The Mick Andrews Book of Trials
THE MICK ANDREWS BOOK OF TRIALS
BOOKS
Tom Beesley GP MX, Inc. PO. Box 2820 Mission Viejo, Calif. 92690 $6.95 plus $1 postage 222 pp.
Knowing full well trials riders and trials fans will buy this book no matter what we say about it, we decided to review it for you other folks—the non-plonkers, so to speak. Actually any motorcycle enthusiast would enjoy reading about Mick Andrews, five-time winner of the Scottish Six Day and twice World Champion. Certainly one of the super stars of the trials world, Mick has ridden trials machinery ranging from his 197cc James of 1960, his Matchless and AJS factory rides at the age of 16, up to and including his intensive developmental work on the Ossas and Yamahas.
Although we do get a look at the competitive side of Andrews, a personal feeling is lacking in the biographical chapter. The books about Sammy Miller seem to provide more of a personal nature and 1 for one like to see this side of our heroes. But then Tom Beesley, the author, only spent a month with Mick and that was just before, during and after the Scottish Six Days— perhaps not the best of all times to see a person at an intimate level.
1 was also a little disappointed in the chapter on How to Ride Trials. It’s rather lean on technique and only a novice will find much to think about.
The real value of The Mick Andrews Book of Trials is in the number of excellent photographs both of Mick riding in competition and of the different types and makes of trials mounts. The chapter on Evolution of Trials Bikes is incredible in that most Americans will never have heard of most of the bikes let alone have seen them. Eve looked through this chapter several times and I still wonder just what an English club trials meet would turn out in the way of an assortment of motorcycles. Its hard to believe any two would be from the same manufacturer.
This book isn’t something you’ll want to read again and again but it is fun to pick up and look through. I keep reaching for my Belstaff jacket and trials boots when I put it down and that can’t be all bad.
Chuck Johnston
