by Roger Hughes

ABOUT THE BOOK

Gary ‘Sox’ Hocking raced against the likes of Geoff Duke, Mike Hailwood and John Surtees, and eventually became double world champion – yet his name remains largely forgotten. He retired at an early stage in his career, and the explanation so often given for this action ultimately proved far removed from the real reason.

Roger Hughes' fascinating book is a positive celebration of Hocking’s life and career. Stories reveal how he went from riding a motorcycle to work to becoming world champion – a riveting journey, made more so by being told by those who were close to him. Gary’s decision to move to car racing because it was safer, only to then be killed in a car, makes for a tragic end to his tale. This book explores the many suggestions as to how the accident happened.

With photos covering Hocking’s early career racing Nortons in South Africa, through to his final motorcycle ride, at the 1962 Isle of Man TT – a win that was, in many ways, so important to him – this book is a fitting tribute to a forgotten world champion.

ISBN: 9781845848620UPC: 6-36847-04862-4AVAILABLE NOW! £16.99, $30

BULLET POINTS

The only book written about Gary ‘Sox’ Hocking’s life and careerA man described as ‘the Barry Sheene of his day, and could have been the Lewis Hamilton’Explains in his own words his retirement from motorcycle racingDetails his start in motorcycle racing, and who helped him along the wayHow he came to Europe, and how he was helped by a motorcycle dealer from ManchesterReveals how he took the European circuits by storm and became a works riderHocking’s progression from racing Nortons and MZs, to a works place with MV AgustaCovers his historic battles and wins at the Isle of Man TTDiscusses his retirement from motorcycle racing following the death of his close friend, Tom PhillisIncludes eyewitness accounts of his fatal accident