An In-depth biography of Bill Ivy, Yamaha World Champion and one of the greatest motorcycle racing stars to have ever lived.

Features a vast erray of spectacular photographs. Enough to satisfy even the most dedicated speed junkie.

When Bill Ivy was fatally injured while practising for the East German Grand Prix in July 1969, motorcycle racing lost one of its greatest ever
competitors. As a tribute to Bill, leading bike author Mick Walker has written Bill Ivy: The Will to Win. Bill Ivy was certainly not only a great rider, but a unique personality.

He had a steely determination to succeed, an almost fearless courage, which meant he never backed away from a challenge, a love of fashion and fast cars – and although only 5 feet 2 inches tall, he more than made up for his lack of stature, by his immense upper body strength, which meant he could cope with any size of motorcycle from a 50cc Itom to a 750cc Norton-engined matchless G15 CSR.

It was as a member of the Yamaha factory team that he not only became world champion, but also set the first 100mph TT lap record on a 125ccmachine – only a decade after Bob McIntyre had first achieved his feat on a machine with an engine size four times larger!

Bill Ivy: The Will to Win - is a fitting tribute to one of the world’s greatest-ever motorcycle racing stars.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mick Walker is a leading authority on all forms of motorcycle sport, and he has written about most of them. He has been a successful racer, tuner and team manager. He has been involved in virtually every aspect of the motorcycle business, and he still rides regularly. Between 1983 and 1987 he was editor of Motorcycle Enthusiast and in 1985 his first book was published. Since then he has published over 100 titles, covering motorcycles from many countries, in particular Ducati, Norton, Triumph and BMW. Mick Walker has an intimate and unparalleled knowledge of the racing scene and the evolution of the racing motorcycle over the last 50 years.

I was watching at Signpost Corner the day that Bill Ivy did the 100mph lap on the 125cc Yamaha. It was a fantastic achievement.

Never mind the Mick Walker rubbish.

Get a copy of the old Alan Peck biog. of Ivy - "No Time To Lose" - published in the 70's and reissued a couple of years ago - cracking book.

larryd Wrote:Never mind the Mick Walker rubbish.

Get a copy of the old Alan Peck biog. of Ivy - "No Time To Lose" - published in the 70's and reissued a couple of years ago - cracking book.

Hang on Larry dont you know how many great books Mick has written? give credit were due Larry.

pykey Wrote:

larryd Wrote:Never mind the Mick Walker rubbish.

Get a copy of the old Alan Peck biog. of Ivy - "No Time To Lose" - published in the 70's and reissued a couple of years ago - cracking book.

Hang on Larry dont you know how many great books Mick has written? give credit were due Larry.

I do indeed,Pykey, but most of them were a long time ago.

Nowadays all he seems to do is recirculate old magazine articles/reports, without much significant new research.

His Bob Mac book is a case in point - the bookmark is still in mine, halfway through - that's as far as I got when I bought it 3(?) years ago. I'll never finish it!!

Still, don't let me put you off - it's just my opinion . . . . . .

Ok Malcolm only my thoughts as you say the Bob Mac is only one of Micks great books and i am going to big headed Mick used some of my photos in it and his book on race circuits is a must.

pykey Wrote:Ok Malcolm only my thoughts as you say the Bob Mac is only one of Micks great books and i am going to big headed Mick used some of my photos in it and his book on race circuits is a must.

Malcolm??

Thanks Pykey!!

the thing is how many times can you tell the story it is just a few words more or less plus some cracking photos i was looking thru some old boxs and found a few negs from 1967/8 and on them were bill and phil read at the ulster gp i will be getting the book