CARS Motor racing In the history of automotive engineering, one Australian holds a unique place.
He is Philip Edward Irving, M.B.E.. whose 60-year international career included the creation of landmark designs for both motorcycles and cars.
Phil Irving’s keen eye for detail and his quiet — if irreverent — sense of humour, were combined with the ability to explain technical matters with simple clarity.
This led him into a parallel career as a widely-respected technical author and journalist, and now has given us a broad-canvas autobiography which goes far beyond the dry world of the drawing board.
This is the story of a boy who drove horse teams in rural Victoria and went on to draw Jack Brabham’s Formula One racing engine; the story of a youthful champion from Australia’s dusty motorcycle tracks who rode pillion to England and designed one of the truly great motorcycles: who designed tiny engines for WW2 emergency lifeboats and for giant tractors in Australia’s outback.
Irving’s flair for design became his ticket to the world. In return he gave the world machines which, in their practicality, simplicity and ingenuity, were typically Australian.
First Edition. SCARCE. vii, 569 p. : ill., ports ; 25 cm. (Motor Bookshop label on fep.) #220522
Irving, P. E. (Philip Edward), 1903-1992. | Automobile engineers — Australia — Biography.
“In Phils easy to read, yet interesting and informative, writing style we are given an insight into his very active life.Phils knowledge and experience in the motorcycle industry in Australia and in the United Kingdom from the 1920’s to the 50’s is unbelievable.If you love The Vincent HRD, you can only love this book. Phil also has a fair bit to do with AJS, Velocette and other motor bikes in the glory days of British motorcycles. PEI was a very talented motorcycle engineer who also worked with racing motor cars getting an Australian onto the world champions podium. Phil made his writings on engineering readable and interesting to the non engineer. Phil didn’t suffer fools and you will not be a fool to read this book and I’m sure your knowledge will be considerably enhanced when you complete it. Fair dinkum , its a good read.”