James Whitham relives Manx memories in new book

James will be at the Lexicon Bookshop, Douglas, on Thursday, August 28, between 12.30pm and 2pm, signing copies of his new autobiography What a Good Do!

By JOHN TURNER
JAMES Whitham's connection with the Isle of Man goes back a long way, starting when he came with his father to spectate at the 1978 TT as a schoolboy.
Since then, the former World Superbike racer who retired in 2002 has raced here, spectated here and been a regular visitor when his father was resident in Andreas.

On Thursday (August 28) he will be in the Island at the Lexicon Bookshop, Douglas, between 12.30pm and 2pm, signing copies of his new autobiography What a Good Do!

'I come over at least two or three times a year, he said. 'I was here for the TT (his friend Paul Shoesmith was competing for the fourth time) and I have friends riding in the Manx Grand Prix.

'But the first time I came was as an 11-year-old in 1978 when Mike Hailwood made his return to the TT, so my first taste was probably the best year.

'The centenary was good but the whole thing is more jaw-dropping as an 11-year-old.

'We sat up on the bank above Glen Helen and the weather was perfect. I remember it as if it was yesterday and it is what got me into wanting to race. It was just inspiring.'

The TT differs from other major racing events, he said, because people take part for the love of it rather than to please sponsors or because it is part of the official race series.

At 41, he is part of the Yamaha LC generation but unlike many of his friends that is not where he cut his teeth in racing.

James explained: 'A lot of mates had LCs and then went onto the TZ 250s and 350s but I started on a Honda 125. I'm a bit of a two-stroke mentalist!

'And two-strokes were what we raced then.'

He also likes the hands-on approach where racers are involved in their own bike maintenance and set up, like Joey Dunlop, and admires the skill involved.

He sees rising interest in pure road racing which he says is entering a bit of a 'purple period' at the moment with more people wanting to take up the challenge of the TT.

Originally written with motorcycle photojournalist Mac McDiarmid about six years ago, the book has now been published by Haynes.

Rather than giving a boring chronology of his career, James says he has tried to keep it lively and engaging.

To this end, there is a rich diversity of humorous stories and anecdotes including the incident where he cartwheeled his Yamaha over the barrier at Chris Curve at Cadwell right on to the bonnet of an old couple's Ford Escort.

'They just carried on eating their sandwiches!' said James. 'I walked back to the pits and said "sorry, the bike's a bit of a mess but there's an old couple looking after it".'

James still lives in his native Huddersfield, a stone's throw from most of his family, and works commentating on World Superbikes for Eurosport and ITV and writing for TWO magazine.

The book, with a foreword by Carl Fogarty, is priced at £18.99 and is available from bookshops in the Island.


http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/James-Whi...4419474.jp

I bought this a couple of weeks ago, and read it more or less in one sitting. It is just the James I remember, and Mac McD has captured the elusive quality of his subject perfectly.