Motorbikes: A new book details the glories of one of Ireland's premierroad races, the North West 200. JOHN DONALD turns the pages
The North West 200 surely ranks as one of the most popular and enduring sporting events on this island.
Apart from four short breaks (during the war years from 1940 until 1946, in 1948 caused by a lack of fuel supplies, in 1963 and again in 1972 disrupted by the Troubles), the event has been run every year since 1929.
Attracting some 100,000 spectators annually, the North West 200 takes place on public roads linking the university town of Coleraine with the seaside resorts of Portrush and Portstewart.
In an era when safety concerns are forcing competitive events of this kind on to closed, manicured circuits, the North West 200 (like the Isle of Man TT) remains as a Mecca for riders and spectators who still relish the enjoyment of open road racing.
A new book The Power and the Glory - The History of the North West 200, compiled and written by Alastair McCook and published by Appletree Press, provides a comprehensive record of what the author describes as "seven drama filled decades" of this unique and exciting sporting event.
Brightly illustrated by a superb range of over 150 colour and black-and-white photographs, the 256-page hard backed, coffee table publication opens with a foreword by Robert Dunlop, a veteran of the North West 200 circuit.
Based largely on the first-hand accounts of many past winners, its contents include extracts from published press reports and material drawn from previously unpublished accounts all summarised in three main sections covering the periods 1929/50, 1951/71 and 1973/01.
Featured are 10 rider profiles including one of George Brockerton (a rider closely associated with the earliest years of the North West 200), Jimmy Guthrie, Artie Bell and Rex McCandless.
Also profiled in the book are riders of a more recent generation including the late and great Joey Dunlop, his brother Robert and the well-known Philip McCallan - described in the book as the enfant terrible of motorcycle racing.
An extensive reference section includes complete listings of the first three finishers, fastest laps and lap and race records for every event held since the contest began in away back in 1929 until the year 2000.