I have just finished reading this book, which I think is a cracking story, written by Mat Oxley, called "Stealing Speed".

This book tells the story of the Degner/Kaaden scandal which had an incalculable effect on the world of speed, transforming the two-stroke motorcycle from humble runabout to racetrack dominator.

In 1961, with the Cold War at its height and the world on the brink of Armageddon, East and West were battling for supremacy on the racetracks of Europe. Using technology inspired by the notorious V-1 Flying Bombs, former Nazi rocket scientist Walter Kaaden built the world's most powerful race bikes for East German factory MZ.

"Wonderfully written and researched, a motorcycling history book in a league of its own" Tommy Robb - 1960's factory Honda rider and GP winner.

"Anyone who's into motorcycle racing or who enjoys a bloody good, well written story will love it. I could hardly put the thing down". James Whitham - Two Wheels only Magazine

ISBN 978 1 84425 689 1

For these long dreary nights, a book that I am sure you will enjoy as much as I did.

Malcolm.


You can get it via Amazon for less than £20:00.

There's a copy on Eblag only £99.99 (but free delivery!

Don't think I'll be buying it.

amazon's price is 16.84 GBP + pp .....

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For the record -

In 1878 Sir Dugald Clark developed the first two-stroke engine but he did not patent the engine design.
In 1904 Alfred Scoff patented the first two-stroke, a v-twin, and later developed a rotary valve engine in 1912. - quote

"The little marvel" : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DKW
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MZ_Motorrad...dwerk_GmbH

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_Degner
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Kaaden