‘On his day the was no one better than Peter Williams, and I mean no one.’ – Mike Hailwood
Motorcycle riders and enthusiasts of every generation will enjoy and cherish legendary racer and engineer Peter Williams’ autobiography, Designed to Race. With copies of the first imprint changing hands for up to £500, the publishers have decided the time is right for a second edition. Now eager fans who missed out first time around can add this acclaimed volume to their bookshelves.
The latest imprint of Designed to Race from Redline Books brings the Williams story right up to date, including last summer’s release of limited edition replicas of the JPN Monocoque Commando he took to victory in the 1973 Isle of Man F750 TT, lovingly recreated by his latest enterprise, Peter Williams Motorcycles.
That’s just the latest chapter in Williams incredible life and career in which the visionary engineer and racer innovated and developed such motorcycling staples as disc brakes, cast wheels, tubeless tyres and the twin-spar frame.
On the track he was widely recognised as perhaps the best racer never to win a world championship although his record boasts numerous national victories and, of course, that sensational 1973 TT win on the monocoque Norton Commando he developed himself. His successful racing career ended following a horrendous accident in 1974 but his work as an engineer and innovator continued at Lotus and in electronic race bikes and elsewhere. Next up will be a modern monocoque motorcycle funded through sales of the JPN replica.
Williams’ autobiography, reads like a Boy’s Own tale of derring-do, from boyhood experiments on his bicycle pushing the laws of physics to and frequently beyond their limits to the upper echelons of motorcycle racing. Williams’ engineering genius and riding skill took air-cooled Matchless singles and Norton twins way past their competition sell-by dates while his modesty denied him the spoils his talent deserved. He turned down a GP career with Yamaha when asked if he had the beating of Mike Hailwood in him, saying he didn’t, forgetting that in fact he had already won against the racer many view as the greatest ever.
This compelling and beautifully written and produced book tells the whole story in Williams’ own engaging voice with all its extraordinary candour.
The book is a high quality hard back. Details of the book are as follows:
Pages: 288 pages full colour throughout on 150gsm satin art paper, approx 300 photographs, hardback bound with dust jacket
Size: 280 x 220mm portrait
Weight: 1.75kgs
ISBN 978-0-9555278-8-3
Peter Williams Engineering 