Mention the words ‘café racer’ and many of us will go all bleary-eyed as we remember the Tritons and TriBSAs of old, gleaming in the sunshine with their race-style alloy tanks, clip-ons and rear-sets, alloy rims, swept-back pipes, humped seats et al, and packed into the gardens of hotels and guest houses all the way up from the Douglas Promenade to the Glencrutchery Road during TT fortnight, to the joy and admiration of all who passed by.
But while the classic café racer remains as revered as ever, Uli Cloesen’s beautifully-illustrated book reminds
us of just how far things have moved
on, with many stunning descriptions
and illustrations of 21st-century masterpieces powered by British engines ancient and modern, along with the growing numberof tasty and reliable production models that are now available straight off the shelf. PK
British Café Racers, by Uli Cloesen. Published by Veloce Publishing Ltd,
Veloce House, Parkway Farm Business Park, Middle Farm Way, Poundbury,
Dorchester DT1 3AR (01305 260068,
fax 01305 250479
email [email protected] ).
128-page 248 x 248mm hardback with 250 colour illustrations.
ISBN 978-1-845848-96-5. £30
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Read more on this and other Reviews, News, Features and Opinion in December’s issue of OBM
