100 Years of the Isle of Man TT


Book Description

Run over the everyday roads of the Isle of Man for over 100 years, the world-famous Tourist Trophy races have gripped the imaginations of successive generations of motorcyclists. From the earliest days of single-speed, belt-driven machines delivering 5 bhp, to the highly developed projectiles of today offering a fearsome 200 bhp, race fans have thronged the roadside banks and watched in awe as the best racing motorcyclists in the world rode the fastest machines of their day around the twists, turns and climbs of the 374 mile Mountain Course, all in pursuit of a coveted Tourist Trophy. This new updated edition covering the 2007 - 2012 races, reveals the event's colourful history through the high-speed activities of great riders such as the Collier brothers, Geoff Duke, Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini, Steve Hislop, Joey Dunlop, John McGuinness and many others. It also looks at the machines and mechanical developments and race organisation, plus the financial rewards and commercial interests; setting them all in the context of the triumphs and tragedies of a great sporting event that has seen average lap speeds rise from 40 mph to over 130 mph. Written in an easy style, this book reveals the Manx TT's colourful history through its great riders, machines, mechanical developments and race organisation and is superbly illustrated with over 250 colour photographs.




Isle of Man TT: the Photographic History


Book Description

An authoritative illustrated record of the rich history of the world's most famous motorcycle road race series. Written by acclaimed motorcycle racing authors Bill Snelling and Michael Scott, with a foreword by Isle of Man TT legend John McGuinness, this beautiful book celebrates the Isle of Man TT, the ultimate motorcycle road racing. The 37 miles of the 200-bend Snaefell Mountain Course witnesses riders hurtling around a circuit which is terrifying to ride, but where the action is always spectacular and hair-raising for racers and specators alike. The exploits of the great TT champions, such as Joey Dunlop, Mike Hailwood, John Surtees, Giacomo Agostini and John McGuinness, are legendary and Isle of Man TT: Photographic History through 150 magnificent photographs brilliantly captures the spirit, excitement and danger of one of the oldest and most revered events in world motorsport.




Between the Hedges


Book Description

A record of the last 40 years of motorcycle road racing.




Road Racer


Book Description

Michael Dunlop has a reputation for being the wild man of TT - often mercurial and outright dangerous. However,Road Racer reveals his emotional, human journey, taking the reader beyond the story of the sporting career of this aggressive and tenacious competitor.




Mike Hailwood


Book Description

Mike Hailwood has often been described as motorcycling's greatest rider. A superb all-around rider, Hailwood took eight world titles in the 250cc, 350cc and 500cc classes. This lavishly illustrated volume contains coverage of the British Championships and early Continental races in 1959 and 1960; riding for MV Agusta and Honda in 1960-61; back with Honda and four more world titles, 1966-68; BSA and the American Daytona classic, 1970-71; plus his incredible comeback in 1978 winning the Isle of Man TT on a Ducati and winning the Senior TT title on a Suzuki. Foreword by Giacomo Agostini. Hardbound, 10" x 10", 208 pages, 225 b&w illustrations, 16 color pages




Hutchy - Miracle Man


Book Description

Ian Hutchinson – ‘Hutchy’ to his many thousands of fans – is a motorcycle racer like few others. A road racer to the core, he has enjoyed spectacular success, notably at the Isle of Man TT, but his own story goes far beyond even those triumphs. In the summer of 2010, Hutchy set the record for most wins in a single TT festival – five in all – having already won the Supersport class at the North West 200 in Northern Ireland. Then disaster struck. At a British Supersport round at Silverstone in September that year, he crashed heavily and was struck by another rider’s machine, breaking his left leg so badly that at one stage it was feared it might have to be amputated. After many surgical operations and a long period of recovery, he fractured the same leg in 2012 while practising exhibition-riding for a motorcycle show. Yet not even these disasters could keep the Yorkshireman from racing. After modifications to the rear-brake and gear levers on his race machines, he went out and won the 2013 Macau Grand Prix. Two years later saw an even more staggering return to form, when he secured three wins, a second and a third place at the 2015 Isle of Man TT, also winning the Joey Dunlop TT Championship Trophy for that year. And 2016 was to prove even better. Honest, brave and quirkily amusing, Hutchy: Miracle Man presents Hutchy’s own accounts and opinions with those of various celebrated figures from the world of motorcycle racing. It is a book not only for fans of road racing, but for anyone interested in the life and career of a brilliant rider and an extraordinarily brave and enduring man, justly popular not just for his achievements, but for his unassuming modesty, kindness and humour.







A History of the Sidecar TT Races, 1923-2023


Book Description

Celebrates a century of sidecar racing at the Isle of Man TT, highlighting technical innovation and the dominance of iconic teams like BMW, BSA, Yamaha, and Honda. The Isle of Man TT is arguably the most historic motorsport event on the planet. Its 37 ¾ mile Mountain Course is the world’s oldest racing circuit that is still in use. Three wheeled machines first appeared in 1923, and were an instant hit with the spectators. Early pioneer Fred Dixon set the standard for technical innovation with his banking sidecar, but lack of manufacturer support meant that the class was soon dropped. When sidecar outfits made a comeback at the TT in the 1950s, it was West German BMW machines which dominated the podium places. The Munich factory supported World Championship contenders such as Max Deubel, Georg Auerbacher and Siegfried Schauzu, and it was not until the late 60s that BSA-mounted British riders began a fight-back. Through the 1970s Yamaha two stoke engines were the weapon of choice at the TT, and powered the likes of World Champions George O’Dell and Jock Taylor; that is until Mick Boddice secured the support of Honda UK. Boddice battled it out with the rising young star Dave Molyneux, who would go on to dominate the sidecar TT over three decades as the most successful driver in the history of the event. In recent years the pace at the TT has been set by the electrifying World Championship duo of Ben and Tom Birchall. Sidecar Century celebrates the technical innovation and sheer determination of all of these competitors, over 100 years of classic racing.




Giacomo Agostini


Book Description

This title, written by Mick Walker, provides an insight into the life of motorycle racing champion, Giacomo Agostini.




Sox


Book Description

Gary 'Sox' Hocking raced against the likes of Geoff Duke, Mike Hailwood and John Surtees, and eventually became double world champion - yet his name remains largely forgotten. He retired at an early stage in his career, and the explanation so often given for this ultimately proved far removed from the real reason. Roger Hughes' fascinating book is a positive celebration of Hocking's life and career. Stories reveal how he went from riding a motorbike to work to becoming world champion - a riveting journey, made more so by being told by those who were close to him. Gary's decision to move to car racing because it was safer, only to then be killed in a car, makes for a tragic end to his tale. This book explores the many suggestions as to how the accident happened. With photos covering Hocking's early career racing Nortons in South Africa, through to his final motorcycle ride, at the 1962 Isle of Man TT - a win that was, in many ways, so important to him - this book is a fitting tribute to a forgotten champion.