5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting I.o.M. Honda history.

R.F. · 9 May 2024

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5.0 out of 5 stars An important book, well worth buying

J.C. · 9 April 2024

Firstly, let me say this is a great book. It was well worth the wait.There is a group of people, myself included, who are very interested in the 'Golden Age' of Honda's racing motorcycles (1959 - 1967), so any new publication on the subject is eagerly anticipated.This medium sized, 170 page hardback, including an index, focuses specifically on Honda's TT campaigns of the period, with reference to the eventual outcomes of each year's world championships. But its main thrust is information about the riders and the history surrounding the events, rather than just the machines themselves and in that respect, it's a fantastic source of information on a subject that's never, to my knowledge, been adequately covered in print before.It didn't take me long to read (about a day in total), but I really didn't want to put it down. There's two sections of photos, the second all in colour and there's only a couple of them I've ever seen before.Amongst many others, the author has interviewed the early Japanese works rider Naomi Taniguchi, which provides us with a source of first hand information that is possibly unique and this alone makes the book worth buying.There is a Facebook group dedicated to early works Hondas (search for 'Early Works Hondas and Tribute Bikes' on there and you'll find it) and the book has been well received by its members. Given that a number of the members are probably the best informed people on the subject outside the Honda factory itself, that's high praise indeed.To sum up, this is an important book that fills in a hitherto neglected side of Honda's 1960s TT racing story and I can heartily recommend it to anyone who loves the period, the TT and Honda's glorious, beautiful, screaming machinery.That's the review, now some notes, which are made with the very best of intentions:Page 41. Line one: 'square four' I think should read 'straight four'.Page 54. The 125cc machine at Murray's Museum was a 1960 RC143, not a 1961 2RC143. I think it's more likely Honda were very keen to buy it back because it is a unique survivor, not because they (mistakenly) think it won the 1961 125cc TT or the world championship.As an observation, the British motorcycle industry was on its knees for many reasons, but partly because it had been run into the ground as a result of WW2 and, unlike Japan, which received massive investment to rebuild its industry from the Americans, simply couldn't afford to buy new machine tools to make better bikes. The author hasn't mentioned this aspect of why the Japanese were so successful, but it's important to remember it.Page 64. The 1962 front brakes had gone from being double sided single leading shoe to double sided twin leading shoe. It's quite a good way to tell the difference between 1961 and 1962 photographs and bikes.Page 81. Bill Smith's 1963 TT third place finishing TT CR72 still exists and was sold at auction in 2020 for £89,700.Page 131. The author says Hailwood finished sixth in the 1966 125cc TT, but on the next page Luigi Taveri says it was fifth. The author is correct. Frank Perris on the Suzuki was fifth.Page 144. line 8: 'once' should read 'one'.Page 154. Bob Heath bought the ex-Hailwood 1966 350cc RC173 from the museum at Donington Park in 1997. It was fitted with an earlier front end. It has now got the correct later front end fitted.

Honda Isle of Man.

M.M. · 5 January 2025

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Well worth it

G. · 3 May 2024

When I first opened the book I was disappointed with the large print and limited number of pages. However, reading the details of these races I see it is so well researched and written that is really captures the spirit and efforts of that époque. I thought I had read all there was to know but the author presents a new insight into the day to day events of the races. Commentary from the racers themselves really adds much to the narrative. I was a fan of Honda in 1962 when I was twelve years old and those years were magical - the author has done his job in bringing those days back to life. Buy the Duke/Stanley Schofield audio tracks of the races to complete the picture.