Kim Newcombe book

[Big Dave]

By Tim Hanna is close to being available - I had a thumb through the pre-press copy at Burt. Hanna detail and research and lots of it. Pics too.

[Pumba]

Cheers for the heads up. Will be one to read after I am done with Croz's book

[Oscar]

By Tim Hanna is close to being available - I had a thumb through the pre-press copy at Burt. Hanna detail and research and lots of it. Pics too.

I already got the t-shirt.

[Big Dave]

I really admire writers like Tim. Such persistence.

[Swoop]

Any idea on a release date, Dave?

[Big Dave]

Any idea on a release date, Dave?

No sorry - just that he's trying to get it out SAP.

[Swoop]

No sorry - just that he's trying to get it out SAP.
OK.
Thanks. I will have to keep an eye out for when that happens!

[Swoop]

This book is now in the shops!!!!:woohoo:

[boostin]

This book is now in the shops!!!!:woohoo:

All major book stores? Whats the price?

[Swoop]

All major book stores? Whats the price?
Whitcoulls has it.
There is a 25% off sale happening until the 12th December and it is well worth while taking advantage of that saving! It is around $45-.

Edit: $39.95 at Borders.

[Big Dave]

225802
Plenty of stock at Deus Ex Machina too.

[F5 Dave]

Well. What a book.

I've never really decided if I like Hana's style of writing. But the book explains why the doco was the way it was & a bit depressing/lacking. Obviously he did his research but had to fill in the bits about what Kim was thinking during the races etc, 'cause 2nd hand info will only tell you what occurred externally.

The book however shows how much was against him, alternatively some realism of him being a little outclassed by the greats, but that he was improving considering his lack of experience.

Last chapter (ok I can't give it away, its like the Titanic, you know its going to sink) but I was dreading reading it as you didn't want him to die. But when I did finish it I was shellshocked & couldn't sleep. It left me with the desire to go punch some people in the face, especially hospital staff of 70's Britain.

Go buy it.

[saxet]

Yeah I did'nt want to read the last chapter.
Good book tho'.

Dave kinda summed it up.

[young1]

Well. What a book.

Last chapter (ok I can't give it away, its like the Titanic, you know its going to sink) but I was dreading reading it as you didn't want him to die. But when I did finish it I was shellshocked & couldn't sleep. It left me with the desire to go punch some people in the face, especially hospital staff of 70's Britain.

Go buy it.

More like wanting to punch some people in the face, especially the officialdom at the track and their pathetic reponse after his accident.

[boman]

Great read so far. Approx half way through the book. Worth a borrow or buy.

[cantilever]

Well. What a book.

I've never really decided if I like Hana's style of writing. But the book explains why the doco was the way it was & a bit depressing/lacking. Obviously he did his research but had to fill in the bits about what Kim was thinking during the races etc, 'cause 2nd hand info will only tell you what occurred externally.

The book however shows how much was against him, alternatively some realism of him being a little outclassed by the greats, but that he was improving considering his lack of experience.

Last chapter (ok I can't give it away, its like the Titanic, you know its going to sink) but I was dreading reading it as you didn't want him to die. But when I did finish it I was shellshocked & couldn't sleep. It left me with the desire to go punch some people in the face, especially hospital staff of 70's Britain.

Go buy it.

The Forward to the book is bloody interesting, but there are two sides to every story and Hanna was not successful in sueing the doco-makers and I know that Kim's widow was actively promoting the film - so whats to real story behind the scenes?

[F5 Dave]

Yeah it is, & yes always two sides- perhaps he's a git to be getting along with? but from her point of view I suppose she couldn't be too picky & not back the film, waiting for a better one to be made.

[avgas]

got it for dad for xmas.........I haven't seen or heard from him for months

[vinducati]

Hi, I had the pleasure of working on the doco "Love Speed and Loss" and got to know Janeen.
I know she was very proud of the film, as she told me to my face, and she was not one to pull her punches.
However, I certainly don't expect everyone to like it .
I do however find the bickering between Tim and the Producer to be very sadding.
All that matters is Janneen and Kims story. The rest is rubbish.
I wish Tim the very best with his book.
I expect it will go into much more detail and give a different perpective.
Lets remember Kim ,a great engineer, rider and dad.
And Janneen his true love.

[cantilever]

Hi, I had the pleasure of working on the doco "Love Speed and Loss" and got to know Janeen.
I know she was very proud of the film, as she told me to my face, and she was not one to pull her punches.
However, I certainly don't expect everyone to like it .
I do however find the bickering between Tim and the Producer to be very sadding.
All that matters is Janneen and Kims story. The rest is rubbish.
I wish Tim the very best with his book.
I expect it will go into much more detail and give a different perpective.
Lets remember Kim ,a great engineer, rider and dad.
And Janneen his true love.

Is there is bickering between Hanna & the Producer? It seems to be a one-way street with Hanna making accusations in the forward of his book with the Producer not having the benefit of a right of reply. Given Hanna's notorious reputation for dishonouring agreements in the past (it's in the public domain this information and certainly known by many in the motorcyle racing and nostalgia community) Sadly, Hanna's one-sided story in the forward incorrectly denigrates the huge impact Love Speed & Loss has had globally. Google Kim Newcombe 5 years ago and you got barely a couple of FIM listings. Search now and the web lights up with all manner of appreciation for Kim and what he acheived so brilliantly and uniquely on the Konig.

[cantilever]

I really admire writers like Tim. Such persistence.

You could apply yourself too Big dave if you had nothing else to do and gave yourself 5 years to research and tap into the knowledge available from the m/c arbitors that inhabit the forums and blogs around the world who offer a goldmine of information.

[F5 Dave]

Maybe he prefers to earn a crust.

[bultaco]

Well. What a book.

I've never really decided if I like Hana's style of writing. But the book explains why the doco was the way it was & a bit depressing/lacking. Obviously he did his research but had to fill in the bits about what Kim was thinking during the races etc, 'cause 2nd hand info will only tell you what occurred externally.

The book however shows how much was against him, alternatively some realism of him being a little outclassed by the greats, but that he was improving considering his lack of experience.

Last chapter (ok I can't give it away, its like the Titanic, you know its going to sink) but I was dreading reading it as you didn't want him to die. But when I did finish it I was shellshocked & couldn't sleep. It left me with the desire to go punch some people in the face, especially hospital staff of 70's Britain...

The book tells the same story as the film - the Titanic reference has been used before. A book will always offer much more opportunity for detail than a film, but I smell a rat. Not getting at you at all F5 Dave, but I suspect Tim Hanna's version of events as recorded in public in his book's Forward doesn't accurately capture all that happened. In fact, I know it is an unbalanced account. I heard plenty from Janeen about her deep despair and the number of times Tim's duplicity and negative nature caused her immense grief. Like in early 2004 after Tim promised Janeen his devotion to writing the Newcombe biography. Then the following weeks of silence until she discovered that he was writing the Munro book first to cash in on the Donaldson big-budget film.(Yes I know aren't we all glad he did take that on) She liked the film Love Speed & Loss too. She told me that most firmly and repeated it to many others, including two occasions on national TV news. Clearly persistent Timmy believes he can make whatever wild claims he wants. Since Janeen left us on Waitangi Day 2006, there remains only a handful of people privy to the truth that can challenge him. But unlike Tim I don't think they would act so maliciously. They would be unwilling to betray Janeen's trust by promoting Tim's micro squabbles in the public arena. They would not wish to detract from the material issue: Kim Newcombe and his extraordinary triumphs.

[Big Dave]

You could apply yourself too Big dave

It would be a big application - Far too easily distracted....in fact I would say.......ummmm

Dave is right too - I have a big mouth to feed.

[cantilever]

The book tells the same story as the film - the Titanic reference has been used before. A book will always offer much more opportunity for detail than a film, but I smell a rat. Not getting at you at all F5 Dave, but I suspect Tim Hanna's version of events as recorded in public in his book's Forward doesn't accurately capture all that happened. In fact, I know it is an unbalanced account. I heard plenty from Janeen about her deep despair and the number of times Tim's duplicity and negative nature caused her immense grief. Like in early 2004 after Tim promised Janeen his devotion to writing the Newcombe biography. Then the following weeks of silence until she discovered that he was writing the Munro book first to cash in on the Donaldson big-budget film.(Yes I know aren't we all glad he did take that on) She liked the film Love Speed & Loss too. She told me that most firmly and repeated it to many others, including two occasions on national TV news. Clearly persistent Timmy believes he can make whatever wild claims he wants. Since Janeen left us on Waitangi Day 2006, there remains only a handful of people privy to the truth that can challenge him. But unlike Tim I don't think they would act so maliciously. They would be unwilling to betray Janeen's trust by promoting Tim's micro squabbles in the public arena. They would not wish to detract from the material issue: Kim Newcombe and his extraordinary triumphs.

For such an innocuous pastime as writing biographies of sportspersons Hanna seems to atttact a lot of acrimony and 'nasty and unpleasant people' : One small example Tim Hanna wrote on one blog:

There has been some speculation about the John Britten biographies in your Forum of late. I wonder if I could clarify matters from my point of view?

I spent five years writing and researching John''s biography and knew him reasonably well. I gave the manuscript to Kirsteen Britten to check and she gave it to her cousin, a PR writer who mostly records her struggles to lose weight in the local rag. This less than amusing little barrel then read my manuscript and subsequently, in very short time, wrote her own version of John''s life with Kirsteen''s connivance.

As Kirsteen inherited millions when John died his somewhat lonely death (Kirsteen went skiing on his final day on God''s earth) I felt that legal action would simply exhaust me financially and emotionally.
I had already struggled for well over a year to get around Kirsteen''s legal attempts to prevent my book being published. That''s the story in a nutshell but there''s so much more and all of it is nasty and unpleasant. Some day I would like to write the real story of Kirsteen''s treatment of her dying husband, if I can just find the stomach to do it.

If anyone wants my book may I suggest they contact Millhouse Books in the UK.

Everyone he deals with is evil it seems? Or just persistant paranoia?

[Big Dave]

I sure don't know.

I'm on 'friendly chat at media functions' terms with Tim and Richard. Both are very pleasant to me and I have no intention of buying in to it.

I still admire the dedication to get something like that to bed - and wish I'd thunked of the friggin' Documentary Channel. Ei ei ei.

[denill]

Kim's story, no matter how or who tells it is aweinspiring. A couple of observations for comment perhaps: :blink:
1 - Hanna makes no mention of Janeen's passing.
2 - Hanna's style of writing is verbose to the extreme, so much so I had to persevere - where I would have gladly chucked it. (Didn't notice it so much in the Britten and Munro books?)

[F5 Dave]

Talking of writing styles check out the review someone :innocent: left on amazon about this book down the bottom of the page.


http://www.amazon.com/Japans-Motorcycle-Wars-Industry-History/dp/0824833287/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1300912828&sr=8-1

[denill]

<a href=http://www.boatracingfacts.com/forums/showthread.php?p=104442>YouTube clip with some good original footage:</a>

[denill]

Talking of writing styles check out the review someone :innocent: left on amazon about this book down the bottom of the page.


http://www.amazon.com/Japans-Motorcycle-Wars-Industry-History/dp/0824833287/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1300912828&sr=8-1


Damn, I could've plagiarsed that to describe Hanna's style......... :yes: :yes:

[ac3_snow]

Brought this book yesterday from Dymocks for $9.99, down from 49.99 so a bargin if any one is interested! I got it from the store on Broadway, Newmarket.

[Bullitt]

Sounds like a good deal. Pity Wellington doesn't have a Dymocks anymore.

[Dutchee]

Brought this book yesterday from Dymocks for $9.99, down from 49.99 so a bargin if any one is interested! I got it from the store on Broadway, Newmarket.

yOU going that way again anytime soon? I'd be keen on a copy for that price but can't be stuffed going to newmarket to get one. Otherwise I'll just have to borrow yours ;) Can swap Croz (which is probably the better read, as Hanna's books I've found a bit dull in the past).

[ac3_snow]

Yeap I will be there tomorrow!

[boman]

yOU going that way again anytime soon? I'd be keen on a copy for that price but can't be stuffed going to newmarket to get one. Otherwise I'll just have to borrow yours ;) Can swap Croz (which is probably the better read, as Hanna's books I've found a bit dull in the past).

I have both, and agree that Croz is a better, and easier read. It seemed to take forever to finish the Kim Newcombe book.

[BAD DAD]

Started reading it ages ago but gradually got worn down by too much detail. Probably expected an adventure type book in contrast to what almost seems to read as heavily as a text book. Maybe the forward set the tone. I'll pick it up again one day but doubt that I will re-read from the beginning. "Croz" on the other hand was exciting and didn't seem to bog down as much . It spent more time on the track and less in the pits.