Treasured books and their sad tale

Perusing my bookshelf I pulled out these volumes which are among my favorites .

They came my way as a gift from an acquaintance who shared my interest in Brit Iron .
As a 20 + something year old I had built a Cafe Racer from a Commando in the early/mid 1970’s .
A local guy chatted me up about it and it was immediately apparent that he was very knowledgeable and we got to know each other through our shared interest .
Turns out he was ex - Navy aviation mechanic and after serving on a carrier in Vietnam he was discharged and used some of his money to purchase a new Lotus Elan . I had seen it around town admired it for a while and now I knew it’s owner.
A beautiful car in red replete with Dunlop spline drive knockoff alloy wheels.
He worked as a carpenter just as I did - I would like to say he was my buddy but truth be told we were simply two people with a common interest in the same town.
I think it accurate to say that we had a mutual respect for each other’s skills.
Years passed and we would see each other occasionally and talk about our interest - our meetings became more and more infrequent but I couldn’t help but notice a downgrade in his demeanor , appearance and intellect each time .
One day there was a knock on my door - I answered and found a barely recognizable guy . Agitated , eyes wide and blank and a grin marred by a mouthful of rotting teeth .
He thrust the books in the photo in my hand and said he thought I would appreciate them . I thanked him and he turned and left with a backhand wave . Within a week or two he would be found dead of an overdose of methamphetamines.
The Lotus was left rotting away in his garage and scooped up by someone for a song .
What a sad waste of so many things - the life of a guy who served his country well during wartime - a family devastated after what was likely a long downward spiral - and to a much lesser extent the waste of material objects . If you are reading this on this site you know what I mean about objects.
Many today have the same story but perhaps the now predominant villain is opiates fostered upon society by “ pain management ” clinics and their ilk .
Time to count my blessings.

Interesting, thanks for posting it. I too worked i. Naval Aviation and went out on the USS Independence (CV-62), then cross decked to the Kitty Hawk (CV-63) as an airframe mechanic with an F/A-18 Hornet squadron. Then went out on the USS Essex LHD-2 with helicopter squadron, currently retired from active duty but still working for uncle sam as a UH-60L Blackhawk mechanic in an Army battalion. I've seen my fair share of alcohol and drugs ruining lives. My wife's Auntie - - total lush and can't remember much of anything. Brother in law similar but trying to turn it around. Many of the guys I worked with only wanted to get out after their tour and go back to smoking dope. What a waste. It's very scary as a parent in today's world of oxytocin, etc.... Just a very small amount of that fentanyl can be fatal. And with 4 girls and two boys it weighs on me. But raising my kids here in Japan I think there is a chance that they will by-pass that dangerous diversion. Sorry to hear of your acquaintances passing.

Recent old acquaintance of mine passed away after a long and useful life. But the last years were exactly as you mention:
Pain Management. Meaning no thought of giving you the operation you need just another packet of a controlled substance .
They put you in jail for using it when young and the pump you up with it and ignore you when you are old.
There has to be a better way.

Onder said:

Recent old acquaintance of mine passed away after a long and useful life. But the last years were exactly as you mention:
Pain Management. Meaning no thought of giving you the operation you need just another packet of a controlled substance .
They put you in jail for using it when young and the pump you up with it and ignore you when you are old.
There has to be a better way.

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The same with my dad , in the end he was a prescription drug addict after a lifetime of hard work. It still breaks my heart.

Dave Degens told me “if you’re going to ride for me you’d better learn the basics”.
And he was‘t even referring to riding!
He gave me these Engineering Workshop Practice books and told me to read cover to cover:

Oh that is so old hat. We just watch a few youtube videos and know all that matters. Books are so over. I bet they don't even
have real pictures just old fashioned drawings.

Regarding pictures, I thought some might enjoy the period (mid 1960’s) photos in the Hailwood/ Walker book . All photos credited to “ The Art of Motorcycle Racing “ by Mike Hailwood and Murray Walker .
Interesting to note the difference between now and then - pudding basin helmets , plain leathers with no body armor , goggles.
Check out the outside sole in the right boot photo- ground away !




Sadly this book’s printing is dated 1964 so it pre dates the Honda RC 166 , my all time favorite race bike ( don’t hate me- I like Manx Nortons too )

cjandme said:

It's very scary as a parent in today's world of oxytocin, etc.... Just a very small amount of that fentanyl can be fatal. And with 4 girls and two boys it weighs on me. But raising my kids here in Japan I think there is a chance that they will by-pass that dangerous diversion. Sorry to hear of your acquaintances passing.

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Agreed 100% - I hope I am out of the woods as my two girls are all grown up - both in there early 30’s . Older one married for 4 years now and the younger walks down the aisle with me in little over a week’s time. I count my blessings every day - they never got in much trouble and they both have wonderful men as partners.
As a new parent years ago I believed that if you put in enough effort and paid enough attention the outcome of your children’s upbringing would be certain. 30 plus years later I now know that fate plays a hand as well so I am grateful for the good fortune in their rearing .
I don’t know how old your kids are but if can offer one piece of advice- ( and I suspect you are aware of this already ) - stick your nose firmly in their business and keep it there until they are safely out of the woods . They may not like it but they will thank you later.
Mine did .
Cheers - Richard

I also have “Tuning For Speed”. Fascinated by the instructions for making your own Conrods out of sheet steel. Also have Paul Dunstall‘s “Norton Tuning”.

1973x75 said:

I also have “Tuning For Speed”. Fascinated by the instructions for making your own Conrods out of sheet steel. Also have Paul Dunstall‘s “Norton Tuning”.

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Yes , it came in handy when static balancing my ES 2 crank .

There were quite a few editions of Tuning for speed - I have a 6th Edition 1987 ( the first was 1948)
Phil Irving also published Automobile Engine Tuning - I have the 3rd Impression 1963 (first was 1962)
The photos below are the contents of both books
Cheers