Book Review

BOOK REVIEW

BROOKLANDS BIKES IN THE TWENTIES

Brooklands Bikes in the Twenties by Peter Harley Motorsports 6115 Gravois St. Louis, Mo. 63116 $21.95

Only hard case historians and bike freaks need apply for this book which is the companion volume and sequel to the same author’s Bikes at Brooklands in Pioneer Years. It is written, however, that only by reading history shall ye know the future so you have been warned. In fact I ran across a nicely educated gent the other day, not a bad mechanic at all, who was trying to get good mid-range torque and a fantastic top-end out of the same 1600 Cosworth. A look at any of the older books like this would have showed him that it just ain’t on.

This book covers the era “from flat tanks to saddle tanks:’’ Just the postwar time when a little technology like forged aluminum pistons, alloy heads (1920), Alfin cylinders ( 1922) and even dohc vertical Twins no less were coming in. Trick fuel formulas were just being brewed up, speeds were becoming exciting, and the tuners were turning themselves inside out trying to outwit the ever-vigilant Mr. Ebblewhite, the handicapper. It didn’t do to show all the cards at once and besides everyone was in the dark! These were thq days where tuners made use of Binks rat trap or Senspray carbs, battled with inferior metals, lousy fuel and tires little better than bicycle wear. All this activity, though, contributed to making today’s motorcycles as good as they are and if the names of Toronda, Alecto, NUT-JAP, ABC, Coventry-Victor, Acme, Levis, Ivy and Martinsyde have fallen out of our ken, well perhaps they deserve to.

A bit dry in spots but is a good reference work too, letting us in on the start of much technical innovation. Paperback, 244 pp, 61 pictures, 8'/2 by 5Vi approximately, atmosphere of Brooklands with its bookies!

—Henry N. Manney III