The Ride of My Life: Volume 1
Frank Melling on Motorcycles & Motorcycling
Book
Paperback/Softback
144 pages
978-1-78711-164-6 (ISBN)
Description
Frank Melling has witnessed seminal points in motorcycling history, ridden some of the most iconic machines and met some of the greatest riders who ever lived. This book spans the chasm of time from the 1907 TT-winning Norton to Triumph's 2016 Bonneville Thruxton R, and Melling's love of motorcycles and motorcyclists shines through in this unique and highly amusing take on motorcycling history.Taking you on a road trip you will never forget, this book is a collection of stories that intrigue, amuse and entertain: How about the Honda DN-01? Truly named the DO NOT OWN 1 - and maybe the worst bike in the world? Or the sublime Ecurie Sportive Manx Norton - GBP75,000 worth of hand built Grand Prix race bike? A creation so beautiful it should be in an art gallery - except that it's still being raced. What was it like to ride in the most dangerous motorcycle race in the world, with seven riders killed in three hours? Frank was there, as always, in the thick of the action.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
David & Charles
Illustrations
148
Dimensions
Height: 233 mm
Width: 164 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-78711-164-6 (9781787111646)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Frank began riding motorcycles when he was ten years old, and has been in love with bikes ever since. He has decided that it is now too late to grow up and be sensible. For the same reasons, he has been writing about motorcycles professionally for over 47 years and can't give up this addiction either! He has, to date, written 17 other books, mostly about motorcycles, motocross and trail bike racing, as well as many feature length articles, fiction short stories, film scripts and advertising material.Today Frank remains what he was, and always will be, an ordinary person with an extraordinary ability to see the world in a quite remarkable way. He has worked with some of the greatest World Champions, and has ridden their bikes, yet remains completely unaffected by his worldwide, VIP status.In "The Ride of My Life - Frank Melling on Motorcycles & Motorcycling" Frank takes you on a unique tour of his very own version of the motorcycling multiverse, which is highly informed, provocative and insightful, but with a hilarious honesty and sense of fun.The word unique is much overused, but Melling truly is a unique talent in motoring journalism.
Content
Introduction & Thanks Chapter One - BSA Rocket 3 - A Triple Tragedy Chapter Two BMW R90S - The Country Eater Chapter Three - BSA D14 Bantam Sports - A Happy Little Soul - But Too Little and Too Late Chapter Four - The BSA Speedway Bike - A Hush, Hush (Puppy) Project Chapter Five - Motorcycling Life - The Day BSA Died Chapter Six - Ducati Sport Classic GT 1000 - Right Bike, Right Place, Wrong Time, Right Time, Wrong Time, Right Time Etc. Etc. Chapter Seven- Riding the 1907 TT Winning Norton - A Privilege Beyond Words Chapter Eight- Ecurie Sportive Manx Norton - The Bike Mike Hailwood's Dad Would Have Bought Him TodayChapter Nine - Motorcycling Life - Le Touquet Beach Race - Or - Ou est le premier virage S'il vous plaitChapter Ten - Honda CB400F1 - One of Honda's Greatest Motorcycles Chapter Eleven - Honda DN-01 - The Do Not Own 1 Honda Chapter Twelve - Kawasaki Z1 - The Muscle Bike Chapter Thirteen - Motorcycling Life - The Moto Guzzi Museum at Mandello del Lario Chapter Fourteen - Moto Guzzi V8 - Once in Every Lifetime, Comes a Chance Like This ...(With apologies to Cliff Richard) Chapter Fifteen - Suzuki RE-5 - When Engineers Start Believing Their Own Press Releases Chapter Sixteen - Triumph Bonneville Thruxton R - A True Modern Classic