Kim Newcombe book

**cantilever** · 15th February 2011, 15:58

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · 16th February 2011, 08:14

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** · 16th February 2011, 08:29

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

**vinducati** · 16th February 2011, 10:07

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** · 16th February 2011, 15:24

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · 17th February 2011, 17:12

Originally Posted by Big Dave

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** · 17th February 2011, 17:14

Maybe he prefers to earn a crust.

**bultaco** · 20th February 2011, 20:28

Originally Posted by 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...

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** · 20th February 2011, 21:37

Originally Posted by cantilever

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** · 11th March 2011, 18:05

Originally Posted by bultaco

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** · 11th March 2011, 18:50

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** · 23rd March 2011, 15:42

Kim's story, no matter how or who tells it is aweinspiring. A couple of observations for comment perhaps:

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?)