This is the first volume of the two-volume autobiography of Colin Seeley, a famed British motorcycle racer and builder. The book is full of anecdotes, escapades, personalities and memorable descriptions on and off the track which give a fantastic insight into the racing and technical achievements over three great decades in motorcycling history.

There are some people who've done little. There are some people who've done a lot. There are others who've done more than that. Then there was Colin Seeley. He'd done more than pretty much everyone. Colin passed away just after his 84th birthday. He packed so much into his life, which began on January 2, 1936, when he was born in Kent, the only child of Percy and Hilda. By 20 Colin was running his own business, soon after he was racing, and just two years into his career, was a podium finisher at the IoM TT. Aged 30, he was a motorcycle manufacturer, then going on to all manner of other disciplines, including running car racing Formula One teams. Post that, he was a successful ace team manager and mentor to young riders, before going on to work for auctioneers Bonhams becoming one of the company's foremost and most trusted consultants. During recent years, Colin had been a popular figure at classic events far and wide, often demonstrating period machines, eyes twinkling and lips smiling, enduringly positive, endearingly modest, and always full of enthusiasm. He pretty much did it all.

The Routledge Companion to Automobile Heritage, Culture, and Preservation explores automotive heritage, its place in society, and the ways we might preserve and conserve it. Drawing on contributions from academics and practitioners around the world and comprising six sections, this volume carries the heritage discourse forward by exploring the complex and sometimes intricate place of automobiles within society. Taken as a whole, this book helps to shape how we think about automobile heritage and considers how that heritage explores a range of cultural, intellectual, emotional, and material elements well outside of the automobile body itself. Most importantly, perhaps, it questions how we might better acknowledge the importance of automotive heritage now and in the future. The Routledge Companion to Automobile Heritage, Culture, and Preservation is unique in that it juxtaposes theory with practice, academic approaches with practical experience, and recognizes that issues of preservation and conservation belong in a broad context. As such, this volume should be essential reading for both academics and practitioners with an interest in automobiles, cultural heritage, and preservation.

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.

This unique and highly personal account of the motorsport scene from 1970 to the present day is packed with photographs, many previously unpublished, and detailed accounts of events on the factory floor as well as on the race track, including the fascinating recollections and insights concerning the almost unbeievable happenings which led to the sad demise of Norton. His involvement with Bernie Eccelstone and Brabham is recorded with honesty and integrity, and certainly makes interesting reading

Derek Minter started his racing career in 1953 on a BSA Gold Star. His early promise as an inexperienced youngster was very quickly fulfilled. After transferring to a couple of Nortons he soon became ‘King of Brands’, succeeding the famous John Surtees. After becoming double British Champion in 1958, two years later he became the first man to lap the Isle of Man TT circuit at over 100mph on a single cylinder bike. During 1962 he not only became triple British Champion, but also won the 250cc TT on a privately entered Honda-beating the might of the Honda works team in the process. Then in 1963 he rode for the Geoff Duke Scuderia Gilera squad and only a crash early in the season prevented him seriously challenging World Champion Mike Hailwood for the 500cc title. By 1965 he held the lap record for virtually every British short circuit. And by the time he retired at the end of 1967 had ridden for many manufactures, including MZ, Moto Morini, Bianchi, REG, EMC, Honda and Norton. Derek Minter: King of Brands is a fitting tribute to one of the world’s greatest ever motorcycle racing stars.

Any kind of competition breeds a desire to gain a performance advantage over the opposition, and motorcycle racing is no exception. Cutting-edge chassis design is a major factor in motorcycle performance, including that of fast road machines. This book charts the history of fifteen of the most innovative companies, with full specifications for many chassis and extensively illustrated throughout. It is a must for any motorcycle enthusiast and a valuable reference for the trade.

Races, Faces, Places is split into three main sections as described by the title, and travel from the late 1950s to the early 1970s - the heartland of motor racing nostalgia. Races: focuses on Formula 1, but Michael Cooper also covers sports, GT and saloon car racing. Faces: features the author’s portraits of iconic 1960s drivers and is perhaps his best work and illustrates the author’s genius at capturing the moment, an ability to understand the subject or place in an intimate way that transcends technical skills. Places: previously unseen behind-the-scenes material in pit and paddock locations in a way that defines the era.

This book examines the classic period of Grand Prix racing from 1960 to 1969, and the men and machines involved. Covering the emergence of the Japanese factories and the struggle for supremacy between 2- and 4-stroke technologies, it is a fascinating exploration of the last decade of 'traditional' Grand Prix racing, before significant events changed the nature of the sport forever.