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This book should be
put on the bedside table of every motorcycle journalist intending to
write on the Norton/LeRoux era in general, and the supposed failure
of the Norton Rotary motorcycle in the marketplace in particular.
Unfortunately, it is a very complicated story that is unravelled
here, with the shady machinations of reverse takeovers, investment
fraud, company books that in retrospect make no sense whatsoever
etc, etc. In short, to understand the book demands a certain amount
of economic and banking knowledge, plus a level of intelligence and
interest in background information that is sadly lacking in the
average motorcycle journalist mainly interested in the
latest Suzuki colour scheme, or where to find the booze at the press
launch.
Who takes the time to read and digest this book will find it a
fascinating insight into the 1980s, where a young investment banker
with no interest whatsoever in motorcycles understood at least the
magic of the Norton name, and collected money from motorcycle
enthusiasts to, as they were led to believe, rebuild Norton.
Instead, the money was squandered on shady deals that did not make a
lot of sense, and it appears LeRoux was a boy in a mans world. In
the end, when the house of cards came down, the only real thing left
was a little motorcycle factory that could never repay the debts it
was not responsible for in the first place, and this debt led to the
end of motorcycle production, before the (rotary engined) motorcycles in question
ever had a chance to be produced in any numbers and to be sold
outside England.
I do not know if H.M.s Stationery
Office still sells copies of this work, but if they do, make sure
you get and read one. |
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