Looking for the real Red Robbo my book and other writing shite

[Pieman]

Pic of the Healey has to be in the US so I was going to guess Bob Tullius (long time campaigner of British sports cars in US competition) but a) he raced Triumphs in his early career and not Healeys and b) unbeknown to me until now, he is still alive!

[motorpunk]

I feel a bit of a git for not just saying (yet), but also excited to share the story, and I love unearthing bits of history and evidence. It’s not Bob Tullius, by the way. There’s an American/German angle to this, and I’m hoping to interview the main characters granddaughter at some point, she’s Italian (or lives there, at least). 
 

This will be a shorter book than the last one and I’m hoping to get it done by January.

[lesapandre]

20 hours ago, motorpunk said:

Here’s the subject of my next book. 

Monsieur Hulot?

[motorpunk]

Writing has started. 245 words in. There'll be a teeny bit of British shite in this, and a Honda, but it's mostly old Porsches and motorsport. It's hard to focus on writing as I like looking at pictures of old Porsches and motorsport. 

Shutterstock have the image I need, but it's £159 for editorial use. That's like [counts fingers] a billion copies I would have to sell to recoup the cost of that. 

[motorpunk]

My latest column in Copcetic is about why I love the old Lingotto factory. 

[motorpunk]

Exactly 6000 words written on this chap. This will be a shorter book than usual and I’m going to tell it in chronological order this time. Also waiting for a call from his Granddaughter for some background info. He had a hell of a life.

[Dobloseven]

Think I've worked out who it is!

[motorpunk]

24 minutes ago, Dobloseven said:

Think I've worked out who it is!

Feel free to DM a guess. I’d be gobsmacked if you knew!

[Sigmund Fraud]

Is there a connection with James Dean ?

[motorpunk]

16 hours ago, Sigmund Fraud said:

Is there a connection with James Dean ?

Yes, and I think you've got it, as did DobloSeven. Very good! 

I am not going to mention the name James Dean in the book, at all. I'm 6000 words in (exactly) and use "the actor" instead. I want to tell the story of Rolf's life in a positive way, without much reference to that accident, or that actor. He led a fantastic life in his early years, and his later life was overshadowed, as many know, which seems so incredibly unfair. So I'm talking about LeMans, Monte Carlo, Porsche, Sebring, lots of girlfriends and quite a few scrapes. So that's the book, I'd rather not overshare (just yet) as I've got a book to sell when I've done!

[Sigmund Fraud]

34 minutes ago, motorpunk said:

 I want to tell the story of Rolf's life in a positive way, without much reference to that accident, or that actor.

Very interesting approach - he's quite obscure nowadays, and I suspect that most people who know something about him do so because of the accident (myself included).

If the actor hadn't been there, and if people knew more about PTSD back then, his later life could have been much much different.

[motorpunk]

Just submitted a feature on this for a future issue of ClassicRetroModern

 

[Dobloseven]

32 minutes ago, motorpunk said:

Just submitted a feature on this for a future issue of ClassicRetroModern

 

What's the building in the background?

[High Jetter]

44 minutes ago, Dobloseven said:

What's the building in the background?

Religious maybe, or a scout hut?

[motorpunk]

Baptist church! I liked the green paint.

[Dobloseven]

44 minutes ago, motorpunk said:

Baptist church! I liked the green paint.

 

44 minutes ago, motorpunk said:

Baptist church! I liked the green paint.

Is it in Leicestershire?There used to be companies selling pre fabricated churches made of corrugated steel.Think there's one on Abbey Lane in Leicester and one in Hallaton that's now a museum.Referred to as the Tin Tab(ernacle).

[motorpunk]

5 hours ago, Dobloseven said:

 

Is it in Leicestershire?There used to be companies selling pre fabricated churches made of corrugated steel.Think there's one on Abbey Lane in Leicester and one in Hallaton that's now a museum.Referred to as the Tin Tab(ernacle).

In Suffolk. I’m aware of the other two as they’re local.

[motorpunk]

I took this pic of Harold Musgrove when I met him earlier this year for my book on Red Robbo. (I hope no one nicks the pic, I took it). He was sharp, funny and incredibly well-informed. He’s 95 years old. I love the story he shared about a first-batch Metro being given to Prince Charles, and the thing breaking down soon after. I expected he would be a hardcore Thatcher man, but he was far more than that. I hope he’s having a good run up to Christmas. He was very generous with his time when I met him. 
 

[motorpunk]

I seem to be selling a few copies of Red Robbo now, I guess folks are buying it in the run-up to Christmas. Sniff Petrol was also kind about my book on Quality Control. That was the first book I wrote and I ought to re-read it myself sometime. I miss the days of watching people pratting about in car factories. 

Link to the Red Robbo book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FMPW198R (all five star reviews, I am happy to say!)

If you're allergic to Amazon (plenty of people are) then DM me and I can sell you a signed copy directly.

 

[High Jetter]

It got a plug in a recent copy of PC, might have helped sales.

[motorpunk]

3 hours ago, High Jetter said:

It got a plug in a recent copy of PC, might have helped sales.

Fantastic

[High Jetter]

43 minutes ago, motorpunk said:

Fantastic

Did you not know about it? Can take a pic if you like.

[motorpunk]

It’s 1966 and Red Robbo is standing for election in Northfield, Brum. His policies seem largely sensible, even by today’s standards, don’t they? He was always an idealist, and a Communist, the car factory (Longbridge) was just a good platform for him to push his ideology. I love this stuff. Thanks so much to those who have bought the book, online here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Looking-real-Red-Robbo-Militants/dp/B0FMPW198R

[motorpunk]

My favourite feature from 2025; My “strange America” road trip. Here’s a mood board of my pics. In a back issue of ClassicRetroModern (print is not dead) 

[motorpunk]

Classic.Retro.Modern. just went to print, should be with subscribers just before christmas. Readers into weird old shite might enjoy my feature on..... this!

Link here - https://classicretromodern.com/subscriptions/ (Print is not dead! )

[motorpunk]

I have succumbed to technology, if anyone wants the Kindle edition of Red Robbo, it's now online here. The digital nature of this version sadly means I am unable to sign it, draw a cock and balls in it, or set fire to it. 

[richardmorris]

On 20/11/2025 at 22:26, Dobloseven said:

What's the building in the background?

Tin Tabernacle Chapel.  Prefabs...

There was one in Chobham until last year.

 

St Mary's Meeting Room -Tin Hut

 

 

[Noel Tidybeard]

8 hours ago, motorpunk said:

I have succumbed to technology, if anyone wants the Kindle edition of Red Robbo, it's now online here. The digital nature of this version sadly means I am unable to sign it, draw a cock and balls in it, or set fire to it. 

happy days- purchaseded

and if other mighty tomes find their way there....😉

[lesapandre]

On 10/12/2025 at 15:40, motorpunk said:

Classic.Retro.Modern. just went to print, should be with subscribers just before christmas. Readers into weird old shite might enjoy my feature on..... this!

Link here - https://classicretromodern.com/subscriptions/ (Print is not dead! )

 

 

[vaughant]

On 28/11/2025 at 10:34, motorpunk said:

I seem to be selling a few copies of Red Robbo now, I guess folks are buying it in the run-up to Christmas. Sniff Petrol was also kind about my book on Quality Control. That was the first book I wrote and I ought to re-read it myself sometime. I miss the days of watching people pratting about in car factories. 

Link to the Red Robbo book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FMPW198R (all five star reviews, I am happy to say!)

If you're allergic to Amazon (plenty of people are) then DM me and I can sell you a signed copy directly.

 

So annoyed with myself this week. I'm nights and as such have a lot of time on my hands and I'm JUST getting to the late 70's in the book where a lot of the fun starts ❤️❤️❤️.....

I really need to get on with it as what I've read so far has been fantastic 😍 😍 😍.

Loved the quality control book as well as did my ARG apprenticed friend. He recognised a lot of characters/equipment in it.