Golden Days of TT book to raise funds for riders association

For fans of the Isle of Man TT who want to reminisce about the golden days of the island road race, a new book is available detailing the great tuners from the first 70 years of the event and the bikes they tweaked.

Written by former TT racer Bill Southcombe, the 106-page colour book features race engineers from 1906 to 1974, it costs £20 with funds from the sales going toward the TT Riders Association (TTRA).

“The idea of this book is to encourage enthusiasts to donate to the TTRA and create a better understanding of what the TTRA does to help ex-riders,” Southcombe said.

“The hardback book tells the stories of some of the greatest racers and engineers to have supported Brooklands and the TT/Manx GP.”

In total the book, collated together with late friend and racer Peter Williams, features 40 legendary tuners of Nortons, Brough Superiors and more specialist makers, from all around the world, who competed on the legendary Mountain Course.

Southcombe, a former RAF pilot, added: “I raced in the TT in the 1960s, so this whole venture is a chance to put something back into the sport that I love.

“I have done recent parades in the Manx GP and will marshal there this year, with hopefully another dash round Jurby.”

Books are made to order with Bill covering the cost of printing from money earned while working at the Glastonbury Festival.

To get your copy and help out a worthy cause contact Bill at Hoods, Stoke sub Hamdon, Somerset TA14 6QR, or by email at bill.southcombe@gmail.com, attaching a cheque to the TTRA for £20, or requesting other methods of payment and carriage.