The voice of L J K Setright
Discussion
Couple of things also spring to mind.
His love of a Philips radio that he could programme for all the national frequencies of Radio 3 and it would automatically re-tune. Many columns on this.
The annual mpg contest, where he never one but was the fastest.
I also can't look at any Bristol and wonder to myself, can they really be that good? One day I will find out
His love of a Philips radio that he could programme for all the national frequencies of Radio 3 and it would automatically re-tune. Many columns on this.
The annual mpg contest, where he never one but was the fastest.
I also can't look at any Bristol and wonder to myself, can they really be that good? One day I will find out
carinaman said:
skwdenyer said:
12TS said:
I remember the Gamma! I remember a mate bought one of these the car was maybe 5 or 6 years old, but it was forever throwing cambelts, so it has a ring of truth about it.
I was thinking about the Dron book, but I’m sure I want to read something so vain. But that story about GB. Wow!
Re the Gamma, something about cardboard seals IIRC - it is ah-hem 33 years ago since I read it...I was thinking about the Dron book, but I’m sure I want to read something so vain. But that story about GB. Wow!
Sorry if I've repeated duff gen.
Hew also a big fan of the Uno. He had some sort of breakdown in the 80s - his wife's suicide? - and I remember him having a cathartic interlude in the USA with the Fiat . His Jewish faith also started to be mentioned more - and his Old Testament prophet beard also started to become ever more flamboyant
coppice said:
Hew also a big fan of the Uno. He had some sort of breakdown in the 80s - his wife's suicide? - and I remember him having a cathartic interlude in the USA with the Fiat . His Jewish faith also started to be mentioned more - and his Old Testament prophet beard also started to become ever more flamboyant
Yup. Texas was where he went, IIRC he had an X1/9 there.Let’s be clear; how many motoring journalists over the last 40 years or so would even deserve such a thread, let alone have so many people with such clear recollections? Whatever you thought of his prose style, he was heard.
skwdenyer said:
coppice said:
Hew also a big fan of the Uno. He had some sort of breakdown in the 80s - his wife's suicide? - and I remember him having a cathartic interlude in the USA with the Fiat . His Jewish faith also started to be mentioned more - and his Old Testament prophet beard also started to become ever more flamboyant
Yup. Texas was where he went, IIRC he had an X1/9 there.Let’s be clear; how many motoring journalists over the last 40 years or so would even deserve such a thread, let alone have so many people with such clear recollections? Whatever you thought of his prose style, he was heard.
c2mike said:
LJKS certainly had a Honda obsession. I grew up in NZ and was an avid reader of CAR magazine in the 80s. At the time LJKS was doing paid TV adverts for Honda NZ - that grated a bit!
Drive On! is a great read - better than most of his magazine articles IMO.
I'll confess I never knew about the Honda ads.Drive On! is a great read - better than most of his magazine articles IMO.
I wonder if anyone still has one on an old VHS tape?
skwdenyer said:
Yup. Texas was where he went, IIRC he had an X1/9 there.
Let’s be clear; how many motoring journalists over the last 40 years or so would even deserve such a thread, let alone have so many people with such clear recollections? Whatever you thought of his prose style, he was heard.
At the time I had no idea that he was so popular. Today it would be very obvious. Let’s be clear; how many motoring journalists over the last 40 years or so would even deserve such a thread, let alone have so many people with such clear recollections? Whatever you thought of his prose style, he was heard.
I guess the Editors of the mags knew, but how accurately?
coppice said:
Hew also a big fan of the Uno. He had some sort of breakdown in the 80s - his wife's suicide? - and I remember him having a cathartic interlude in the USA with the Fiat . His Jewish faith also started to be mentioned more - and his Old Testament prophet beard also started to become ever more flamboyant
His wife committed suicide in his favourite Bristol"Another where he convinced Fiat to leave a Fiat Uno 55s in Florida, after the international launch held at Daytona, and set off on an 8400 mile journey around the USA. It was brave of Fiat to let him loose in a pre-release car, literally the only Uno in the USA (they were never sold there), with no support." I believe Fiat were not aware of his plans!
He ranked the Mini Cooper highly in a hot hatch group test.However , he was not so kind about another British icon!
Edited by tali1 on Thursday 19th March 19:18
Edited by tali1 on Thursday 19th March 19:26
I once had a long chat with a well known figure in the magazine world of the 60s , who was also a successful racer . He confimed that LJKS drove at astonishng pace , but also said that once you got used to it you didn't feel especially unsafe . He told me that the person nobody wanted to ride with was Denis Jenkinson - 'wild , erratic and bloody dangerous ' .
coppice said:
Hew also a big fan of the Uno. He had some sort of breakdown in the 80s - his wife's suicide? - and I remember him having a cathartic interlude in the USA with the Fiat . His Jewish faith also started to be mentioned more - and his Old Testament prophet beard also started to become ever more flamboyant
When he was in NZ shamelessly promoting the odd ball first gen Honda Jazz, he was asked what was the best small car - he then admitted the Fiat Uno was his joint favourite. No doubt Honda PR squirmed a bit.tali1 said:
Many fellow motoring journalists refused to travel with him as he drove like a bat out of hell. (wrecked a Press Officer's Alfa apparently) Known to even jump red lights.
As well as barrel rolling an XJ12, old Kickstart also put a Chrysler Horizon on its roof as well. Legend. 
coppice said:
I'm delighted that , even after his death , Long John Kickstart's oeuvre continues to divide opinion . As a lifelong admirer I'd be appalled if he enjoyed universal acclaim now . I smiled at the self aggrandising charge - as a UCL trained lawyer, Fellow of IME , prolific author , award winning photographer and concert standard clarinet player he had more laurels than most of us on which to rest. Besides , anybody who smoked Sobranie Black Russian so theatrically is all right by m e
Bulgin was a sublime writer but his legacy is tainted by the fact that nearly every hack with more ambition than ability tries to ape Bulgin's style . And invariably fails . I have no first hand experience of his personality but a mutual friend always speaks very highly of him . In any case - , judge the art, not the artist .
Lovely pastiche of Bulgin ‘s “Hard boiled” Raymond Chandler style here. Spawned many lesser imitators. And still does.Today. Setright just massively erudite and cultured, apparently genuine. Latinisms far more acceptable than senior car journalists deluding themselves that they are philosophers.Bulgin was a sublime writer but his legacy is tainted by the fact that nearly every hack with more ambition than ability tries to ape Bulgin's style . And invariably fails . I have no first hand experience of his personality but a mutual friend always speaks very highly of him . In any case - , judge the art, not the artist .
,
Edited by Lester H on Saturday 21st March 21:43
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