This is the compelling story of how one of Japan’s biggest motorcycle manufacturers stole a Nazi rocket scientist’s engine secrets from behind the Iron Curtain to conquer the world. In 1961, with the Cold War at its height, East German motorcycle manufacturer MZ was using World War II rocket technology to win Grands Prix, only for rider Ernst Degner to defect and sell the secrets to Suzuki, while his wife and children were drugged and smuggled through the Berlin Wall. The following year Suzuki and Degner made history by winning the world title. Branded a traitor by the communists, Degner suffered horrific injuries in a fiery racing accident and died in mysterious circumstances.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
This is the compelling story of how one of Japan’s biggest motorcycle manufacturers stole a Nazi rocket scientist’s engine secrets from behind the Iron Curtain to conquer the world. In 1961, with the Cold War at its height, East German motorcycle manufacturer MZ was using World War II rocket technology to win Grands Prix, only for rider Ernst Degner to defect and sell the secrets to Suzuki, while his wife and children were drugged and smuggled through the Berlin Wall. The following year Suzuki and Degner made history by winning the world title. Branded a traitor by the communists, Degner suffered horrific injuries in a fiery racing accident and died in mysterious circumstances.
About the Author
A former motorcycle racer and Isle of Man TT winner, Mat Oxley has been writing about bike racing for more than two decades and is the author of Haynes’ acclaimed biography of Mick Doohan. He lives in London.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stealing Speed,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Stealing Speed: The biggest spy scandal in motorsport history (Hardcover)
A excellent book! I cannot believe this story is not more well known and written about. The story about Ernst Degner is amazing and full of twist and turns, this book should be made into a movie. I enjoyed the story about Walter Kaaden, it makes me appreciate what a great man he really was and receives so little recognition still to this day for his dedication to the advancement of the 2 stroke engine. This book is a fast moving story that I did not want to put down until I was finished. Matt Oxley is a fine writer and gives insight that only a motorcycle racer could, especially when describing the racing action at the Isle of Mann TT.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful!,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Stealing Speed: The biggest spy scandal in motorsport history (Hardcover)
Any motorcycle racing fan who lived through the fifties to the eighties should be interested in this book. A wonderful look behind the scenes of the mighty battles being raged while we were just enjoying the races. This book was needed to leave witness to the history of a sport that concerned not only stealing speed, but also stealing freedom, betrayal, and living a sport which kept the riders on the edge of death, and indeed took away the lives of many great racers.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Rest of the Story,
By Gerald G. Grafstrom "Gerry G." (Lake Alfred, FL) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Stealing Speed: The Biggest Spy Scandal in Motorsport History (Paperback)
I grew up during the 50s and 60s. I got my first motorcycle in 1967. I've worked on Suzukis professionally since 1974 and even worked for American Suzuki as a service rep from 1981 through 1996. I now teach in the Suzuki program at Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in Orlando. Yet, even with all that background. most of this story was new to me. I don't find it surprising as the Japanese are masters of copying, refining and improving ideas. Who knew that the 2-strokes we rode and loved in the 70s had their origin in Hitler's "buzz bombs?" This book is a must for any fan/student of early Japanese motorcycles and GP racing in the 60s. It ranks right up there with the story of Kim Newcombe and the Konig. ([...]) Definitely a must read for any serious fan of the era. It's not that thick a book, but packs a lot of history into a few pages.
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