An Age of Superheros -Mat Oxley Book, - Gardner, Schwantz, Lawson, Rainey, Doohan

[F5 Dave]

Well I've been waiting for this sort of thing to come out & Amazon obviously have their targeted email advertising tuned in on my frequency.


Now just to add that I don't read many books. Some years I'd get through perhaps one non technical book. and probably one non motorcycle book every ten years.

The book follows the rise of a time of racing in the premier class where there was the most excitement & perhaps the best racing ever. Acutely noticed when only one was left (Doohan), no one really was in the same league. But these guys all were & shared the track at the same time. The bikes were more spectacular by many levels than the heavy Diesels that followed.

The book is a great read, but the photos really bring it to life. I'm not a photo nancy arty person by any stretch, but the book is crammed full of leap out at you pictures. I'll read this again & again.

Go buy it.


Other picks;
'KIM' by Tim Hana, Kim Newcombe story

Stealing Speed', another Mat Oxley book & despite silly cover picture is a great read & I thought I'd read many articles already about Walter Kaaden 2 stroke architect.

Kevin Cameron's TopDeadCenter vol 1 & 2, also his Grand Prix bikes book on evolution of race bikes.

Colin Mackellers Yamaha, on the companies 2 stroke race, factory & road bikes.


Hmm, seems to be a trend here, but I can't quite put my finger on it.:innocent:

[tri boy]

Footage of Doohan n Gardner dicing into turn 1 at the Phillip Isld GP are etched into my memory forever.
They were all ballsy riders IMO.

[F5 Dave]

yeah 89 Philip Island was an amazing race. except '90 at the same track was another ball buster.


oh yeah it (inside cover) says special price offer (probably open to anyone) was Duke Vids have released 2 series of GP series. First from 83-93ish. I'm going to order that. no idea when I'd have time to watch it, but I'll find it.

[Dodgy]

Yep, remember that year Dave when Doohan lost the front into turn 1? Massive track invasion as everone tried to score bits of fairing!

[F5 Dave]

Yeah & what about that grizzly old chap next to us that turned around & walked away once Doo had crashed? didn't want to see those silly motorbikes if his aussie cobber wasn't winning.:blink:

[GD66]

My mate went to Misano a couple of years ago and most of the crowd stamped out in disgust when Rossi's Yamaha let go in the early laps.
He was rapt, not only is he a Rossi hater but he then had plenty of room...:yes:

BTW I bought the Oxley Superheroes book off amazon.com as well, and like it a lot, even though he did himself no favours with that Stealing Speed effort. There's much more to the Degner and Kaaden situations than he alluded to, and as others have pointed out, the writing style is much more sensationalist than thoughtful. As both a journo and a racer you'd expect him to have a balanced outlook.
But no complaints with the latest offering, interesting text and LOTS of great pics from those incredible days.