Ack Attack by Dick Lague |
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.jpg) The title of this hardback by Dick Lague may not convey much about the contents, until you look at the sub-title - Record Breaking Motorcycle An intriguing question that you will not be able to answer even when you have read through the 160 pages liberally spread with some superb colour images. What you will have though is a very good idea of the dedication, passion and vast spectrum of knowledge that is needed to try and go faster on two wheels than the last guy. This is the in-depth story of a team that started in 2001 and by 2008 had taken the record twice, pushing it to 360.913 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats, a far cry from the very first record of 64mph set in New York in 1906. It took fifty years from that inaugural speed to crack the 200 mph barrier and it was not until 1978 that it crept above 300mph with Don Vesco in the hot seat. Why does it take so long given modern engines and technology? Well this book explains it well and there is one particular paragraph that sums it all up. “Racers win at Dayton and the Isle of Man and other important races but no one wins at Bonneville. You may get a record there - maybe two - but no one beats it. Winning implies conquering, being better than, superior to. Not at Bonneville.” This book is effectively the life and times of one Mike Akatiff and his love of speed and dedication to the cause. Record breaking may not be quite as glamorous as MotoGP or similar, but it is fascinating on all counts. If you love engineering and stories of people battling against the odds you will love this latest Parker House Publishing tome, best summed up by the author. “Akatiff’s original goal was to set the ultimate motorcycle land speed record by a significant amount and retire. But significant is a difficult concept to define and retire for him is an impossibility.” A cracking good read and once again inspiring, all for £27.99. ISBN 978 1 935350 09 5 Available from all good bookshops or direct from www.bookdepository.co.uk Review by Ian Kerr
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