LJK Setright - a compendium of his writings

[nickwilcock]

As many will undoubtedly recall, LJK Setright's column in CAR magazine was something always eagerly anticipated 20 or so years ago. Something of an amiable eccentric with an excellent appreciation for engineering, he wrote in an unusual, witty and erudite manner.

He also contributed to the Dutch car magazine Gran Turismo (in English!) and a small compendium of such works spanning 1993-1996 is now available, entitled A day to remember. Which of course includes his perceptive assessment of his beloved VTEC Prelude 4WS.

Not available through major on-line retailers, it is available in either hardback or e-book versions direct from the publishers at: https://www.nobelman-boeken.nl/webshop/non-fictie/...

(I have no financial interest in this item).

[BryanC]

He also wrote the best book I ever read on the development of piston aero engines which I think has been out of print and now unobtainable for all the best reasons.
Napiers, Wright cyclones, Merlins el aĺ.

[biggbn]

Thanks for this, a fantastic writer.

[Parkette]

Re-read History of the Worlds Motorcycles by Setright just recently, enjoyable and interesting, all you want in a good book.

[anonymous-user]

Parkette said:

Re-read History of the Worlds Motorcycles by Setright just recently, enjoyable and interesting, all you want in a good book.

And his great monthly piece in Bike magazine in the 70s.

[CAPP0]

That's a coincidence, I only thought of LJKS this morning for the fist time in many many years as I commuted in, passed a car with a plate which was fairly close to his initials.

[Parkette]

Raygun said:

And his great monthly piece in Bike magazine in the 70s.

I remember him in Car magazine, must have missed the Bike contributions.

Just a very knowledgeable man who wrote extremely well.

[coppice]

Thanks - just bought. A huge fan of LJK , can I recommend his extraordinary tour de force 'Drive On - a social history of the motor car '? Hugely detailed and opinionated work I enjoy rereading . God only knows what he'd make of some of the cliche drenched and grammar free drivel employed by some of his successors

[FlossyThePig]

Needed to have a dictionary handy at times, LJKS added to my vocabulary, in a good way.

[coppice]

Indeed - that's what comes from being sui generis ...

[marcosgt]

He had a great way with words, but he had some eccentric ideas...

As a kid I remember enjoying his pieces, but I never really took what he said very seriously.

He almost seemed to be contrary for the sake of it - One of the C&SCC regulars its the same (without, it has to be sad, the same appealing eccentricity or way with words)

M

[coppice]

He certainly enjoyed challenging the conventional view - iconoclasm was his trademark. But it was very far from being awkward and contrary for the sake of it as he would never make a statement without giving you a finely detailed argument to back his view . I remember him challenging the lazy adulation which the AC Cobra was given by lesser hacks - with his trademark insight and wit he demolished the Cobra mythology beautifully . But wnat he said was only very rarely important , it was the way he said it.

Re C and CS there are far worse magazines but there is some very lazy prose in there too, But Simon Taylor is very much a cut above and I always enjoy his stuff