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Mike Hailwood has been described as the greatest rider in the history of motorcycle racing. At the age of 18, he was already a British champion in four classes. At age 21, he won his first World Championship. He would go on to claim eight more world titles in the 250cc, 350cc and 500cc classes. This definitive history of the millionaire's son who earned a reputation as one of the sport's nice guys, covers Hailwood's British championships and early Continental races in 1959 and 1960, before going on to examine his rides with MV Agusta and Honda in 1960 and 1961; his small-class endeavors with EMC, MZ and Benelli; and his return to Honda and four more world titles from 1966 through 1968. Although Hailwood enjoyed modest success in Formula 1 auto racing, this book focuses solely on his motorcycle career, to which he made a spectacular return in 1978, winning the Isle of Man TT aboard a Ducati and smashing the lap record the following year en route to winning the Senior TT title. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The legend lives on!
I found this book to be the most complete history of Mike Hailwood's racing career I have read. The author's knowledge of his subject is encyclopedic and yet manages to be lively and interesting. Mr. Woolett illustrated his book lavishly with many photos that had not been published before. The listings of Mike's motorcycle racing career results in the back of the book will no doubt be used to settle many an argument among Mike's fans about what happened, when and where. My only criticism of the book is about this section. I was at the Canadian Motorcycle Grand Prix with Mike in 1967. It was on September 30th not September 24th as stated in the book. Memories can become confused. But,I have verified those dates with other sources. At the end of the racing on Sunday some of the factory team riders flew in a helicopter to the Toronto airport where BOAC (as it was in those days ) was holding its overnight flight to London. They flew all night and raced the next morning in the Race of the South at Brands Hatch on October 1 - not September 25th as stated in the book. As further confirmation I have Mike's trophy with the date engraved on it. These are the only dates on which I can give an opinion. I have no idea how accurate the other dates are. But, this is a minor flaw in an outstanding book. This is a wonderful tribute to a great man and his racing career. It is the perfect complement to Christopher Hilton's very personal portrait of Mike, A Man Called Mike. I am glad to see renewed interest in Mike coming just before what will be the 20th anniversary of his death, March 23, 1981 at the age of 40. But the legend lives on. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (4)

Superb
The photos & in-depth descriptions were far beyond what I expected.I'm hoping for a sequel.

The damage to the book was worse than the description
The damage to the book was worse than the description

Know a motorhead?Get them this book!
Wow.

I own hundreds of automotive books, but "Class Racing Engines" is the one that I read over and over.It combines deep technical information, fantastic photos, rare blueprints, and most important of all, Ludvigsen's unique ability to place things within a historical context.

What I like most about this book is how it puts you right in the shoes of the engine designer.What should the valve angle be?Hemispherical combustion chamber?Materials?Number of bearings?You get the picture... this book gets you deep into motor design and then wallows around in it.It's almost a sinful delight to read.

Classic Racing Engines reviewed byaKansasRancher
I'm a Kansas Rancher who works with technology based at best in the 1970's.Bailing wire and duct tape can fix most of my problems.Ludvigsen writes for my understanding level; no high math or esoteric physics, just how the engine was designed; what new, different, or improved insights were polished to make a winner out of the raw product. From the individual product of the designer of the Kuchen 2-liter of 1952 to products of cubic money and scores of engineering departments of major manufactures like the Honda V-12 of 1992, Ludvigsen explains the reasons the design worked, why problems happened, and how the engine contributed to the evolution of mechanical knowledge. I enjoyed reading and using it as a frame of reference. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Britten was a legend
This book has useful information and great pictures of John Britten's dream bike. It was ahead of its time and I see no reason why any of the large bike companies can't build it under licence. It is still a very advanced motorcycle, even today.

Limited appeal
There is a large number of photographs in this book, and they are very enjoyable to look at.Beyond that, the 'biography' portion is sorely lacking (though that appears to have been a secondary concern in the making of this book.)Very little of the trial and error, the failing and succeeding, is detailed; we're almost lead to believe that after one prototype, John built his famous motorcycle overnight and it was an instant success.Maybe that's the way it happened, but for a bike so groundbreaking on every level, I doubt it.Oh yes, and he invents (and patents) this new technique for making carbon fiber wheels that no one else has ever done before.What?!? That's huge!I want to know more.It does John and all the people who worked with him a disservice to make it sound so easy.Four stars is generous, as of this review I am the only reviewer so I don't want fewer stars scaring people off from even considering this book. ... Read more

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A thrilling and personal insight into the road-racing scene through over 120 stunning full-color photographs. ... Read more

Product Description
This supersonic tome describes methods of boosting thepower of motorcycle engines by getting more fuel-air mixture into thecylinders. Other approaches to power boosting rely on improving theefficiency of existing fuel-air paths, or giving up performance in oneRPM band to gain it in another. This book concerns forcedinduction--the art and science of cramming more fuel-air mixture intothe engine. It will give you a thorough understanding of theprinciples involved and the practical matters of putting thoseprinciples to work. Included are helpful tips on which equipment tobuy, how to use it, and most important, how to preventself-destruction! Many helpful charts and diagrams help you understandjust what's important and how things work. If you are planning toapply turbocharging, supercharging or nitrous oxide injection to amotorcycle, you'll find this authoritative book to be a valuable andmoney-saving aid. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

motocycle turbocharging,supercharging & nitros oxide
when you think turbocharging a bike is going to be easy,read this book,its not as easy as you might think,but clear step by step guide make it more a reality then a dream.

Following his advice cost me thousands of dollars of pain
I followed Joe Haile's advice but the vendors he recommended to me took my money and after many years of holding (and misusing) my motorcycle and money they did not deliver the goods and services they promised. I had to sue the listed vendors Luftmeister, RB Racing, Matt Capri, & Bob Behn for fraud and it cost me thousands of dollars and my motorcycle does not run right after many years of their supposed help. I bought this book and called Joe Haile many times and his advice cost me thousands of dollars of pain.

Nitrous information lacking
I bought the book to do a paper on nitrous oxide racing in motorcycles.The nitrous chapter was very small and seemed to refer to one company too much.The other two chapters were much better. Why did the author notcover nitrous and turbos or superchargers?

I Found it really good.....more than i expect..
Hi. note that im from argentina and my english is not to good but im really happy whits this book, its tecnical but easy to understand, with a lot of practical examples. You could really start to enjoy whatsuprcharger, turbocharger and nitrous oxide works.. Thanks, PabloIbargoyen, Paraguay 555, 8000 Bahia Blanca, Argentina,ibargoyj@infovia.com.ar

Excellent
Just echoing the other reviews. The subject coverage is great, the information is almost all applicable to more than just motorcycles, and the directory of contacts is invaluable. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Never enough Guzzis!!
This book is really nice to read. I go back and forth, and never get tired of its pictures and facts. I am a Guzzi owner myself (V7 Classic) so I'm biased towards the beauty of these spectacular machines. You once own one, you're forever linked to the brand. I find it great to learn about old models and the evolution of the newer ones. ... Read more

Product Description
Here are the bikes that have carried their riders to championships--described by the riders who steered their bikes to victory. In twenty profiles, riders tell readers what it was like to ride a winning bike, how special features put it ahead of the competition, and what memorable moments happened along the way. Each profile, illustrated with action photography from the bike's glory days as well as present-day images, offers a detailed technical analysis of the engine/transmission, frame, suspension, brakes, and other features that made the bike special. Rich with detailed photography and one-of-a-kind anecdotes, this is an irresistible celebration of the spirit, the grit, and the gear that made motocross what it is today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Story of the Mythical "Works Bikes" of 1970s and 1980s Motocross
Terry Good's "Legendary Motocross Bikes" is an exceptional new book devoted to the author's incredible collection of the championship winning motocross specials known as "works bikes." Anyone who spent time around the dirt bike scene back in the 1970s or 1980s knows what a "works bike" is and is familiar with the mystique that surrounded them, but this term is probably obscure to younger motorsports enthusiasts or the general public, so it can do with a bit of explanation...

A "works bike" is a motorcycle that has been specially prepared for competition by the factory or in the English parlance "the works" as in the "Triumph works" or the "BSA works."With motorsports, there has always been the concept of "win on Sunday, sell on Monday." Whether on two wheels or four, racing success has always given motorcycle and automobile companies greater prestige and helped them to move product.And, in motorcycle racing, when the factory runs its own racing program, that effort is known as a "works team" to differentiate it from private entrants racing on the same model bike.

A "works bike" was usually based on a showroom model, but the engineers at the factory often use their racing team as a test program, to try out prototypes and new components to see how they work.Factories usually tried to make the motorcycles their works teams used appear as close to the showroom models as possible in order to create the illusion that their famous riders rode a bike that was exactly like the one you could buy.In reality, the motorcycle factories were often just as good at creating illusions as the magician David Copperfield.
"Works bikes" were often full of exotic components that were too light or too expensive to sell to the general public.These factory specials could have special frames, lighter engine castings and internals or upgraded suspension components.In some cases, the special parts would filter down to showroom models, but in others the exotic materials were only intended for one purpose - to win races and cover the factory in glory.

In the 1950s, England's BSA had a factory "works team" that it used to test motorcycles and win "Scrambles" races, which is what the English then called the sport of motocross.The special versions of the "BSA Gold Star bikes that its riders won races on used exotic Reynolds 531 aircraft tubing, improved suspension components and more powerful engines to cut a swath through British competition. As Sweden and then Czechoslovakia became motocross powers, its companies also began to produce more exotic motorcycles for its sponsored riders to use.

In the early 1970s, our author Terry Good, the hero of this tale, began to compete in American motocross competition.He was good enough to become a professional and to compete on the AMA (the American Motorcycle Association because this is a story about men that often need doctors rather than the ones who practice medicine) 125cc National Circuit.This was a great time to be active in American motocross because it was the era that the sport began to grow by leaps and bounds and we went from seeing the European riders dominate every U.S. motocross they entered, to parity and then eventually, American domination.And, Good, like every other young motocross racer developed a fascination with the mystical works bike that the champion riders were mounted on.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the special bikes the hotshot Europeans rode when they came to the states for the Trans-AMA series and other races took on a great mystique.In the beginning the works bikes Americans coveted were lightweight two-stroke Czech CZ's, Swedish Husqvarnas and German Maicos, but as the best European riders, men like Joel Robert, Torsten Hallman and Roger DeCoster signed contracts with the Japanese factories, the European works bikes were replaced in young men's motocross dreams by factory Yamahas, Suzukis, Kawasakis and Hondas.

The Japanese manufacturers were much larger companies than the specialized European motorcycle firms.Each of them sold hundreds of thousands of motorcycles each year and this gave them deeper pockets as well as greater engineering resources than the European companies. The Japanese factory specials became increasingly innovative and exotic and each of them represented an considerable investment.When the factory pilots made an appearance at a local motocross track, it wasn't the famous riders that many of the male spectators wanted to see when they crowded around the pits, but instead to catch a glimpse of the special works bike in an effort to learn what made it so fast.

Terry Good raced for a number of years and obtained his first former works bike in 1978, a three year-old 125 that Pierre Karsmakers and then Bob "Hurricane" Hannah had ridden.Eventually, in 1980, he managed to buy a current Mugen works bike, a highly modified Honda, for $4,000, which was then a lot of money for a 125cc motorcycle. Good married young, had a large family and became a successful businessman, but he always kept his interest in motocross. He ran a successful racing team, imported Mugens and motorcycle components and after he became successful as a trader in the futures market, he began the hard work of tracking down and collecting the most famous works bikes from the 1970s and 1980s.Over the past few decades, Good's obsession with factory race bikes has enabled him to create a collection of one championship mount after another and then each of restoring each of them to their championship-winning condition.


The final step in Terry Good's works bike obsession was to document the collection that he has assembled so that others can enjoy the fruits of his laborious hobby.The result of a years of research, interviews with riders and mechanics and countless photography sessions is the 160 page Factory Motocross Bikes, where he documents each of the bikes in his collection - or at least the ones he had when the book went to print, for he seems to have an insatiable appetite for these factory specials.

The book is softcover and in a "landscape format" that suits its subject.It begins with Sten Ludin's 1961 Monark/Lito, the most prolific race winner in World Championship history and it and each motorcycle has its own chapter, which usually consists of a number of images of the restored bike, some period photographs and a nice recollection by the rider.It would have been interested to have a 1960s Rickman-Metisse or CZ included, but it is Mr. Good's collection, isn't it? The next bike is Swede Torsten Hallman's Yamaha YZ637 from 1971, followed by a 1972 Suzuki RH72 that the great Joel Robert rode and then the Suzuki RN72, a 500cc "Open Class" motocrosser that the legendary Roger DeCoster rode to one of his World Championships.The bikes continue throughout the 1970s and 1980s with more Suzukis, Bob Hannah's Yamaha's, then many exotic Honda works motorcycles, each of them described in detail so that the reader knows what made them special and how they were to ride from the rider's seat.

Through these exotic motorcycles, which were sometimes so special that none of the major components interchanged with a showroom model, you can trace the evolution of the motocrosss bike.The narratives on each motorcycle explain the increasing power of the two-stroke engines, the "lay-down" shocks and the "monoshocks" that revolutionized rear suspension design, the "long travel revolution" where forks and suspensions gave riders the ability to absorb ever greater jumps without slowing down and the introduction of the light-but-stiff one-piece monocoque frame.Each of these developments, which were prototyped on the mystical "works bikes" soon made their way to the production motocross motorcycles.Only the exotic materials like magnesium and titanium and hand-lightened components rarely found their way down to the competition bikes you can buy on the showroom floor.

The book tells the story of these bikes well and if you are one of the late baby-boomers that grew up with these bikes or who read about them in the pages of Cycle or Cycle News, you'll find the story of the development of the first single-shock suspension and the "claiming" of Marty Smith's works bike at Hangtown fascinating.Otherwise, anyone with a technical interest in bikes or racing or an interest in motorcycle history will enjoy the story of Good's collection.It is probably too specialized a book for someone with a casual interest in motorcycling.I would have enjoyed reading about more of the 1960s bikes and an appendix with technical specifications of each bike and their race results, but this would be my only quibbles.Legendary Motocross Bikes was a welcome surprise, an excellent addition to my motorcycle bookshelf

What happened to the 60's?
Great book but it skips the sixties with the exception of one bike. Where are the Husqvarnas, CZs and Maicos (AJS, Bultaco, Greeves, Ossa, Puch, Penton, Sachs, etc) that started the sport in the U.S.? ... Read more

Product Description
After the nightmare of World War II, Soichiro Honda and Takeo Fujisawa created the dream. This was followed by the Benly and Super Cub, which led to a series of twin-cylinder motorcycles including the Super Hawk and CB450. Today—through a marriage of engineering brilliance and astute marketing—Honda has become the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer, dominating both the racetrack and showroom. It is an extraordinary story, told here with particular reference to the top road and road-racing models. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Pairing over 175 images with a historical survey of the great drivers and times of these speedways
SS Collins & Gavin D. Ireland's SPEEDWAY: AUTO RACING'S GHOST TRACKS provides a fine history and survey of forgotten speedways and covers tracks around the world, pairing over 175 images with a historical survey of the great drivers and times of these speedways. Any library strong in race car history will find this a winning discussion.

Disappointing
This book is a follow up to the fantastic book Autodrome. Autodrome described some of the retired racing circuits in Europe with a combination of history and photography.

In this new volume of stories and photographs of former auto racing tracks, coverage spans both North America and Europe. In fact, some of the circuits described in Speeday are duplicates of those in Autodrome. Some of the new tracks covered in Speedway include Chicago, Augusta, Middle Georgia, and North Wilkesboro. Returnees include Avus, Brooklands, Monza, and Montlhéry.

While Autodrome was quite enjoyable, Speedway is a bit of a letdown. Both the photography and track selection for the North America circuits are somewhat poor. Furthermore, rounding out the book with a bunch of the same tracks (albeit with some new photos) from Autodrome seems like a cheap trick. Surely the authors could have found more worth tracks to include like Marlboro Motor Raceway, Riverside, and others?

If you already have Autodrome, then I'd say skip this volume. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (4)

A good book if your interested in Ducati History
The book is for you if you're interested in the history and development of Ducati's from one model to the next.It also has a fair amount of technical information about how each model varies from the next.What I didn't like was that it had only a few color photos and very little information on more recent models (1995 and up)....

Great general history of Ducati and models
A very thorough and detailed history of Ducati with a model by model, year by year breakdown. Great to get a general history of Ducati or if you are considering buying one of their bikes. The model specifications at the rearare handy though need to be read in conjunction with the book to get everydetail on a particular model in a particular year. Focuses more on the last20 yrs of Ducati, but could still be considered the definative book onDucati. A few more pictures would be nice.

Lots of technical information, without getting boring
I bought this book out of curiosity, and because I am interested in Ducati motorcycles. And I would say that this book fulfills any need for information about Ducati and the story about the bikes and the men behindit. Great book ! Recommended!

A Ducatisti must!
Great book to have to show friends and to enjoy browsing on a lazy, rainy afternoon when you should be out riding, but can't.Good pics and fair perspective about the bikes and the people who created them. ... Read more

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Product Description
This book is a thorough and comprehensive look at the various racing lines used for motorcycle road racing.It covers all the different types of lines for all the different types of turns form the simple basic race line to the multiple apex lines.It will explain when and where each line, will work, and where they don't work, due to the situation and racers' needs.The reasons one line may be better than another due to what is before or directly after each turn.Even how size and horsepower of the bike will affect the type of line used is discussed. ... Read more

Product Description
This all-new edition is extensively revised to cover all bikes built from 1985 through 1999. Step-by-step instructions and a generous selection of exclusive photos show how to maintain, modify, and set-up every component, and how to correct common flaws. Advice is also provided for buying used bikes, setting up a shop at home, and preparing for race day. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Buy the 3rd edition instead...
Bottom line - well worth the money, but there is a 3rd edition available.I ordered the 2nd edition by mistake and returned it.The 3rd edition is in color and MUCH easier to read.3rd edition has a 'bit' more 4 stroke info but not enough to justify buying the 3rd edition if you have the 2nd.

Good book.Good for beginners and as a reference for the experienced.

You may want to take some of the things he says with a "grain of salt" or "does this apply to me" attitude though.Page 22 has a Maintenance Interval Chart that suggests changing the transmission oil every 2 hours and a top end rebuild every 10 hours - or less depending on riding conditions.Not sure I want to change the oil in the middle of a 4-hour easy trail ride.Yes it probably is supposed to apply to 2 strokes on the mx track but he does not state that.

Just buy it.


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Reasonable basic book
not a bad book for most two stroke motorcycles, however the book is very poor when it comes to modern four stroke machines which exist today, it discusses the likes of xrs, which would be very out of date with yzfs and crfs of modern times. but all in all worth the price

Beyond the repair manual.
I have 2 boys who race MX and off road and I race off road and we do most of our own repair and tuning work. This book makes it much easier. It goes way past the repair manual with time saving tips and necessary illustrations. The tuning stuff is completely missing from the repair manual. I don't know if this is THE best book to have in the garage but it works for me. I've read it almost all through and highly recommend it to someone who races or pits for a racer.

Good solid stuff.
Eric Gorr's book is a great help to all dirtbike owners. In addition to your bikes workshop manual it should cover absolutely EVERYTHING you will ever need to do to your bike.

The writing is good, it's organized and to the point. There are specific sections for all the major models.
This is one of the better tecnical books I own, and I highly recommend it.

The Awesome Trail bikes by Shane Harvel
The Trail Bikes is a really good book.If you are looking for a
dirt bike,or if your looking for how to ride one this is the
place for you go to.Believe me this is the place for you to
go to.GOOD LOOK ... Read more