Book News
BOOK NEWS
Great Motorcycle Legends
Did you know that the name "Jawa" came from the melding of Janacek and Wanderer? That Husqvarna's fourstroke postwar 500 was actually an updated Thirties banger? That Lambretta built a motorcycle? That Montesa had an offset front axle in 1945? That Ossa and Puch both made four-strokes at one time? And Velocette a two-stroke? Who was born in Zelobuonpersico? All of these interesting bits of information and many more are to be found in Great Motorcycle Legends by Richard Renstrom.
Actually, the book-sized (8‘A x 11 in.) paperback is not so much a collection of legends as it is potted histories, each one about as long as the average magazine article, of 22 various marques. In the 122 pages there is naturally not enough space to do more than give a quick brush-over to production history, some mechanical details and a rundown of racing/records/ trials successes if any, but a surprising amount of information is packed in. Anyone doing research is liable to be left out on a limb but the book isn’t for researchers; Great Motorcycle Legends is a sampler plate to whet the appetite and answer questions about How did Wombats ever get started? The writing is agreeable enough and not without humor, even though (the Curse of the Historian) Renstrom tends to overdo superlatives from time to time in order to liven things up a bit, such as raving about Bultaco brakes and reliability. I mean, I do have a Bultaco and it tastes great but one must be realistic. Also he omits certain important developments, such as the real reason AJS quit racing the Porcupine.
The book is produced very well with lots of pictures, proofreading for typos could have been better (Greeves “Silverstine”?), and the binding shows signs of coming unstuck but for those who wish to read the names of Ragnar Sundqvist. Jock West. Harold Daniel. Georg Meier. Harold Lines, Stanley Woods, Crasher White. Dorino Serafini or even Bill Beevers again. the book is well worth buying for those cold winter evenings. But not if the reader is a Harley or Indian fan (not to mention Rene Gillet. Yamaha, Gnome et~Rhome or FN) as they get left out. From Haessner Publishing Co.. P.O. Box 89, Newfound land, N.J. 07435. $8.95.-HNM III
Europe. . The Two-Wheeled Adventure
This reviewing business is packed with risk. What we have here is a how-to book for touring Europe. The author did the trip first, then wrote the book. Phil Philcox is a professional writer and editor, so he knew what to report and how to report it.
The risk is that we’ve only skimmed the book while it was in the stages of preparation, thus we cannot say we’ve read it and vouch for it. On the other hand, we liked what we read enough to have bought magazine rights to one chapter, which will appear soon.
What the book is first, is how to get ready, with pros and cons for buying a new or used machine there, or buying one here and shipping it. etc., with all the paperwork and hassles spelled out. The final chapter is the author’s own trip, 3300 miles across the Alps (And don’t all us tourers wish to do a trip like that and make some money on the deal?).
A handy guide, in short, for the lucky few. Or a good way to give shape to a dream. From Information Press Service, 5118 Rolling Hills Court. Tampa, Fla. 33616. $6.95. plus $1 postage and handling. —A.G.
