Motorcycle racing books

I have both of the superbike 90 and 91 books by gary pinchin and kel edge

some great photos I have to say

The 91 edition I have has  the photos of the top 10 and the world champ page (Raymond Roche) all signed by the riders

I only know of 1 other copy that was signed by all, as i took both copies around the paddock for myself and adrian gorst who has been a race engineer with honda britain for some years now, but in 91 we were Terry Rymers engineers for the Loctite team

I wonder if they will be worth anything in later years?

It's been a while since I caught up with the forum. It looks as interesting as ever with lots of lively chat - all conducted in the best traditions of the forum - robust but polite.

I published my book on Kim Newcombe and it sells steadily over here in New Zealand and has enjoyed good reviews. I have sent a few over to Europe - I even had a young French guy turn up at the old farmhouse I live in in Lumsden to pick up as many as he could carry back home. However I have yet to find a distributor in the UK. There are a few guys on the Forum who have read it and maybe if they enjoyed it they could post something about it. The book weighs a hefty 1.6 kilos so it is prohibitively expensive to mail individually. I was thinking however that if there were a few ordered I could sea freight a consignment for one individual to distribute. The cost here is NZ$50 a book but I would offer the forum a deal of $NZ40 plus freight and of course the cost of local postage.

Regards to all 

Tim Hanna

There's a new Kevin Cameron book out, looks promising and reasonably priced.


Claims to cover eight decades of race engines from the 1930s Guzzi 120deg v-twin through to the latest Yamaha YZR M1.

Also I see Julian Ryder has nabbed a swag of b&w pics of GP racing in the 1950s from our own esteemed Twinny and will be poking a publication out before too long.

 

I too have a book about fourstrokes. It came with my lawnmower

 

Agree about Regs Everetts book. I'm on my third read.

 

If you fancy something a bit more on the 'Eastenders' side of life try book about Alan Carter. Some larger than life characters not at least big Mal.

I too have a book about fourstrokes. It came with my lawnmower

Edited by fil2.8, 03 November 2013 - 09:43.

Nice one !

However to combat your four-stroke phobias there are 17 chapters on two-strokes included...

I took  the Stephen Davison "Between The Hedges" book away on holiday and enjoyed it, includes a tribute at the front to Clifford McLean's work, so several eras are covered. Well written with lovingly-shot images.

Edited by GD66, 09 November 2013 - 00:44.

 I have sent a few over to Europe - I even had a young French guy turn up at the old farmhouse I live in in Lumsden to pick up as many as he could carry back home. 

 

Hello Tim - Good to know that "the young fench guy" managed to get to get to your place in Lumsden, and that the deal was done, because after having put people in contact I suddenly didn't hear anything anymore from his father or the other recipients of the book ! Oh well... Regarding comments about your book, may I point readers to this dedicated thread on this forum

http://forums.autosport.com/topic/138938-the-kiwi-on-the-konig/#entry4807208

Edited by philippe7, 09 November 2013 - 09:44.

That would have been an enlightening evening, Tim. Any word on the release of Hugh Anderson's book ?

Went to a fantastic dinner for motorsport geysers last weekend. (To qualify you had to have won a championship on or in something with an engine - I was the PR guy) It was held at the very glamorous

 

Tim

 

Tim.

 

I must get your book. I was marshalling at Silverstone that weekend. Having raced a bike (Crescent) with a hydroplane engine I know the frustrations of trying to develop and race something unusual, not with Kims success but I did win two major club championships on mine.

 

However as a New Zealand journo you should be aware that geysers are concerned with hydrothermal heating 'raver than blokes what raced bikes' to pronounce 'geezer' proper see the youtube advert, not that I am promoting betting. (16 seconds in)

 

'London Geezer'

 

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=9C8gW9P4R_w

 

'New Zealand Geyser'

 

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=CLkLI5eATfE

 

cheers

 

Tony

 

Still I have a link with New Zealand racing - I own one of the few Frepin Framed Yamaha TZs built by Fred McLean

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by tonyed, 11 November 2013 - 18:47.

Just bought Casey Stoner pushing the limits biography new for £4.99 its £10.99 on Amazon, result!!

Although I am  big fan, someone really needs to sit Casey down and explain to him the difference between first and third person singular, as you'll see Gra...

I have placed an order for the new Jan Burgers book, looks very promising.

Was Caseys book ghost written Glenn? Somehow I cant see him having done it himself? Any way for just under a fiver I'm happy.

Have you a link to Jan Burgers book please? love his photography.

Try this , mine's ordered     

                                                      info@mastixpress.nl

Have a look at www.mastixpress.nl     or www.classicgp.nl

Sorry can't help with a sample pic but I can't get any links to work with the new, improved imageshack so that's that for me, pic-wise.

Jan's book looks great, due out any day now.

Edited by GD66, 28 November 2013 - 22:58.

How much is it with postage Phil?

Did you see I posted your pic earlier today Glenn?

Glenn when you post pics & hit post is the page blank just with any comments you have made showing? if yes hit the refresh icon along top bar of your pc as my pics don't show when first posted I have to hit refresh for some reason & there they are!!

How much is it with postage Phil?

41.4 Euros 

OK ta Phil.

I had a great conversation with Hugh Anderson yesterday and we talked about his long awaited book. Hugh told me that he has completed the manuscript and that he is self publishing the book in his home town - Hamilton. It was clear that Hugh has attacked this work with the same fierce and all consuming dedication he applied to racing and given Hugh's undoubted ability to tell stories and entertain I anticipate a highly readable and quite personal account of his life. The book is titled "Being There'. Hugh explained that he chose that title because from the first moment he picked up a motorcycle magazine and read about motorcycle racing he just wanted to be there and to be a part of it. Right now Hugh is going through the final stages of editing and designing the book which will be printed some time next year.

Edited by timhanna, 07 December 2013 - 22:48.

Thanks for sharing, Tim. Hugh is extremely intelligent and has astonishing recall, so for us mere mortals it was always a treat to call into Whites Yamaha in Hamilton when he was a salesman there in the 1970s and steer him onto the topic of GP racing, not that he needed much prodding. His long-awaited book should be very interesting, however like Don Cox's wonderful tome has the unfortunate side-effect that because of the content being based upon happenings from 50 years ago, a large proportion of its potential target audience have shuffled off.

I can recall from those times that while Jim Redman was recognised as being the major protagonist and instigator in terms of getting the riders much better respect and prize money from the race organisers, and salaries from the factories, that Hugh Anderson wasn't far behind and was reckoned to be #3 in earnings behind Redman and Hailwood, not a bad effort for a coal-miner from Huntly...

You are right about the passing of race fans who knew something about Hugh's exploits first hand but I am not sure this means that the interest is not there among younger riders - particularly racers. There seems to be any number of young guys who love racing old bikes as well as the brand new stuff. I think GP racing is so special it is timeless. At least I hope so!

It is to us, Tim, but I fear the magic of GP history is wasted on the arguing, petulant, intolerant Gen Y forum dwellers of today, for whom history means very little.

We should live in hope, but after years of hanging in there keeping the lantern burning, I fear the worst... how many young kiwi racers are aware of the exploits of Noel McCutcheon, Russell Wright, Peter Murphy, Rod Coleman, John Hempleman, Ken Mudford, Peter Pawson, Ray Breingan, Molloy, Turner, even Geoff Perry ?  How many are aware Crafar and Dennis Ireland won 500cc GPs ?Once the NZCMRR mob, now coming up for their 35th festival, have passed on, things will dwindle away, I fear. Enjoy it while you can.

Edited by GD66, 19 December 2013 - 11:54.

Once the NZCMRR mob, now coming up for their 35th festival, have passed on, things will dwindle away, I fear. Enjoy it while you can.

I live in hope that the NZCMRR continue to support the "old" brigade with the pre 63 bikes, and to also embrace the next generation of GP bikes of the Geoff Perry, Ray Dumpleton,, Graeme Crosby, Simon Crafar,etc  era.

Having a "Marlboro Series" class might be the next group step for the NZCMRR as the anniverary of this race series didn't really get celebrated the way it deserved

The Barry Sheene Challenge is along these lines and goes further with the eligibilty dates up to pre 89/90

There's still time, it will be 40 years on December 29th. But the NZCMRR adhere to a "no jap ****" policy...mostly, until they need an injection of funds, then it is politely overlooked...

It is to us, Tim, but I fear the magic of GP history is wasted on the arguing, petulant, intolerant Gen Y forum dwellers of today, for whom history means very little.
 
We should live in hope, but after years of hanging in there keeping the lantern burning, I fear the worst... how many young kiwi racers are aware of the exploits of Noel McCutcheon, Russell Wright, Peter Murphy, Rod Coleman, John Hempleman, Ken Mudford, Peter Pawson, Ray Breingan, Molloy, Turner, even Geoff Perry ?  How many are aware Crafar and Dennis Ireland won 500cc GPs ?Once the NZCMRR mob, now coming up for their 35th festival, have passed on, things will dwindle away, I fear. Enjoy it while you can.

There's also Chris Pereira's new book, Motorcycle GP Racing in the 1960s

It's here http://tinyurl.com/nrqb5u2 and here http://tinyurl.com/qgdjtf6

Hadn't heard that about the delay Phil, but I had noticed it had all gone very quiet.

Fingers crossed...

One I can definitely recommend is Don Cox's "Continental Circus", about the Australian privateers who raced at small non-WC meetings in Europe in the 1950's:
 

Edited by Graham Clayton, 15 April 2014 - 12:19.

Popped into "The Works" (stationary/books store) in my town today, where they seem to have a permanent closing down sale!

Came out with two interesting racing books at knockdown prices.

"The Fast Stuff" by Mat Oxley - 480-page paperback, which on a flick through, looks very entertaining. £1-99 (reduced from £9.99). 

"Road Racers" by Stephen Davidson - 144-page hardback of amazing colour photographs depicting modern-day "pure road" racing (Mainly Irish and TT racing). This really is SUPERB! £5.99 (reduced from £17.99).

Edited by knickerbrook, 21 April 2015 - 14:46.

Always a bargain in "The Works" we have one & it always has a perpetual everything must go sale on, I got a few bargains couple of years a go including Grand Prix Motorcycle & a couple of BSB year review books on the Haynes publishing label.

What's the best for a total beginner?

Thanks... I am a complete rookie on the 2-wheels scene, my historical work is mostly related to cars, both race and rallye

Hi GMiranda, if you're interested in catching up on the historical side of things the Motocourse 50 years edition will be a good starting point, it'll take you from the very beginnings of racing up to the late 90s.

Its got a good run down decade by decade and a results section compiling all the races and riders points, for a bloke like me who got into the sport in 1978 it was a godsend in catching up with the earlier stuff I missed.

Many Thanks. I«'ll have to look for it, but it doesn't seem a cheap book

As with Autocourse, Motocourses (and attendant "specials") are the bee's knees. But not generally cheap for the OOP ones.

A good nick, first edition 1976 can got for £400+.

Good luck, ask anything here, you'll get a reply in great detail normally!

Many Thanks!!!!! Indeed I had expected it!! Thet are really valuable books.

It couldn't load properly.

There's also Chris Pereira's new book, Motorcycle GP Racing in the 1960s
It's here http://tinyurl.com/nrqb5u2 and here http://tinyurl.com/qgdjtf6

Despite the author´s woeful lack of writing skills, I did enjoy Jim´s book, as his tale is quite riveting. What I did find a bit unfortunate however, was his unreserved disclosure of his family affairs, and his very public humiliation of his brother, which left Peter´s reputation in tatters.
I´ve always liked and respected Jim, but that was way below the belt, and totally uncalled for IMO.

I rarely read a book a second time but I have started on Jim Redman's autobiography again. I haven't come across his "woeful lack of writing skills" so far and still find his story telling fascinating. Perhaps a few "John and me" instead of "John and I" but nothing worse than that. I am keen to get hold of a copy of Hugh Anderson's book but nobody here in the UK appears to stock it.

(Later) It's OK. I have located Hugh's email address.

Edited by Paul Rochdale, 22 June 2015 - 21:53.

Just bought Casey Stoner pushing the limits biography new for £4.99 its £10.99 on Amazon, result!!

Did you finish the book or fall asleep after the ooooooppppppppppeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnnniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip..................................

Luckily for Mr Stonebrain it wasn't published on a record label like (Lackof)Charisma. Makes Lady Hamilton, or whatever her name is look like 'all the fun of the fair' 

Whatever happened to the real 'characters of racing'? Can you imagine todays moaning minnies traipsing around the 'continont of Urope' in a 1940s ex-butchers van?

I know I am old fart and hanker after the 'good old days' when you didn't have to be Einstein to set up an engine, or have the financial backing of the IMF to go club racing but apart from the GOAT and Guy Martin the rest seem about as lively as a weekend in Skegness.

It must be an age thing. I don't like any music post 1980, I don't like digital, I don't understand young people, anyone who says 'cool' to everything I want to strangle.  

Try explaining to yoof of today that NO 'Britain Doesn't Have Talent' but 'Britain DID HAVE Talent' and what do you get, a look of 'F off Grandad, go and fight WW2 again against the Darleks'.

I despair - knowing full well that my Granddad never thought that about me.   

Oh well enough of this I'm off he tallow the wheels on me bath chair    

Edited by tonyed, 22 June 2015 - 16:17.

Cool ;-)

I shall not rise to this bait.

In hospital recently for some post op tests I re-read 'Rocker to Racer' yet again. I think for many ex-club/national standard racers it epitomises (well at least to me) the trials and tribulations of the sport that made us into what we are today - impecunious physical wrecks    

Isn't life amazing? After discussing Hugh Anderson's latest autobiography, I bought a copy from NZ online and two days later discovered Hugh was attending the classic bike show on Romney Marsh. I rode down, met Hugh and had a fascinating chat with the great man. Four times World Champion and an MBE no less. Sadly my book which is winging it's way from the far side of the World won't be signed but Hugh did sign a nice image I printed off Google Images.