RICHARD SKELTON
* INDEX
Acknowledgements 6
Forewords 7
Mike Trimby 7
Steve Mclaughlin 9
Kevin Schwantz 9
Jeff Smith 10
Introduction 12
Chapter one 14
Early days 14
Scarborough 17
Heroes 17
Getting started 18
Motocross correspondent at large 21
Jeff Smith and Dave Bickers 23
TV scrambling and snobs 24
European scene 25
Travels with Jeff 26
Cars and trucks 29
Hard and crazy men 32
Foreign lands 34
Fast foreigners 37
Motorcycle News 38
Moving on 39
Chapter two 40
A new chapter 40
Storming Norman 40
Boom times 41
Dangerous 43
New horizons 43
First taste 44
A new adventure 45
On the road 47
Inside view 47
Ago 50
Phil Read 50
Phil and Bill 52
Protective women 52
Mick Grant and Chas Mortimer 53
Other Brits (and Jon) 55
Ladies man 57
Chapter three 60
Jarno 60
Italians 61
Behind the Iron Curtain 63
Paddock nightlife 66
Fascinating people 67
Scandinavians 68
Vive le France 70
The Japanese 71
The Spanish 71
Tiddlers 73
More people 73
The Swiss 74
Imatra 75
White slavery 75
Suicidal fans 75
Chapter four 77
Mr Commentator 77
Right said Fred 80
Muddy waters 97
How to do it 98
Bosses at the Beeb 99
Facilities 100
Robber barons 101
Formula 750 103
Doing things differently 103
Dangerous circuits 105
The accident 108
Death toll 110
Credit where its due 112
Tragedy close to home 112
Stopping fast 113
Chapter five 115
Barry Sheene 115
King Kenny 119
Randy Mamola 121
Croz 121
Rocket Ron 122
Sidecar racers 123
Tuners 126
Mike Trimby 127
World series 129
Blazer brigade 130
Different strokes 131
Different folks 132
Chapter six 135
The more things change ... 135
Near miss 136
A breed apart 137
Why people race 139
The cost of racing 140
Motorcycle Weekly 141
Drinking culture 143
Fire escape 146
Chapter seven 148
Daytona 148
All the way to America 150
American adventures 151
Gary Nixon 156
Dale Singleton 157
More Americans 158
On the road 160
Venezuela 177
Ideas man 178
The birth of World Superbikes 180
Profiteroles 181
Isle of Man TT 181
TT press office 182
TT tales 183
Hailwood comeback 185
Chapter eight 187
Into the eighties 187
Peter Clifford 188
Team Gallina 188
Dining out 190
Mechanics 191
Thats life 192
Changing times 193
Fast Freddie 193
Revvin Kevin 195
Big stars 196
John Kocinsky 198
Bubbling under 198
Max Biaggi 199
Pierfrancesco chili 200
Bye bye Brian 200
Chapter nine 202
Ch ch ch changes ... 202
Dave & Dermot 203
Young guns 207
Foggy 208
Fast men 209
Dodgy characters 211
Macau 212
TV work 220
Getting on with people 222
Bikesport News 225
A marshals lot is not a happy one 227
Simply the best 229
A word about Geoff 230
Slowing down lap 231
Index 238
Features
A book about remarkable human beings engaged in an extraordinary activity
Stories from a lifetime in motorcycle racing
An upbeat account of a long and quite extraordinary career
Packed with unique insights, remarkable stories and amusing anecdotes
A funny, fascinating, insider view of professional motorcycling across six decades
Recollections and reflections by someone who was actually there
Funny and engaging, but, nonetheless, a work of serious documentary value
An honest, frank and direct book from an author deeply involved in motorcycle sport
Includes forewords by Mike Trimby, Jeff Smith and Steve McLaughlin
Description
Chris Carter has been a journalist, broadcaster, commentator and friend of the star names of international motorcycle sport for more than 60 years.
This book is a wonderful collection of anecdotes some tragic, but mostly humorous documenting a fascinating and unique life spent at the heart of motorcycle sport.
Synopsis
Few people have been as deeply involved in motorcycle sport as Chris Carter, a larger than life character and raconteur who was for a great number of years a journalist, commentator and broadcaster at the very top level of motorcycle sport.
This memoir is a funny, fascinating and unique insider view of professional motorcycling over more than six decades. From scrambling in the 1960s, to four decades of international road racing - including Daytona and Macau - and on to trials and speedway. Packed with remarkable stories and amusing anecdotes, as well as interesting reflections and astute observations, it is a light-hearted, highly readable autobiography which lifts the lid on an extraordinary world.
In past times, racing paddocks were open and friendly, and Chris felt part of a big, happy family. He lived cheek by jowl with the very top riders and shared their triumphs and tragedies; to many, he was a friend and confidante.
Honest, frank and direct, Chris tells things exactly as they were, and provides insights into a fast disappearing world.
Independent Reviews
Sometimes cutting, often funny, always truthful ... a truly enjoyable, informative and fascinating read.
Nacelle
Additional Information
A unique and revealing memoir about top level road racing and motocross over more than six decades.
This book lifts the lid on life in motorcycle sport like no other. Chris Carter has spent a lifetime covering motorcycle sport from right alongside the competitors and their families, in the paddock.
Recollections and reflections from motorcycle history, by someone who was actually there.
