The Manx Norton
The Manx Norton
THE CW LIBRARY
IT IS ALL TOO EASY FOR GREAT MOTORCYCLE HISTORIES to die a slow death unless a good hunter-gatherer author comes along to assemble the scattered pieces into a coherent package. Mick Walker has done just that with The Manx Norton, a soft-cover work that will effectively preserve the legend of what is perhaps the most significant over-the-counter roadracer ever made.
The first of 14 chapters begins with the dawn of motorcycling and James Landown Norton himself, son of a Birmingham cabinet-maker. The rest of the story covers the evolution of the Singles through 1939 and then the Manx Grand Prix model, which ultimately became the Manx production racer.
It is a complete piece, with the technical evolution of the Manx, as well as histories and biographical information on important figures, from father of the Featherbed, Rex McCandless, to racers Mike Hailwood and Geoff Duke, with information from the Isle of Man TT and the Grand Prix circuits. Even Don Vesco at Bonneville in the 1960s gets his due, as do the exploits of the Manx in America-there is a whole chapter devoted to Daytona Beach. Other chapter topics include famous tuners,
dirtbikes and “Domiracer” Twin-powered Featherbeds. Sidecars and tiny Manx-powered racecars are covered, too, as is the vintage-bike racing revival.
Walker occasionally gets bogged down in what is essentially race coverage, but considering the Manx’s role in the motorcycling
universe, this may be appropriate.
Ultimately, this is sort of a mini-coffee-table book, for it is positively filled with fabulous photos. There is really only one word of warning: When you’re done reading it, you’ll probably want to own a motorcycle you can’t afford.
Mark Hoyer
The Manx Norton, Mick Walker, 280 pages, $35; MBI Publishing Company, 729 Prospect Ave., Osceola, Wl 54020; 800/826-6600; www. motorbooks. com
