Out Front!: British Motocross Champions 1960-1974
Panther Publishing Ltd
Edition: First Edition, 2011-01-01
EAN 9780956497536, ISBN10: 0956497535
Paperback, 256 pages, 24.5 x 21 x 1.5 cm
With a Foreword by none other than Jeff Smith, nine times a British Champion and twice World Champion, Out FRONT is a wonderful celebration of some of the best off-road racers there have ever been. The photos alone make this book a 'must have' and include many which have never before been published: all are simply stunning. From Dave Bickers, Jeff Smith and Arthur Lampkin to John Banks, Bryan Wade and Vic Allan - all eleven British champions from 1960 to 1974 are here with full profiles of the men and their championship careers, complete with fantastic action photos! Out FRONT is both a joy to read and a much needed work which really brings to life the history of scrambles and motocross in the UK through the careers of the men who became the champions. For each champion the book provides an insight into their background and the reasons behind their choices of race meeting, tactics and bike, their involvement in international races and the TV series of the time, and the racing politics of the period. Detailed, authoritative and drawing on the recollections of the British Champions themselves, Out FRONT is a window on how scrambles and motocross used to be in the Britain of the 1960s and early 70s.
Just when you think a subject has been well covered and documented, a new book comes out that is totally different and takes a new angle and has you reading from cover to cover as quick as you can, because it quickly becomes addictive. Out FRONT from Panther Publishing is one such book, but given their track record in coming up with interesting and different motorcycle books it is hardly surprising!...So instead of just another book with a list of results and an overview of the whole scene, we have 264 pages of the inside story told by the people who were there and very much part of it - the eleven British Champions from 1960 to 1974...Thanks to Berry's interviews, it manages to tell the story behind what some may regard as simple placings, their often being no podium finish in a major race... There are some marvellous accounts from some of the more memorable races in the individual rider's careers ...All profiles end with an up-to-date report on where they are now and their subsequent careers outside the sport...If like me you are of that era you are just going to love every page of this excellent work and I have to agree with the press release when it says the photos alone make Out FRONT a must have! A truly stunning work and well worth the asking price which includes postage. Avalable direct from the Publisher Panther Publishing www.panther-publishing.com Review by Ian Kerr