On March 4, 1928, 199 men lined up in Los Angeles, California, to
participate in a 3,400-mile transcontinental footrace to New York
City. The Bunion Derby, as the press dubbed the event, was the
brainchild of sports promoter Charles C. Pyle. He promised a
$25,000 grand prize and claimed the competition would immortalize
U.S. Highway Route 66, a 2,400-mile road, mostly unpaved, that
subjected the runners to mountains, deserts, mud, and sandstorms,
from Los Angeles to Chicago.
The runners represented all walks of American life from
immigrants to millionaires, with a peppering of star international
athletes included by Pyle for publicity purposes. For eighty-four
days, the men participated in this part footrace and part Hollywood
production that incorporated a road show featuring football legend
Red Grange, food concessions, vaudeville acts, sideshows, a
portable radio station, and the world's largest coffeepot sponsored
by Maxwell House serving ninety gallons of coffee a day.
Drawn by hopes for a better future and dreams of fame, fortune,
and glory, the bunioneers embarked on an exhaustive and grueling
journey that would challenge their physical and psychological
endurance to the fullest while Pyle struggled to keep his
cross-country road show afloat.
"In a wild grab for glory, a cast of nobodies saw hope in the
dust: blacks who escaped the poverty and terror of the Old South;
first-generation immigrants with their mother tongue thick on their
lips; Midwest farm boys with leather-brown tans. These men were the
'shadow runners, ' men without fame, wealth, or sponsors, who came
to Los Angeles to face the world's greatest runners and race
walkers. This was a formidable field of pastOlympic champions and
professional racers that should have discouraged sane men from
thinking they could win a transcontinental race to New York. Yet
they came, flouting the odds. Charley Pyle's offer of free food and
lodging to anyone who would take up the challenge opened the race
to men of limited means. For some, it was a cry from the psyche of
no-longer-young men, seeking a last grasp at greatness or a summons
to do the impossible. This pulled men on the wrong side of thirty
from blue-collar jobs and families."--from the Preface
"No writer 'owns' a swath of history the way Chuck Kastner
'owns' the wildly crazy C. C. Pyle Bunion Derbies. The inaugural
race was a truly American epic: from its massive scope to the fact
that it was dominated by a handful of second-rate runners who
decided there was no future in continuing in the underdog role.
Chuck's book makes you want to schedule your next vacation for
Route 66, there to relive the zaniness and heroics of 1928."--Rich
Benyo, editor, "Marathon & Beyond" Magazine
"What made "Bunion Derby" an outstanding read for me is twofold:
it is about a piece of American history that is today almost
unknown. One web site has a fascinating history of it, and there
have been a few articles here and there, but for the most part it
has disappeared from written history. Why? There is so much that it
represents--the character and strength that was an American virtue;
the opportunistic hucksterism that defined this country;
individuals conquering extraordinary physical and emotional
difficulties, petty jealousies, cheating, political and financial
agendas, and creating for themselves a personal challenge that
each--whether he dropped out or completedthe race--in his own way
won. This is one of those books that should be discovered by every
reader who appreciates solid research, writing worth reading and a
fantastic story. How many ways can I say that it is one every
reader of BiblioBuffet should pick up as soon as possible. "Bunion
Derby" has my highest recommendation."--"BibioBuffet"
""Bunion Derby's" narrative arc transcends the academic approach
one would expect from a university press."--Philip Damon, on the
Peace Corps Writers website
"We think ["Bunion Derby"] would make a great holiday gift for
any of your running or history-minded friends, but get one for
yourself, too. It's a great read."--"Northwest Runner"
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