TonyMac Posted November 28, 2006 Report Share Posted November 28, 2006 (edited) MORE CONFESSIONS By John Berry 256 pages in softback, plus more than 100 pictures. Published November 2006, £15.99 Two years after his acclaimed first book Confessions of a Speedway Promoter, and a year after undergoing heart surgery, John Berry is back with his eagerly awaited follow up. As expected, the former England and Ipswich team manager/promoter pulls no punches in recalling the best and worst of times in the 70s and 80s, when he was one of the prime movers and shakers in British speedway. Less autobiographical and providing more general appeal than his first book, which focused heavily on his success with the Ipswich Witches, More Confessions has something to interest speedway fans the world over. In More Confessions, JB names his greatest rider ever, reviews every British track he has ever visited as a promoter or team manager (including his season with National League Wimbledon in 1987), runs the rule over good and bad referees, names the people he thinks deserve a medal from The Queen, explains where speedway has gone wrong . . . and how the sport could change and go forward to a brighter future. It’s bound to raise laughs and heckles in equal measure as, once again, Berry dares to say what others only think. For example, can you guess which tracks he is describing here in less than favourable terms? . . . "This was like being a visitor to Dodge City, where the only law was the survival of the fittest, and the visitors were hopelessly outnumbered! "From stepping out of the car in the afternoon, to climbing back in again, the bullying and threatening manner and attitude, both on and off the track, was tangible. Rider to rider, tinpot official to team management, person to person, the whole mob of locals seemed to be spoiling for a fight. We tried not to take too many backward steps, but I have to say, I was glad we all managed to leave that place in one piece." Or, how about this one: "From the time we arrived at that bleak place there was an air of foreboding and the smell of danger in the air. Nothing tangible, but the morose promoter cast a shadow like a rumbling volcano about to erupt at any moment." We all think we know the answers to speedway’s problems and the best way to revive the ‘golden days’. Well, Berry has appointed himself ‘King For The Day’ to do just that. Neither the BSPA nor BSI will appreciate his no-nonsense advice from Australia but he gives it all the same. And, to be fair, Berry admits the mistakes and failures he and his fellow promoters of the 70s and 80s made in failing to lay the foundations for the sport’s long-term benefit. To order your copy of More Confessions for £15.99 post-free, phone the Retro Speedway hotline on 01708 734 502, or go online at http://www.retro-speedway.com, or post cheque (payable to Retro Speedway) to: Retro Speedway (Books), 103 Douglas Road, Hornchurch, Essex, RM11 1AW. Edited November 28, 2006 by tmc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrimpfan Posted December 1, 2006 Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 Does anyone know if JB is coming over to the UK for promotion and book signings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted December 1, 2006 Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 In More Confessions, JB names his greatest rider ever,<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Let me guess. Tony Davey? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyMac Posted December 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 Does anyone know if JB is coming over to the UK for promotion and book signings? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> John Berry will be signing copies of his new book, More Confessions, in Ipswich on Saturday, December 9. He will be at Orwell Motorcycles Ltd, 200 Ranelagh Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP2 0AQ from 11.30am to 1.30pm. Between 2pm and 4pm JB will be signing at Ipswich Tourist Information Centre, St. Stephens Church, St Stephens Lane, Ipswich, IP1 1DP. The following day – Sunday, Dec 10 – John will also be signing his book at the Brighton Bonanza indoor event. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted December 1, 2006 Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 MORE CONFESSIONS By John Berry For example, can you guess which tracks he is describing here in less than favourable terms? . . . "This was like being a visitor to Dodge City, where the only law was the survival of the fittest, and the visitors were hopelessly outnumbered! "From stepping out of the car in the afternoon, to climbing back in again, the bullying and threatening manner and attitude, both on and off the track, was tangible. Rider to rider, tinpot official to team management, person to person, the whole mob of locals seemed to be spoiling for a fight. We tried not to take too many backward steps, but I have to say, I was glad we all managed to leave that place in one piece." Or, how about this one: "From the time we arrived at that bleak place there was an air of foreboding and the smell of danger in the air. Nothing tangible, but the morose promoter cast a shadow like a rumbling volcano about to erupt at any moment." <{POST_SNAPBACK}> My guess for the 3 tracks... 1. Ipswich 1974 2. Ipswich 1975 3. Ipswich 1976 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrimpfan Posted December 2, 2006 Report Share Posted December 2, 2006 John Berry will be signing copies of his new book, More Confessions, in Ipswich on Saturday, December 9. He will be at Orwell Motorcycles Ltd, 200 Ranelagh Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP2 0AQ from 11.30am to 1.30pm. Between 2pm and 4pm JB will be signing at Ipswich Tourist Information Centre, St. Stephens Church, St Stephens Lane, Ipswich, IP1 1DP. The following day – Sunday, Dec 10 – John will also be signing his book at the Brighton Bonanza indoor event. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thanks for that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatface Posted December 3, 2006 Report Share Posted December 3, 2006 Let me guess. Tony Davey? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Could've been better than Mauger, Fundin, Rickardson the lot you know... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrimpfan Posted December 3, 2006 Report Share Posted December 3, 2006 (edited) Could've been better than Mauger, Fundin, Rickardson the lot you know... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> At least he was more approachable Edited December 3, 2006 by Shrimpfan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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