershield—a bellhousing designed to contain shrapnel and save lives. It worked. It stuck. And it became standard gear for racers across the country.

With the launch of Lakewood Industries, Schubeck didn’t just build parts—he helped shape the future of safety in motorsports.

A Life Larger Than Racing

But Joe’s story doesn’t end with quarter-mile passes and clutch housings. A lifelong fascination with machinery—especially locomotives and aircraft—runs parallel to his time on the strip. In this book, he shares the full scope of his mechanical passions, along with stories that blend engineering, showmanship, and straight-up Americana.

He was the racer in the tuxedo firesuit, the innovator behind a movement, and the man who kept pushing forward long after the race was over.

Endorsed by Icons

The foreword, written by none other than Don “Big Daddy” Garlits, says it best:

“People of all ages, especially young people just starting out, should read this book for inspiration.”

That’s high praise from one of the greatest names the sport has ever known.