TonyMac Posted August 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2015 (edited) Worth pointing out that many people will be reading the book having borrowed it from the library. I counted 20 date stamps over a three year period on the copy in my local library. Thanks for cheering me up! I can foresee the day when we print six copies of Backtrack and all the speedway fans just share them around. Wouldn't half save a fortune on printing. This is from a man, Britain's former top referee Graham Brodie, who thankfully didn't borrow a copy from his library... Tragedy – The Kenny Carter Story I first read this book eight years ago when it was first published and when author Tony McDonald told me that it had been revised, updated and issued as an e-book I thought that it would be a good move to read the story again. I never knew Kenny well; as a Referee you have limited opportunities to socialise away from the track, but I had been present at many of the occasions referred to in the book. The cancelled Internationale, Wembley 1981, Los Angeles 1982, the broken leg in Vetlanda and the 1986 Pairs meeting in Lonigo all feature in my own memories of the man. He was brash, outspoken and proud of his Yorkshire and British heritage but until I read his story I had no idea of the extent of his personal troubles which ultimately led to his tragic end. Tony took upon himself a very difficult task but skilfully has managed to put together a very readable account of Kenny’s life on and off the track. It is a harrowing story particularly when its horrific climax has already been chronicled elsewhere but despite its second reading I still found it hard to put down (or switch off in this case) and it has prompted me to dig out brother Alan Carter’s later book from my bookshelf to read again. Frankly, at £4.99 this e-book is a bargain download from Amazon to read on your iPad or Kindle. I thoroughly recommend it. Graham Brodie Edited August 10, 2015 by tmc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OveFundinFan Posted August 10, 2015 Report Share Posted August 10, 2015 I have not finished it yet, up to chap 20, but I find it rivetting, and like Graham Brodie as quoted said in the last post - at £4.99 this e-book is a bargain. Truly is. Interesting to read what was going on in the background of some of these meetings in the 1980's - part of the time I was away from speedway. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted August 11, 2015 Report Share Posted August 11, 2015 The Carter book was a great read-thanx TMC, but like some other posters-I just love the print format, I also have the signed Simmo book-another great read, ditto Reg Fearman's autobiography-another super book -particularly for Prov. League fans(those of us who are left!!) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OveFundinFan Posted August 16, 2015 Report Share Posted August 16, 2015 Just a few days ago I finished reading the e-book version of Tragedy - Kenny Carter .... all 29 chapters and they are long chapters as well. I stopped going to speedway about the time Kenny made his appearance on the speedway scene, so only saw him on TV. I didnt know anything of his background though I could see/hear that he had a "mouth" when I saw him being interviewed etc. The book describes his upbringing very well, and I can well imagine how this must have affected his mind set on many things - his younger years itself was indeed a tragedy. How frustrating it must have been wanting to win that world championship "for his Mum" but missing out due to misfortune or injuries, and boy did he have some injuries to contend with. I would love to have seen him ride,along with the rest of the top riders at that time,particularly the Americans and the top Danes. It would have been nice if Kenny had won that elusive world title, maybe it would have changed the outcome, who knows. I found the book compelling reading, sad yes, but that was the nature of Kennys life unfortunately, but also informative, giving lots of detail going on behind the scenes in speedway at that time. Would I recommend this book to others - yes! - its a must read be it in paperback, or e-book - my preferred version. Good value for money too in e-book form Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiheke1 Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 How different that era could have been if England hadn't prematurely lost Lee and Carter and the yanks not lost penhall and sigalos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 (edited) How different that era could have been if England hadn't prematurely lost Lee and Carter and the yanks not lost penhall and sigalos.Speedway changed for me when Penhall retired, i think the sport slowly went downhill from then on those four up against the Danes would of been brilliant.Carter having read the books and watched endless DVDs/ videos and from memory of watching him i believe he would of won a title he was that good.Sigalos for me was in the Leigh Adams category one of the best ever never to win a title without injury he might of done.Penhall how many more? Lee well what a waste. Edited August 17, 2015 by sidney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyMac Posted August 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 Just a few days ago I finished reading the e-book version of Tragedy - Kenny Carter .... all 29 chapters and they are long chapters as well. I stopped going to speedway about the time Kenny made his appearance on the speedway scene, so only saw him on TV. I didnt know anything of his background though I could see/hear that he had a "mouth" when I saw him being interviewed etc. The book describes his upbringing very well, and I can well imagine how this must have affected his mind set on many things - his younger years itself was indeed a tragedy. How frustrating it must have been wanting to win that world championship "for his Mum" but missing out due to misfortune or injuries, and boy did he have some injuries to contend with. I would love to have seen him ride,along with the rest of the top riders at that time,particularly the Americans and the top Danes. It would have been nice if Kenny had won that elusive world title, maybe it would have changed the outcome, who knows. I found the book compelling reading, sad yes, but that was the nature of Kennys life unfortunately, but also informative, giving lots of detail going on behind the scenes in speedway at that time. Would I recommend this book to others - yes! - its a must read be it in paperback, or e-book - my preferred version. Good value for money too in e-book form Many thanks for your kind comments. When you get a few spare minutess, would you mind please doing a copy-and-paste job by reproducing your above words in the form of a review from you on the Amazon page of their site? That would be very much appreciated. Thank you. Tony Mac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OveFundinFan Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 Done Tony. Can you let us know when there is another e-book release so I can use the £3 voucher included with the Tragedy book purchase 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyMac Posted August 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 Done Tony. Can you let us know when there is another e-book release so I can use the £3 voucher included with the Tragedy book purchase Many thanks, much appreciated. We've almost just finished the three additional, updated chapters to our Malcolm Simmons book - Simmo: The Whole Truth, which should be available from Amazon within the next week or so. I'll let you know when it's there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyMac Posted August 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 Done Tony. Can you let us know when there is another e-book release so I can use the £3 voucher included with the Tragedy book purchase Joe - just to let you know, we've just published Simmo: The Whole Truth as an updated e-book and it's available now to download from the Amazon Kindle Store for just £4.99. http://www.amazon.co.uk/SIMMO-Whole-Truth-Malcolm-Simmons-ebook/dp/B0149H2FSY/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OveFundinFan Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 Thanks for that Tony. As I was a first time user of Amazon Kindle when I bought e-book of Tagedy I got a £3 voucher to use with my second purchase. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OGT Posted March 9, 2017 Report Share Posted March 9, 2017 Can't believe the prices sellers are asking for the Tragedy book on Ebay now. £100+, £300+ Blimey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiheke1 Posted March 9, 2017 Report Share Posted March 9, 2017 Can't believe the prices sellers are asking for the Tragedy book on Ebay now. £100+, £300+ Blimey. Is anyone actually buying at that price though? Would be interesting to know how it is selling as an e book, and whether tony sees sufficient demand for another print run. Best speedway book I've read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted March 9, 2017 Report Share Posted March 9, 2017 (edited) Both the Tragedy Carter book and Alan's book were both great reads loved reading them.Made me realise love him or hate him Carter was a hell of a rider and no one can take that away from him.The Oxford semi final i went to it said everything about Kenny a true racer. Edited March 9, 2017 by Sidney the robin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyMac Posted March 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2017 (edited) Is anyone actually buying at that price though? Would be interesting to know how it is selling as an e book, and whether tony sees sufficient demand for another print run. Best speedway book I've read. Thanks for your kind comments. Don't know if anyone will be prepared to pay the ridiculous asking prices on eBay but I can confirm the eBook version of Tragedy has sold well (as has the update of Simmo's book). And there are no plans to publish a third print edition - there wouldn't be sufficient demand. In the course of time, we intend to convert most of our previous print editions to eBooks for the Kindle market - it is growing in use and popularity. Edited March 12, 2017 by tmc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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