Racing off the Page
John Moulton’s story is perhaps unique. Selling advertising space for a local newspaper in the early 1970s, a casual question; ‘Why doesn’t this newspaper have a motorcycle column?’ ultimtely changed his life. It lead to several years as a motorcycle journalist, road testing many of the landmark bikes of the period, followed by a stint managing a branch for a well known north western motorcycle dealer.
Throughout, John maintained a firm interest in motorcycle sport and as a result was on first name terms with many of the north west’s stars of the period. These included Charlie Williams (who has written the foreword), Stan Woods and John Williams among others, as John became a paddock fixture, first behind the lens of a camera and then as righthand man to sidecar racer Allen Steele.
A true 1970s tale
Hardback - £20 Plus P&P
Hanks - On my knees
On my knees is Roy Hanks’ story, but it is also his family’s. It is a unique, personal, insight into sixty years of racing and life in the motorcycle trade.
Told with Roy’s trademark humour, it traces the development of sidecar racing on the track, from the big-wheelers of the 1950s through to the sidecar outfits of the present day. All of which Roy competed on at the highest level.
A TT and British Championship winner, no one has raced on the track, nor worked so long in the trade. Neither has anyone told their story so eloquently.
The epithet ‘legend’ is bandied about too freely in motorsport these days, but few would argue with its application to Roy Hanks
Hardback - £20 Plus P&P
Production Racers of the 1960s
It’s all production racing now. From the Isle on Man TT to WSBK, Moto 2 to BSB. It was very different in the 1960s however. When production racing grew from small acorns to the point where a production race could be the highlight of a National meeting or even the Isle of Man TT. Malcolm Uphill’s 100mph lap of the Island in 1969 opened a whole new chapter, but it was the ten years preceding this which laid the ground work.
Told through the recollections of over 50 riders, tuners, sponsors and mechanics involved at the time this is the story of where Super Bike was born
Hardback - £28 Plus P&P
Hailwood to Vincent
Following on from the critically acclaimed Thunderbolts & Lightning, this is the much anticipated companion volume on the BSA Unit twins, covering their previously undocumented competition history. Told in the same unique style as volume I it is based on interviews with those involved at the time, as competitors, engineers, draughtsmen, sponsors and tuners.
It’s full of stories and anecdotes which will be new to even the most well informed BSA or racing enthusiast and it contains many images which have never been seen before, over 290 pages.
Hardback - £25 Plus P&P
From The Other Side Of The Tracks
Written by Sue Horton, wife and partner to Grand Prix star and TT winner Clive Horton, this is a unique recollection of what it was like to be part of the Continental Circus in the 1970s and early 1980s. Sue’s book received rave reviews when first published two years ago as a Kindle edition, so we’re very pleased now to be able to offer it on paper for the first time, reformatted and updated with additional colour photos and a new final chapter by Clive himself.
Just £10 plus P&P
Thunderbolts & Lightning
Published in 2020 to critical acclaim Peter Crawford’s book is acknowledged as a must for any fan of the BSA twins. Frank Westworth of Real Classic stated: “This is the best book we’ve read all year....a remarkable gem” while respected author Peter Henshaw, editor of Vintage & Classic, went one better, concluding: “It’s a masterpiece”.
It’s full of information which will be new to even the most well informed fan of the Birmingham twins, and contains many images and documents which have never been seen before, over 280 pages.
Hardback - £25 Plus P&P
About WIDELINE
WIDELINE is a new publisher set up to create and promote motorcycle books for the discerning.
You’ve probably heard that sales pitch before but the demise of high street book shops and the winding down of established publishers in the field has seen a decline in the diversity of motorcycle titles on offer.
Our ambition is to avoid the low hanging fruit of well covered topics and to concentrate on makes and models, events and personalities, too esoteric for the mainstream. Providing good value publications to genuine enthusiasts and those looking for something a bit different.
Contact Us
- Anytime for anything.
Got a shipping question? Can’t pay on-line? Just drop us a line and we’ll be able to sort it out.
We’re also always interested in book ideas from industry insiders, racers or those involved with the British motorcycle scene more broadly, so please get in touch if you think you have a story to tell.