Friday, 3 October 2014

Frankenstein Scooters to Dracula’s Castle

This is the bizarre premise for the book: British family rides from Italy to Istanbul (through Transylvania) on holiday on a pair vintage scooters fitted with motorbike engines; writes about it; expects public to buy it. The title is as convoluted. But, because Martin ‘Sticky’ Round is such an entertaining writer (and, perhaps, because I have a long-held soft spot for old scooters), it worked for me.

 I used to read Sticky’s stuff before I was a professional journalist and I still enjoy it now. He doesn’t try to re-invent the wheel (like he did with his Honda 250-two-stroke-powered Lambretta or his wife’s 400cc Suzuki-powered Maico) with his writing and it’s a fairly gentle, but engaging tale of man and wife and 11-year-old lad going on a very off-the-beaten track holiday (along with a friend and his 13-year-old daughter on another ancient, standard and – seemingly - woefully under-powered Lambretta). It is inspirational for anyone feeling they’re in a family holiday rut or fancy a bonding exercise with their sprog. And for anyone who thinks their bike isn’t up for touring, because it’s not a BMW GS with aluminium panniers.

The two-wheelers they’re riding might not be familiar or even desirable to readers, but the trials of touring on heavily modified, inappropriate machinery will ring a bell with chopper, street tracker or café racer riders.

The book is independently produced and available in large format paperback or ebook. G

Paperback Edition • ISBN: 978-0-9548216-2-3; • 196 Pages • 92 colour images • UK Price: £9.99 + P&P
Published by: Fingers in Pies Publications • Available from: www.scooterproducts.com

ebook (Amazon): • ISBN: 978-0-9548216-3-0 • Price £2.99 ebook (Smashwords edition - Apple, Nook Kobo etc) • ISBN: 978-0-9548216-4-7 • £2.99
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4 comments:

  1. capnsimo3 October 2014 at 16:06

    Dear Sticky, the book looks great, I shall indeed buy one as a guide and solution to family holiday stuckiness...maybe can you solve a mystery, whatever happened to the NSU Prima I gave to Ola Dele...did it re-appear as a frankenstein "Q" scooter, did it do anything...is it still alive.....many thanks sorry to bother you, toodle pip Simon Fiddy's friend....

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  2. bikegrim3 October 2014 at 16:08

    Reading it at the moment. Good stuff

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  3. Unknown3 October 2014 at 19:52

    Capnsimo,

    I don't know if Oladele ever finished the Prima which is a great shame because it'll be lush when it's done, but as far as I know he still has it.

    PS - Just found your comment by chance, not because I wrote the review. I didn't do the myself or it'd be even more glowing :)

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  4. capnsimo3 October 2014 at 23:29

    Cheers sticky nice of you to reply, it was a shot in the dark and respect to SB, no intention to use as a lonely hearts, I loved that NSU and it used to belong to me old Mate Will, as long as it happy and in a good home I am happy...great trip....lovely looking book...proper job, none of your Long Way Malarkey, more mondo enduro... top man
    Thankyou
    s

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