In the Golden Age of Grand Prix racing, every competitor was a hero.
When getting killed was just a normal part of racing only the toughest of the tough survived.
Even in this time of Motoheroes, the hardest of them all was Jim Redman – Man of Steel.
Jim’s racing career was a stellar success with six World Championships and six TT wins to his name.
But not only was Jim one of the best riders on the track he was also Honda Team Captain, Honda Race Team Manager, a personal friend of Soichiro Honda himself – and a fierce advocate for riders being treated fairly by organisers.
In many ways, he was GP motorcycle racing.
There has been much written about Jim but this book tells the story, in words and unique images, not only of his immense success on the track but what went on behind closed doors.
You’ll find out what it was really like to fight for a Honda contract and to battle with organisers for a fair deal.
There is also the manic humour of this incredible period of racing.
Here’s Jim explaining how the Honda team got the legendary “6” to its first GP.
“We finished the Honda “6” after just one test and the only way to get the bike to Monza on time was by buying it three passenger seats on the plane to Italy.
“I knew then that it was going to be a major star right from the start.”
Jim also had a very special approach to physical training:
“Some top riders never used to have sex for ten days before a GP but this didn’t suit me.
“I had no hesitation in this respect.
“They’d go up to her (Jim’s wife) and say, ‘Yes or no?’
“Then they’d go away when she always said yes.
“It kept me fitter than any gym.”
