Mick Walker's British Racing Motorcycles (Redline Motorcycles) [Paperback]

Mick Walker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2000 | Series: Redline Motorcycles

Due to the demand from motorcycle enthusiasts, Mick Walker has teamed up with Redline Books to reprint his series of six Racing Motorcycle books. First to be published is Mick Walker's British Racing Motorcycles, but it is nothing like the original book published in 1990. This new edition is a high quality, 208 page book, which has been extensively updated and completely redesigned in a style which breaks the mould of motorcycle marque history book design. The text is typical of Mick Walker's detailed, yet entertaining style, and with over 400 photographs in colour and black and white, many of them previously unpublished, the book offers a wealth of information. It is both a work of reference and an enjoyable read. Models covered include the AJS Porcupine and R7, The BSA Gold Star, Manx Norton, Norton Commando and Rotary, Matchless G45 and G50, the Rocket 3 and Trident and many more, including a section on 'specials' and the garden shed engineers who developed their own exotic machinery for competition. Mick Walker's Italian Racing Motorcycles, the second book in the series, was published in November 1998. It follows a similar style, with twice as much text as in the original edition and over 800 pictures. Other titles will cover German, European, Japanese and American.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Avid readers, like myself, will recognise the title and realise that British Racing Motorcycles as a reprint of Classic British Racing Motorcycles. Don't be put off, the resemblance between the original and this latest version is limited! Over 80% of the new edition is totally new, including additional text and new photographs. However, for me what made the book stand apart from what went before is the thought that has gone into the layout and design... Many established book publishers could learn something from the layout and design, which coupled with Mick Walker's informed writing make the 208 page British Racing Motorcycles good value at 20. -- Old Bike Mart, April 1998

It's every bit a typical Mick Walker book: a very readable set of stories of thirteen chapters, covering the AJS 7R to the Velocette Thruxton, including along the way, the BSA 'Goldie', the JPS Nortons, the Triumph GP and lots of others. There's colour strategically placed through the book and lots of cross-section drawings, to say nothing of the lots of pictures in black and white. One thing that appealed to me was the clean design and easy-to-read layout. This is one well worth putting on to your early Christmas list and there are more titles to come in the same series. -- The Vintage Motor Cycle, October 1998

It's packed with pictures, all incorporated into a well-designed 200-odd pages (sorry to go on about it but it really is different). Great looks, great read. What more can I say - except to mention that I'm really looking forward to seeing the rest of the range when it is published. -- Classic Racer, May/June 1998

There is a lot more here than just a long list of the racing machines themselves. What I found more fascinating was the glimpse into a vanished world of competition, a world where motorcycle team owners and sponsors not only prepared the bikes for their riders, but often modified them and developed them in ways which are just not seen today... Redline Publishing are to be congratulated for bringing this, the first in a new series, to market. The book is very well laid out, is printed on good heavy paper and comes with a staggering arry of illustrations. -- Classic Bike Guide, April 1998

There's a good mix of technical information, competition history, and manufacturing background. However much or little you already know about British road race bikes, there will be plenty of interest. --Classic Bike, May 1998

About the Author

Mick Walker is an enthusiast of all forms of motorcycle sport. He has been a successful competitor and has helped many to Triumph with his profound knowledge of tuning. There is virtually no aspect of the business in which Mick has not been active at some point, and that includes being an importer of Italian race-bred machines. Today, he heads a thriving company that specialises in the supply of spare parts to Ducati owners and racers around the world. Mick has ridden a variety of racers, including an AJS 7R, Manx Norton, Greeves Silverstone, a brace of BSA Gold Stars, various Ducatis and even 50 and 125cc Hondas.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Redline Books; 2nd edition (January 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0953131106
• ISBN-13: 978-0953131105
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,136,421 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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