Top Automotive Authors to Appear at Petersen Automotive Museum Book Fair

Enthusiasts, historians, and gear heads will have the opportunity to meet their favorite automotive authors as they learn about the history of the automobile and its impact on our life and culture from a variety of perspectives. Authors on hand will have their latest books available for purchase. Get started on your holiday shopping early this year with a book for that auto enthusiast in your life!

The Automotive Authors Book Fair will be open to the public and included in the regular price of admission to the museum. Authors in attendance will include Matt Stone, Steve Lehto, Phil Noyes, John Heitmann, Darwyn Lumley, Randy Leffingwell, David Newhardt, Richard Adatto, Michael Furman, Margery Krevsky, Norm DeWitt, Mike Grulett, Drew Hardin, Wallace Wyss, and Michael Herrington. Author introductions and presentations from 2-3 p.m.; book signing from 3-5 p.m.

About the Authors
Richard Adatto is one of the world's leading experts on French aerodynamic cars produced before the onset of the Second World War. Mr. Adatto has parlayed this expertise into the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where he has been a lead judge for over 20 years. He has authored the books, From Passion to Perfection: The Story of French Streamlined Styling, 1930-1939, Delahaye Styling and Design, with Diana Meredith, and French Curves II.

Michael Furman's life-long love of photography has led to a thirty year professional career working for top automotive clients, magazines and books. Michael's specialty is in studio lighting and shooting pre-war coachbuilt classics. He has released many books throughout the years to critical acclaim, including his 2010 release The Art of the Bugatti.

Pat Ganahl is a self-described hot rod archaeologist who dares do ask the question: Where have all the famous hot rods gone? Now he's written a book cataloging nearly 100 remarkable stories of the greatest vintage rods, and the people who collect them, Lost Hot Rods: Remarkable Stories of How They Were Found. A Californian native, Ganahl has been the past editor of publications such as Hot Rod, Rod & Custom, Street Rodder , and the Rodder's Journal. He will also be signing copies of his critically acclaimed book The American Custom Car.

Michael Harrington took a beginning photography class for "fun" which steered him into a successful career as an automotive journalist and photographer for Super Chevy magazine. These days he is back to freelance photography, starting his own company Automotive Photography. His book Rusty Pickups: American Workhorses Put to Pasture showcases his exquisite photography.

John Heitmann is a historian of science and technology and former chemist, who joined the faculty at the University of Dayton in 1983, where he is currently a professor of history. After years about writing on historical topics of little direct interest to him, John now writes on automobiles, the road, and anything that connects to his life in the present and past. His book The Automobile and American Life is the story of how the essence of life in America changed because of the widespread adoption of the automobile.

Margery Krevsky co-founded the Productions Plus agency in 1981, one of the major players in training talent for auto shows. Her book, Sirens of Chrome, traces the story of auto models from short shorts to business attire, and is filled with terrific photography from the industry's history.

Randy Leffingwell has more than 30 books in print, primarily on Americana subjects. Randy has had a successful career as a photojournalist for the Kansas City Timesand Chicago Sun-Times . He then worked as associate editor at AutoWeek magazine in Detroit before being hired by the Los Angeles Times as a writer/photographer. His newest work The Complete Book of Porsche 911 provides a model-by-model overview for each year of the 911's production, from the original 901 prototype to the current models.

Steve Lehto is a writer, practicing attorney and has taught both law and history. His book Chrysler's Turbine Car: The Rise and Fall of Detroit's Coolest Creation was named a Michigan Notable Book for 2011. Lehto is from southeast Michigan.

Darwyn Lumley is a member of the Society of Automotive Historians. He has written for a number of automotive publications and lives in Vista, California. His 2009 book Breaking the Banks in Motor City tells the relatively unknown story of how the Detroit automobile industry played a major role in the 1933 banking crisis and the subsequent New Deal reforms that drastically changed the financial industry.

David Newhardt has earned a reputation as one of today's leading muscle car authors and photographers. He has published numerous books about the exciting performance machines that Detroit and Dearborn produced during the golden age of muscle. He has worked for scores of magazines including Automobile, AutoWeek, Sports Car International and Motor Trend.

Phil Noyes is a producer of the popular PBS series California's Gold. Phil Noyes' book Trailer Travel: A Visual History of Mobile America showcases the rich visual history of America's enduring fascination with life on the road. Beautifully reproduced color and black-and-white images culled from public archives and the private collections of passionate trailerites vividly document the travel trailer's storied past.

Matt Stone is a freelance journalist, author, broadcaster, and former Editor of Motor Trend Classic magazine. He has been a professional automotive journalist / photographer since 1990. He has authored and photographed ten automotive book titles with more in process, and is a member of SPEED television network's Barrett-Jackson auction broadcast team.

Ed Justice Jr. is a 40-year veteran in the automotive and racing fields. As the son of Ed Justice, one of the famed Justice Brothers, Ed has spent his life around legends of the industry, and because of this is an acknowledged expert and historian in the field. Ed is a regular contributor to MSNBC and serves as Master of Ceremonies for several automotive events across the country. Ed Justice, Jr and Justice Brothers have published a limited edition book by Tom Madigan, The Chrisman Legacy: Always Faster -the story of the Chrismans, an all-American family who revolutionized racing.

Norm DeWitt is a life-long motorcycle racing fan and has written about motorcycles and racing for many national magazines. His book, Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes, provides the history of American riders in Grand Prix motorcycle road racing, culminating in Americans winning 13 premier class World Championships from 1978 to 1993, continuing up to the present with 2006 Champion Nicky Hayden, Ben Spies, and Colin Edwards.

Mike Gulett writes about classic cars, race cars, other cars that interests him and the people who made or drove those cars. Gulett's new book, European Style with American Muscle, profiles 25 marques which combine the sleek and sexy forms of European sports cars with the reliable grunt of an American V-8.

Drew Hardin is a freelance writer/editor/photographer who specializes in automotive journalism of all kinds, from traditional hot rodding to four-wheel drives. During his nearly 30-year career he's been the editor of several magazines, including Hot Rod, Hop Up, Muscle Car Review, 4-Wheel & Off-Road and Sport Truck, and contributed to quite a few more.

Wallace Wyss' first career was in advertising copywriting, working on the Chevrolet account where he wrote ads for Corvettes and Camaros, Chevelles and Novas. His first book was published in 1977, Shelby's Wildlife: the Cobras and the Mustangs which sold 50,000 copies during its 17 years in print. Wallace calls his new novel "Ferrari Hunters" the world's first Ferrari detective novel.

The Petersen Automotive Museum is located at 6060 Wilshire Boulevard (at Fairfax) in Los Angeles. Admission prices are $10 for general admission adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for military and students with ID, and $3 for children ages 5 to 12. Museum members and children under five are admitted free. Covered parking is available for $2 per half hour with an $8 maximum for Museum visitors. Museum hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 6pm. For general Museum information, call 323/930-CARS or visit the Museum's Web site at: www.petersen.org.