Light in the Darkness by Alan Carter |
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| Wednesday, 07 December 2011 09:04 | ||||
 Alan Carter hit the motorcycle headlines when he became the youngest ever GP winner after the French GP in 1983. At that time he was one of only three Brits to reach the GP podium and a glittering future looked set. His father Mal Carter, a hard man from Halifax was literally one of the largest names in the UK paddocks sponsoring riders like Phil and Ron Haslam under his ‘Pharaoh Racing’ team banner as well as a number of Speedway riders. Loved by some hated by others. His controversial elder brother Kenny Carter was double British Speedway Champion and the England number one rider until he, like his mother before him, committed suicide. Light in the Darkness is as much a story about the Carter family as it is about its author Alan. As you read through the 300 pages in this soft-back you find that while outwardly Alan had it all, life beneath the gloss was far from perfect. In fact this must rate as one of the most brutally honest autobiographies ever, with little being hidden or glossed over, including the obtaining of a criminal record. (Anybody interested in Speedway and Kenny Carter will also find this account very interesting!) It is well illustrated with many black and white family photos as well as action shots from the press at the time that sit well with the text. Carter expresses his story in a very basic forthright manner, which includes the use of expletives, but this helps you realise he is very much the son of Mal Carter! There is some Yorkshire humour, although as Alan says “I have been to hell and back” which by the time you get to the end you realise is something of an understatement. Depending on your temperament you may find yourself laughing and crying in equal measure. If you want an honest story about a climb to the top and the fall back again and what it costs, then this is a must read. If you have delicate stomach and believe everything in the world of motorcycle sport is rosy and wonderful then perhaps this is not a book for you! Personally I found it refreshingly honest and a good read. It costs £16.00. ISBN 978 0 9559340 6 3 Available from the publisher Retro Speedway www.retro-speedway.com Review by Ian Kerr
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