Vintage paperback. It is a story of teenage angst in the late 50's. The guys in school who owned the hot rods were the kings of the social strata, until a new kid came to town with a very ominous looking hot rod. Painted on the shield of the Continental kit cover was a picture and the words, "Aut Vinceri, Aut Mori." The daily ritual for the boys was the morning block-to-block drag races. When they saw the new kid's car and wondered if he raced, one of the boys interpreted the writing. When they learned the translation was "Either to conquer or to die," one of the guys says, "He drags. He drags." Pretty good story for anyone, especially teenage boys interested in cars.
The car books for boys (mainly) were morality tales that often dealt with serious issues like the terrible injuries that car accidents can cause, and even death. These were wake-up calls for auto safety and responsibility. But they were also entertaining. They showed that life for young teenagers in small towns (as are so common around Iowa and the mid-western USA) needs an offset from dull routine.
