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STAN STEPHENS CLASSIC TWO-STROKE ENGINES
When I was a lad my two favourite books were “The Motorcyclists Workshop” by Torrens and “Tuning for Speed” by Phil Irving.
I still have those books. They formed the basis for my knowledge as a mechanic and engine tuner, knowledge to which I have been adding to for the last 60 years. For many years I have wanted to write a similar type of book.
I wrote my autobiography “The Mechanic who got Lucky” which I enjoyed writing and a lot of people enjoyed reading but I wanted to write a book that would give the reader access to my knowledge built up over my 60 year career building and tuning two-stroke engines.
From 2010 to 2017 I wrote monthly articles in Classic Motorcycle Mechanics, these were based on the classic two-stroke engines that I happened to be working on at that time. I passed on my knowledge and experience and took photos of the engines and parts. I went through the detective work and fault diagnosis, the stripping and rebuilding, the engine tuning and advice and tips.
I have recently retired and I thought that at 80 years old it was the right time to write that book before it was too late!
This book will be gold-dust for two-stroke enthusiasts and mechanics alike.
I have put them in groups of firstly the tuning articles, then the engine rebuilds, then some interesting articles and lastly some general workshop jobs.
There are 250 pages in A4 size and 85 separate articles and 100s of photos.
Thanks to “Dandy Books” for their help with the set-up and printing of this book.
Dandy Books also publish my Autobiography “ The Mechanic who got Lucky” Dandy sell them both on their website available here.
I hope you buy it and enjoy it.
Many thanks,
Stan.
THE MECHANIC WHO GOT LUCKY
STAN STEPHENS AUTOBIOGRAPHY
2020 EDITION – REPUBLISHED WITH EXTRA CHAPTER
After selling an amazing amount of copies of my book I completely sold out. Over the last few years so many people are still asking for copies, I have had it republished. I have written an extra chapter and put in some more photos to bring my life up to date. I hope you enjoy it.
The forward is written by James Whitham, and there are contributions from Niall MacKenzie, Terry Rymer, Jim Moodie and Jeremy McWilliams all who I am very grateful to.
There are 350 pages and 150 black and white photos chronicling my journey through life, from my youth riding old ex-WD bikes on bomb sites through my teenage years being a lunatic on the roads. From starting racing at an early age first on solos then nine years on sidecars, with a bit of riding speedway and stock-car racing thrown in. It covers my early days in the motorcycle trade, on to starting my own m/c business then forming my tuning business. There is quite a large section on changing the face of Production racing and into the Marlboro Series and the LC era and through the KR1S and RGV eras.
I am very proud of the riders I helped and sponsored and there is an appendix listing all of them. As my business moved more into road-bikes and specials there is also an appendix listing the huge amount of road tests and articles that featured my work, with some behind the scenes stories. A business is only as good as its staff and throughout the book I keep the reader up to date with the characters who worked for me and the changes in locations and direction of the business. I cover the bikesport of my two sons, Harley and Garry, their stories most fathers will associate with, the highs and the lows and them never going to be the next Dougie Lampkin or Valentino Rossi.
There is the personal side of my life, injuries, marriage, tragedies, getting old. In “The Mechanic Who Got Lucky” there is something for everyone. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it!
Available from Dandy Booksellers
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