Book raising funds for the TT Rider's Association on sale at this year's race

For those lucky enough to be attending this year’s Isle of Man TT there will be a chance to get your hands on a copy of The Tuners of a Golden Age of Motorcycling with sales raising funds for the TT Rider’s Association.

TTRA secretary Frances Thorp, will have 200 copies of the book, written by former TT racer Bill Southcombe, for sale at the 38th Milestone, headquarters of the TTRA in the paddock.

The 106-page colour hardback book tells the stories of some of the greatest racers and engineers to have supported Brooklands and the TT/Manx GP from 1906 to 1974, and costs £20. A copy can also be ordered from the author by emailing bill.southcombe@gmail.com.

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

“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,” said Southcombe, a former TT racer himself.

“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.