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Post by steveholmes on May 4, 2016 16:45:15 GMT 12
Hi folks, I'm a motoring journalist. I've been writing for various NZ and Aussie car magazines for about 15 years, and have written 8 car and motorbike related books.
I'm currently working on a book about people in speedway. Its called Kiwi Speedway Culture. The book is really about the people themselves, rather than just a blow by blow account of race results. Its about their own histories and struggles and achievements in the sport, and their highs and lows. The level of commitment to race in speedway in NZ is on a par with that of a professional racing team in other countries. The difference being, in NZ this is a hobby that doesn't pay the bills, and racers have to go back to work on a Monday morning to pay for the racing. I'm wanting to bring this story across.
I'm trying to include a mix of current racers at the top end, as well as grass-roots racers, plus a few former racers, and a couple of speedway related museums.
To date, the book is featuring Shane Harwood, Mark Osborne, Steve Thompson, the Joblin family, the Cowling family, the Boulton family, plus Clive Elliot, Murray Gordge, Albert Gordge, Bruce Robertson, Shane McIntyre, and a few others.
What I'm hoping to find are a couple of grass-roots teams who currently compete in either Stockcars, Streetstocks, or Ministocks. Also, am quite keen to include a female racer in the book, as the sport is obviously heavily weighted towards male drivers.
If you're interested, flick me an email at: steve@musclecardigitalmagazine.com
I'd prefer teams that are either Manawatu, Wellington, or Wairarapa based.
Thanks in advance.
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Post by hottamale on May 4, 2016 17:38:07 GMT 12
so is this a 'Speedway book' or a Stockcar book? eg Midgets, Sprintcars , TQs as well?
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Post by Speedway Central (David) on May 4, 2016 20:46:07 GMT 12
Being called Kiwi Speedway Culture shouldnt it cover all Country, and not prefer teams that are either Manawatu, Wellington, or Wairarapa based.
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Post by steveholmes on May 4, 2016 21:09:19 GMT 12
Being called Kiwi Speedway Culture shouldnt it cover all Country, and not prefer teams that are either Manawatu, Wellington, or Wairarapa based. Just for starters, Shane Harwood is in Nelson, Mark Osborne and the Boultons in Canterbury, Shane McIntyre in Cromwell, Steve Thompson in Greymouth, the Cowlings in Tauranga, Murray and Albert Gordge in Taranaki, the Joblins in Taranaki, Blondie Chamberlain in Taranaki, Gordon McIsaac's Vintage Speedway Museum is in Auckland, and all have been visited or are soon due to be visited for the book. |
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Post by Admin on May 4, 2016 21:11:22 GMT 12
Being called Kiwi Speedway Culture shouldnt it cover all Country, and not prefer teams that are either Manawatu, Wellington, or Wairarapa based. Something like this is only ever going to be a sampling unless you want to fund something all encompassing that probably wouldn't be finished in our lifetimes. The knocking machine is still rattling along, guess it always will. |
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Post by Deleted on May 4, 2016 22:19:10 GMT 12
Being called Kiwi Speedway Culture shouldnt it cover all Country, and not prefer teams that are either Manawatu, Wellington, or Wairarapa based. Something like this is only ever going to be a sampling unless you want to fund something all encompassing that probably wouldn't be finished in our lifetimes. The knocking machine is still rattling along, guess it always will. Yip I'm guessing the top runners that he has covered already have taken a fair bit of time and effort. so for the weekend warrior, mid pack runner, plodder, wobbler what ever you want to call them he wants something local and doesn't wanna fly to Invercargill to interview/photo someone who greatest achievement is 12th in the southland production saloon champs, when he can go see someone who was 8th in the manawatu adult ministock champs |
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Post by mainlander on May 5, 2016 9:53:52 GMT 12
Hey ramjam he might want togo to gore though and interveiw one peter wood's who won it all and in my way of thinking is the best supersaloon driver ever to grace speedway track's in newzealand
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Post by superman8 on May 5, 2016 12:20:47 GMT 12
A team from western springs wouldn't go a stray with the tracks history. Could be a top team or a kid from quarter midgets wouldn't really matter in my opinion. Great idea to write the book though
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2016 17:29:54 GMT 12
Hey ramjam he might want togo to gore though and interveiw one peter wood's who won it all and in my way of thinking is the best supersaloon driver ever to grace speedway track's in newzealand He may well want to... But your telling the wrong person.  |
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Post by Speedway Central (David) on May 5, 2016 21:19:57 GMT 12
Being called Kiwi Speedway Culture shouldnt it cover all Country, and not prefer teams that are either Manawatu, Wellington, or Wairarapa based. Something like this is only ever going to be a sampling unless you want to fund something all encompassing that probably wouldn't be finished in our lifetimes. The knocking machine is still rattling along, guess it always will. i would consider putting in some funding, Didnt think i big knocker. Im all for everything nz speedway. Will go get oil can. |
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Post by steveholmes on May 6, 2016 14:25:29 GMT 12
Hi everyone, thanks so much for all the comments, for and against. I appreciate it all. Macgor and Ramjam have essentially hit the nail on the head. Writing books in New Zealand is not something a person can do for a living. We don't have the population. So it has to be juggled around earning a buck to pay the mortgage and the bills. So the more time spent on the road travelling, the more expensive the costs, and the more strain it is trying to balance family life.
I'm fortunate in that all the books I write are done through a proper publishing company who are great to work with. But you are limited with the amount of content you can squeeze in. You have to start at the retail price and work backwards from there. These books have to retail at just under $40. Under $40 means they become an impulse buy, where someone might see it in a bookshop and are comfortable to spend the money. As soon as you get over $40, people balk a little and need to go away and mull it over. It has to be affordable.
So the retail price then dictates the cost the book needs to be produced for. And that cost dictates how many pages it can have. These books all have just under 200 pages, and they're hard cover. So then you have to break those pages up into chapters, and that determines how many people you can include. This book has quite a lot of text, because I've been visiting racers, and recording our conversations which I then use as part of the text. I'm spending around 2 - 4 hours with each person.
So you really have to choose your battles. You can't have everyone in there. You have to pick a few of the top name drivers, and combine that with a few at grass roots level. And I don't mean any disrespect to grass roots racers. I have huge respect for everyone who races in speedway, because the committment is massive, no matter what division you race in or what your budget. And everyone who races is just as important as the next guy. Everyone, for the most part, races to their own budget. But you have to choose your battles, and as I live in the Wairarapa, its easier for me to get away during a week day or weekend and spend a day visiting people within a few hours drive than someone who is at the other end of the country. Regardless, their stories are all fascinating to me.
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2016 15:49:21 GMT 12
Great post Steve, wish you best of luck with this and look forward to seeing the finished book. It's great that you've got a publisher on board. Vanity publishers are good for small market books but to have a proper old school publisher on board shows some confidence in the subject matter, which can only be a good thing.
Best of luck with it.
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Post by Stumo on May 7, 2016 23:06:03 GMT 12
Steve check ya inbox I have messaged you Book sounds great! |
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Post by steveholmes on Jun 4, 2016 9:27:20 GMT 12
I just wanted to say a huge thanks to everyone who contacted me regarding this book. The encouragement has been incredible, and its been one of the most enjoyable projects I've worked on. We have everyone being included now locked in and are just racing towards the finish line. Getting good photos has been a bit of a problem for a few chapters, but people like Barry Brown have been amazing in their generosity. For some chapters, such as Bruce Robertson's, I've been spoiled for choice. Bruce has sent a bunch of great photos from his archives. Here is an example, of a young Bruce Robertson aboard the very first Tank. Epic!  |
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Post by craige on Jun 5, 2016 7:34:07 GMT 12
I just wanted to say a huge thanks to everyone who contacted me regarding this book. The encouragement has been incredible, and its been one of the most enjoyable projects I've worked on. We have everyone being included now locked in and are just racing towards the finish line. Getting good photos has been a bit of a problem for a few chapters, but people like Barry Brown have been amazing in their generosity. For some chapters, such as Bruce Robertson's, I've been spoiled for choice. Bruce has sent a bunch of great photos from his archives. Here is an example, of a young Bruce Robertson aboard the very first Tank. Epic! Put me def down for one book |
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Post by salooncar on Jun 5, 2016 19:36:53 GMT 12
You might want to track down Lance Jennings, Paul Le Cren, Kevin Stevens, Kerry Jones, Phil Gsme, Tony Mclanahan and maybe see if anyone can give you the story of the late Phil Joyce.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2016 19:40:53 GMT 12
I just wanted to say a huge thanks to everyone who contacted me regarding this book. The encouragement has been incredible, and its been one of the most enjoyable projects I've worked on. We have everyone being included now locked in and are just racing towards the finish line. Getting good photos has been a bit of a problem for a few chapters, but people like Barry Brown have been amazing in their generosity. For some chapters, such as Bruce Robertson's, I've been spoiled for choice. Bruce has sent a bunch of great photos from his archives. Here is an example, of a young Bruce Robertson aboard the very first Tank. Epic! Put me def down for one book Correction, put him down for two, so he he can Send one to me. Many thanks Craig |
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Post by steveholmes on Jun 6, 2016 10:44:07 GMT 12
Thanks everyone. I snapped this shot while visiting the Joblin's a few months back. What a great family this is, and they do so much for the sport. That's Russell Joblin (1986 Champ) in the centre. I really enjoyed talking to him about his racing days. Simon is in the blue overalls, while Scott is on the right in the shorts. Adam is out of shot, busy repairing his car after suffering some heavy front end damage in the South Island. They had just got back from a South Island trip and were all hard at it on this Wednesday night I visited to make the next event at Palmy.  |
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Post by steveholmes on Jun 6, 2016 11:47:39 GMT 12
Pictured at Gordon McIsaac's Vintage Speedway Museum. This car won the very first official Midget race held in New Zealand, at Western Springs, 1937. The section of corrugated iron on the wall is from the old Western Springs pit shed, and was signed by the visiting American Midget drivers at that 1937 event. This place is amazing!  |
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Post by steveholmes on Jun 6, 2016 15:56:25 GMT 12
A few model cars and trophies on the wall at Peter Rees' shop.  |
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