Posey, Sam 1944–

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Posey, Sam 1944–

PERSONAL: Born May 26, 1944, in New York, NY; son of Samuel Felton and Mary (Jameson) Posey; married Ellen Griesedieck (an artist), September 10, 1979; children: John. Education: Rhode Island School of Design, B.F.A., 1966.

ADDRESSES: Home—Low Rd., Sharon, CT 06069. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Random House Publicity, 1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019.

CAREER: Professional artist, beginning 1958; professional race car driver, 1965–1981; sports reporter for the American Broadcasting Company (ABC-TV), beginning 1974; member of Indianapolis 500 commentary team, 1982–96; sports commentator at racing events, 1998–. Actor in film Heart like a Wheel, 1983.

AWARDS, HONORS: Bob Akin Motorsports Award, Road Racing Drivers Club, 2004; honorary chair, Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix.

WRITINGS:

Mudge Pond Express (autobiography), Putnam (New York, NY), 1976.

Playing with Trains: A Passion beyond Scale (nonfiction), Random House (New York, NY), 2004.

Contributor to magazines, including Quest, Reader's Digest, TV Guide, Sports Illustrated, and Road and Track.

SIDELIGHTS: Sam Posey's motor racing career saw him participate in nearly every major event in every category of automobile racing. After his father was killed in World War II, Posey was taught to drive by his mother. When he was still in his teens, he began racing with a Jocko Special Formula Junior car. He finally brought his driving career to a close in 1981, but he remains close to the sport by working as a television commentator at racing events.

Posey recounted part of his life story in the autobiography Mudge Pond Express, published in 1976. Nearly thirty years later he published his second book, Playing with Trains: A Passion beyond Scale. Part personal memoir, part reflection on the hobby of model railroading, the book is a "touching tribute" to the pastime, according to Lawrence R. Maxted in the Library Journal. Playing with Trains discusses the business side of model railroading as well. A Publishers Weekly writer recommended it as a "joyful combination of memoir, cultural history and love letter."

Posey once told CA: "I write in longhand on yellow legal pads, very slowly, and I dread it. Mostly I write about my experiences in racing. Without my writing I would have gone down in racing history as a mediocre driver, easily forgotten. Now I'll be remembered as a mediocre driver."