The voice of L J K Setright
Discussion
One of my career highlights was meeting Mr Setright. Must have been around 2002 or thereabouts, when he came to Ricardo to look at a diesel hybrid we had put together. He was the most technically literate journalist, and humoured me by chatting about his beloved Prelude with its 4WS! Sadly missed.
Russell Bulgin another great writer died a couple of years earlier - seems like we lost a couple of great writers around that time...
Russell Bulgin another great writer died a couple of years earlier - seems like we lost a couple of great writers around that time...
When I was a student in Nottingham, killing time in the library I came across his book on Bristols which I took out to read. I still hanker after one, although I'm sure they can't be THAT good! As a side note had I not returned the book I'be sat on a few quid now, it's quite valuable.
I wish someone would put out a collection of his best writing; the stories of his car radio, getting caught speeding, clutcheless gear changing, economy drives etc etc. I'm sure there'd be a market for it.
Sad that his wife committed suicide though.
I wish someone would put out a collection of his best writing; the stories of his car radio, getting caught speeding, clutcheless gear changing, economy drives etc etc. I'm sure there'd be a market for it.
Sad that his wife committed suicide though.
Breadvan72 said:
I wish I knew where he bought his gloves. He probably had them made for him by someone just off the Row.
From what I recall from one of his articles, he recommended kangaroo skin because it was soft, thin and supple.I do agree, LJKS was supreme in his abilities. I rather loved the contrast between him and George Bishop.
I'll never forget (and will forever cherish) Russell Bulgin's article on the Lotus Carlton entitled 'Rain Stopped Play'. One of the finest writers ever to exist and very sadly missed.
Edited by SimesJH on Wednesday 22 October 07:50
When I was a student in Nottingham, killing time in the library I came across his book on Bristols which I took out to read. I still hanker after one, although I'm sure they can't be THAT good! As a side note had I not returned the book I'be sat on a few quid now, it's quite valuable.
I wish someone would put out a collection of his best writing; the stories of his car radio, getting caught speeding, clutcheless gear changing, economy drives etc etc. I'm sure there'd be a market for it.
Sad that his wife committed suicide though.
I wish someone would put out a collection of his best writing; the stories of his car radio, getting caught speeding, clutcheless gear changing, economy drives etc etc. I'm sure there'd be a market for it.
Sad that his wife committed suicide though.
I think that there was a book called "the Best of Setright", but it is now hard to find. His memoirs (with an afterword by James May, who met Setright when May was a young writer for Car Magazine) go for north of forty quid a copy.
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 22 October 10:26
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Long-Lane-Turnings-Motorin...
Found this on Amazon.
Note that the hardback is £100!
Edit
Just searched on eBay!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_tr...
Found this on Amazon.
Note that the hardback is £100!
Edit
Just searched on eBay!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_tr...
Edited by 55palfers on Wednesday 22 October 09:16
I got caught reading an LJKS piece in CAR in a GCSE English lesson back in the 80s, having had the magazine confiscated I noticed my (lady) teacher reading it while we were reading some boring book, she then got up, walked over to me and handed the magazine back and told me to read the article to the class!
CAR was such an education back in those days and really helped me with reading, I still have every issue from the 80s, some great writers then besides LJKS - Phil LLewelyn, George Bishop, Bulgin and a few still plying their trade - Steve Cropley, Gavin Green, Jamie Kitman and Georg Kacher. I still get CAR and despite general opinion I feel it's at as good now as it has been for a long time and far superior to EVO.
CAR was such an education back in those days and really helped me with reading, I still have every issue from the 80s, some great writers then besides LJKS - Phil LLewelyn, George Bishop, Bulgin and a few still plying their trade - Steve Cropley, Gavin Green, Jamie Kitman and Georg Kacher. I still get CAR and despite general opinion I feel it's at as good now as it has been for a long time and far superior to EVO.
The problem with modern automotive journalists is that none of them have any clue about engineering so resort to just regurgitating the manufacturers' offerings which are aimed at selling and not understanding. LJKS understood the engineering and could then combine this with his love of words and his journalistic prowess to describe things eloquently rather than appear to be just 'techie'. I doubt we will ever see his sort again in our dumbed down modern world where cliches and sound bites now seems to rule.
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