Post by Administrator on Jun 24, 2009 9:51:39 GMT
PRESS RELEASE:::::
Like a medieval astrologer peering at the heavens, author Jeff Scott continues to interpret the cycles, epicycles, and motorcycles of the spinning planets of Speedway in this his latest book: Quantum of Shale.
As he engages with the myriad social and cultural gears that power this unique engine of British sport, Scott seeks to determine whether the forces that turn these wheels within wheels are centrifugal or centripetal. Will Speedway adjust to the increasing challenges of 21st Century Britain and so plot an enduring course towards significance and survival?
As in his other critically acclaimed works documenting the current status of Speedway, Quantum of Shale follows Scott’s travels around Britain as he visits Speedway tracks on race day. There he observes and participates in the sport’s rituals, culture and traditions that have engendered the fierce loyalties of its primarily blue collar fan base. Yet, while he does this with respect and affection, Scott also acknowledges those trends that appear to conspire to knock Speedway from its orbit and sets his visits within the context of a pitiless economic calculus that scars the curve of a beautiful but undervalued sport.
ORDER INFORMATION
Can be ordered via paypal at www.methanolpress.com or send a £24.50 cheque to cover P&P made payable to "J.Scott" at Methanol Press, 2 Tidy Street, Brighton BN1 4EL
Quantum of Shale: Round the Tracks
Jeff Scott
330 pages
190 black & white thumbnail photographs
Paperback
£20
Methanol Press
CONTENTS LISTING
CHAPTER 1.
Coventry: “You have to look after them and keep them happy!”
CHAPTER 2.
High Beech: “Don’t worry, it’ll soon empty out, most of these have to go for an afternoon nap shortly!”
CHAPTER 3.
Sittingbourne: “His stance on the bike is exactly the same as his dad’s!”
CHAPTER 4.
King’s Lynn v Ipswich: “Can you tell us what you just told the lads on the truck about the last race without the expletives?”
CHAPTER 5.
Ipswich: “Oh! Wow! Look at the new programme board!”
CHAPTER 6.
Reading v Stoke: “You’ve clearly got a good mother – is she attractive?”
CHAPTER 7.
Rye House/U21 Semis: “Unless you’ve felt the burn of the tyre on your leg you really have no idea what it’s like to ride a bike competitively”
CHAPTER 8.
Swindon v Poole: “With hindsight, 1984 really was a turning point for the sport and everything has changed since then!”
CHAPTER 9.
Eastbourne v Wolves: “We’ll have to put it in a jig, straighten the diamonds where it’s bent and the forks aren’t 100 percent, but I’m sure we can fix it!”
CHAPTER 10.
Mildenhall v Scunthorpe: “We even had a tug-o-war between the mascots – best of three –’cause they even had a bear with them”
CHAPTER 11.
Reading v Edinburgh: “Britain’s sexiest mascot and also the most expensive!”
CHAPTER 12.
Isle of Wight v Sheffield: “We’re all committed to speedway but everyone else isn’t”
CHAPTER 13.
Ipswich v Peterborough: “Last year he asked Zibi Suchecki if he had the right to be here.”
CHAPTER 14.
Cardiff: “Inside they’ll be able to buy non-flammable air horns”
CHAPTER 15.
Birmingham v King’s Lynn: “They must want to get it on ‘cos they’re suctioning the water off the track”
CHAPTER 16.
Coventry v Poole: “He looks like he’s done fifteen rounds with Amir Khan. What with his nose and his Cornish accent, he’s even harder to understand!”
CHAPTER 17.
Sittingbourne v. Scunthorpe: “It’s not asking a lot to get fifty more, is it?”
CHAPTER 18.
Plymouth v. Weymouth: “If you’d signed it, you’d be contractually obliged not to fraternise with the riders”
CHAPTER 19.
Weymouth v Plymouth: “Save £4 with this Leaflet* (Terms and Conditions Apply)”
CHAPTER 20.
Reading v Edinburgh: “I bumped into two Reading fans there - we struggle to get them to Workington but we can get them to Sweden!”
CHAPTER 21.
King’s Lynn v Somerset: “You’re Dave Cheshire’s son, I can tell by your eyes”
Chapter 22.
Sheffield: “We cancelled at 10 o’clock because of the weather and the forecast is for more rain at 6 or 7 o’clock”
CHAPTER 23.
Sheffield: “If you want to copy Darren – be encouraging!”
CHAPTER 24.
Wolverhampton v Eastbourne: “I did my spell pushing - everybody does!”
CHAPTER 25.
Redcar v Workington: “Where are all the rakers?”
CHAPTER 26.
Edinburgh v. Redcar: “He’s conscious but has damage to his foot or ankle!”
CHAPTER 27.
Workington: “I said, ‘They want you to wear women’s clothes!’”
CHAPTER 28.
Newcastle v Sheffield: “The riders don’t turn round the corners but slide round counter steering with the steering wheel and sliding the back end around.”
CHAPTER 29.
Belle Vue: “Ove Fundin and Peter Collins are inside now signing autographs!”
CHAPTER 30.
Poole v Eastbourne: “Why are they watering the centre green?”
CHAPTER 31.
Kidlington: “We’re of the view – if the stadium was available – we think there’d be Oxford speedway!”
CHAPTER 32.
Lakeside v Swindon: “When we saw how their Number 7 was riding, well!”
CHAPTER 33.
Oxford v Wimbledon: “I don’t have very many nice words for the GRA!”
CHAPTER 34.
Scunthorpe v Glasgow: “We’ve not really beaten anyone by a big score”
CHAPTER 35.
Edinburgh v. Somerset: “He actually gated ahead and then let the others through!”
CHAPTER 36.
Berwick v. Somerset: “Oh, you’ve brought a bag to put your goggles in!”
CHAPTER 37.
Glasgow v Berwick: “Hey, laddie, keep the throttle open more today!”
CHAPTER 38.
Buxton v Weymouth: “We’re the only track with such a varied selection of animal droppings”
CHAPTER 39.
Stoke v. Redcar: “Hit me! Big Ty? Big Ty! Hit it! Hit it! You gotta appreciate that!”
CHAPTER 40.
Sheffield v Scunthorpe: “His wife Angie Collins used to cut my hair – when I had hair”
CHAPTER 41.
Scunthorpe v Rye House: “She certainly wasn’t a full-fat Goth – perhaps a Goth-lite.”
CHAPTER 42.
Sheffield/PLRC: “I’ve no idea who’s gonna win mate! It could be any one of ten”
CHAPTER 43.
Peterborough v Wolverhampton: “Please write any additional comments on reverse.”
CHAPTER 44.
Rye House/CLRC: “’Ere Lisa, pose for a photo so you can be on the cover of his next book!”
CHAPTER 45.
Sittingbourne v. Rye House: “Poised on the brink of adequacy”
CHAPTER 46
Reading v. Redcar: “You know, in a year and a half here, I haven’t actually met Barbara Horley”
CHAPTER 47.
Somerset v. Edinburgh: “I’ve dug out an old hat in case we need it to celebrate!”
CHAPTER 48.
Reading: “You must have very many happy memories?”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Quantum of Shale joins Jeff Scott’s other critically acclaimed works on British Speedway: Showered in Shale, When Eagles Dared, Shifting Shale, Shale Britannia, along with Concrete for Breakfast, nominated for the 2009 British Sports Book of the year (Biography section). Together they constitute a body of work unique in its dedication to a sport as well as the social and cultural scope of its subject, and the compassion of its author.
Ref: SWP1
Like a medieval astrologer peering at the heavens, author Jeff Scott continues to interpret the cycles, epicycles, and motorcycles of the spinning planets of Speedway in this his latest book: Quantum of Shale.
As he engages with the myriad social and cultural gears that power this unique engine of British sport, Scott seeks to determine whether the forces that turn these wheels within wheels are centrifugal or centripetal. Will Speedway adjust to the increasing challenges of 21st Century Britain and so plot an enduring course towards significance and survival?
As in his other critically acclaimed works documenting the current status of Speedway, Quantum of Shale follows Scott’s travels around Britain as he visits Speedway tracks on race day. There he observes and participates in the sport’s rituals, culture and traditions that have engendered the fierce loyalties of its primarily blue collar fan base. Yet, while he does this with respect and affection, Scott also acknowledges those trends that appear to conspire to knock Speedway from its orbit and sets his visits within the context of a pitiless economic calculus that scars the curve of a beautiful but undervalued sport.
ORDER INFORMATION
Can be ordered via paypal at www.methanolpress.com or send a £24.50 cheque to cover P&P made payable to "J.Scott" at Methanol Press, 2 Tidy Street, Brighton BN1 4EL
Quantum of Shale: Round the Tracks
Jeff Scott
330 pages
190 black & white thumbnail photographs
Paperback
£20
Methanol Press
CONTENTS LISTING
CHAPTER 1.
Coventry: “You have to look after them and keep them happy!”
CHAPTER 2.
High Beech: “Don’t worry, it’ll soon empty out, most of these have to go for an afternoon nap shortly!”
CHAPTER 3.
Sittingbourne: “His stance on the bike is exactly the same as his dad’s!”
CHAPTER 4.
King’s Lynn v Ipswich: “Can you tell us what you just told the lads on the truck about the last race without the expletives?”
CHAPTER 5.
Ipswich: “Oh! Wow! Look at the new programme board!”
CHAPTER 6.
Reading v Stoke: “You’ve clearly got a good mother – is she attractive?”
CHAPTER 7.
Rye House/U21 Semis: “Unless you’ve felt the burn of the tyre on your leg you really have no idea what it’s like to ride a bike competitively”
CHAPTER 8.
Swindon v Poole: “With hindsight, 1984 really was a turning point for the sport and everything has changed since then!”
CHAPTER 9.
Eastbourne v Wolves: “We’ll have to put it in a jig, straighten the diamonds where it’s bent and the forks aren’t 100 percent, but I’m sure we can fix it!”
CHAPTER 10.
Mildenhall v Scunthorpe: “We even had a tug-o-war between the mascots – best of three –’cause they even had a bear with them”
CHAPTER 11.
Reading v Edinburgh: “Britain’s sexiest mascot and also the most expensive!”
CHAPTER 12.
Isle of Wight v Sheffield: “We’re all committed to speedway but everyone else isn’t”
CHAPTER 13.
Ipswich v Peterborough: “Last year he asked Zibi Suchecki if he had the right to be here.”
CHAPTER 14.
Cardiff: “Inside they’ll be able to buy non-flammable air horns”
CHAPTER 15.
Birmingham v King’s Lynn: “They must want to get it on ‘cos they’re suctioning the water off the track”
CHAPTER 16.
Coventry v Poole: “He looks like he’s done fifteen rounds with Amir Khan. What with his nose and his Cornish accent, he’s even harder to understand!”
CHAPTER 17.
Sittingbourne v. Scunthorpe: “It’s not asking a lot to get fifty more, is it?”
CHAPTER 18.
Plymouth v. Weymouth: “If you’d signed it, you’d be contractually obliged not to fraternise with the riders”
CHAPTER 19.
Weymouth v Plymouth: “Save £4 with this Leaflet* (Terms and Conditions Apply)”
CHAPTER 20.
Reading v Edinburgh: “I bumped into two Reading fans there - we struggle to get them to Workington but we can get them to Sweden!”
CHAPTER 21.
King’s Lynn v Somerset: “You’re Dave Cheshire’s son, I can tell by your eyes”
Chapter 22.
Sheffield: “We cancelled at 10 o’clock because of the weather and the forecast is for more rain at 6 or 7 o’clock”
CHAPTER 23.
Sheffield: “If you want to copy Darren – be encouraging!”
CHAPTER 24.
Wolverhampton v Eastbourne: “I did my spell pushing - everybody does!”
CHAPTER 25.
Redcar v Workington: “Where are all the rakers?”
CHAPTER 26.
Edinburgh v. Redcar: “He’s conscious but has damage to his foot or ankle!”
CHAPTER 27.
Workington: “I said, ‘They want you to wear women’s clothes!’”
CHAPTER 28.
Newcastle v Sheffield: “The riders don’t turn round the corners but slide round counter steering with the steering wheel and sliding the back end around.”
CHAPTER 29.
Belle Vue: “Ove Fundin and Peter Collins are inside now signing autographs!”
CHAPTER 30.
Poole v Eastbourne: “Why are they watering the centre green?”
CHAPTER 31.
Kidlington: “We’re of the view – if the stadium was available – we think there’d be Oxford speedway!”
CHAPTER 32.
Lakeside v Swindon: “When we saw how their Number 7 was riding, well!”
CHAPTER 33.
Oxford v Wimbledon: “I don’t have very many nice words for the GRA!”
CHAPTER 34.
Scunthorpe v Glasgow: “We’ve not really beaten anyone by a big score”
CHAPTER 35.
Edinburgh v. Somerset: “He actually gated ahead and then let the others through!”
CHAPTER 36.
Berwick v. Somerset: “Oh, you’ve brought a bag to put your goggles in!”
CHAPTER 37.
Glasgow v Berwick: “Hey, laddie, keep the throttle open more today!”
CHAPTER 38.
Buxton v Weymouth: “We’re the only track with such a varied selection of animal droppings”
CHAPTER 39.
Stoke v. Redcar: “Hit me! Big Ty? Big Ty! Hit it! Hit it! You gotta appreciate that!”
CHAPTER 40.
Sheffield v Scunthorpe: “His wife Angie Collins used to cut my hair – when I had hair”
CHAPTER 41.
Scunthorpe v Rye House: “She certainly wasn’t a full-fat Goth – perhaps a Goth-lite.”
CHAPTER 42.
Sheffield/PLRC: “I’ve no idea who’s gonna win mate! It could be any one of ten”
CHAPTER 43.
Peterborough v Wolverhampton: “Please write any additional comments on reverse.”
CHAPTER 44.
Rye House/CLRC: “’Ere Lisa, pose for a photo so you can be on the cover of his next book!”
CHAPTER 45.
Sittingbourne v. Rye House: “Poised on the brink of adequacy”
CHAPTER 46
Reading v. Redcar: “You know, in a year and a half here, I haven’t actually met Barbara Horley”
CHAPTER 47.
Somerset v. Edinburgh: “I’ve dug out an old hat in case we need it to celebrate!”
CHAPTER 48.
Reading: “You must have very many happy memories?”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Quantum of Shale joins Jeff Scott’s other critically acclaimed works on British Speedway: Showered in Shale, When Eagles Dared, Shifting Shale, Shale Britannia, along with Concrete for Breakfast, nominated for the 2009 British Sports Book of the year (Biography section). Together they constitute a body of work unique in its dedication to a sport as well as the social and cultural scope of its subject, and the compassion of its author.
Ref: SWP1