Colin Seeley..and the rest by Colin Seeley |
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 I summed up my review of Colin Seeley’s first book ‘Racer ..and the rest’ by agreeing with his headmasters recommendation of, “a reliable lad”. That was not wrong because after that phenomenal volume one we now have volume two covering the years from 1970 to the present day.Is it as good as the first? Definitely! It is well on a par and written with the ‘reliable lads’ superb attention to detail. As you work your way through the 330 pages of the superbly laid out book from Redline you get the impression of speed, something that has been part of Colin’s life. While most people are content to drift through life, Seeley has packed three or four normal lifetimes into his 72 years. He has not only got the T-shirt, it has been well-washed and worn out in lifetime of two, three and four-wheeled sport that has had more than its fair share of ups and downs! Like the first book, what makes it such a good read is that it is not just about him, he brings out all the characters involved and you begin to understand what was happening in racing and the motorcycle industry at the time. In addition once again the text is backed up by images that have not been used repeatedly in other publications. This volume shows that while there are few men you can say have been truly there and done it all, Colin Seeley is definitely one of them. At this point I should confess that I know Colin well and a more likeable guy you could not meet and while he says this is his last book, he continues to be very active in the world of motorcycling, helping may riders and teams. There might not be another volume of this magnitude, but given his ability to cram a lifetime into each minute, there may well be more to come. Let’s hope so.! In the meantime I would suggest that if you have not read the first book, buy both and settle down for one of the best reads about a man who has been at the forefront of British motorcycling in all roles from rider to manufacturer. If you have the first then this is must, but if not both should be on your book list to read to read before you die! ISBN 978 0 9555278 1 4 Available from Redline Books (www.redlinebooks.co.uk) priced at £29.95 and worth every penny! Review by Ian Kerr
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