My WIP book about Red Robbo, and Longbridge stuff.

[R Lutz]

2 hours ago, motorpunk said:

Really, really difficult part to write now. Who grassed on him to management, and when, and what were their motives. I’ve met people, made calls, read mountains of documents, and was told “do not libel me” by one of the protagonists. Writing such a book is so much harder than knocking out 1000 words on nice old cars for the mags. 

I was at working thinking just this morning about your task. Knocking out 2,500 words on bits of cars and deals is piss easy compared to this. I admire your work and your efforts. 

[Pieman]

On 01/05/2025 at 01:56, Lord Sterling said:

I used to live there. A couple of days ago, I had to venture into Tyseley. 

Just don't venture into Bordesley Green.  I worked there for several years at weekends and I'm not sure how I came out again every time.

[Lord Sterling]

47 minutes ago, Pieman said:

Just don't venture into Bordesley Green.  I worked there for several years at weekends and I'm not sure how I came out again every time.

Ah yes, Bordesley Green, the place where almost every house house several examples of Japanese vehicles and always a Toyota Estima/Previa.

I used to venture there a lot, especially when Ma_Sterling used to work at the Heartlands Hospital. Of course, these days I'd never go unless I genuinely had to.

[warren t claim]

On 24/01/2025 at 12:12, Dave_Q said:

I've discussed this with colleagues at work, apparently the Japanese way is to keep focusing on making all parts closer and closer to nominal dimensions. The theory being that if the part is not as designed then being off nominal, even if it's within tolerance, is potentially causing some cost or issue even if it's not apparent immediately. 

Vs "that'll do" almost everywhere else.

I remember watching a documentary about the Japs building a car factory in America to maunfacture Fiat Regattas and the initial quality control was abysmal. Probably the only positive was them getting Aussie rocker Jimmy Barnes to sing Working Class Man in the background. 

[New POD]

5 hours ago, Lord Sterling said:

Ah yes, Bordesley Green, the place where almost every house house several examples of Japanese vehicles and always a Toyota Estima/Previa.

I used to venture there a lot, especially when Ma_Sterling used to work at the Heartlands Hospital. Of course, these days I'd never go unless I genuinely had to.

East Birmingham Hospital as was.  Wife was a staff nurse on the cystic fibrosis ward.  Heart wrenching. 

[AnthonyG]

On 05/05/2025 at 10:28, lesapandre said:

That's actually Cowley on the line - some of the folk are presumably extras but some were workers? It must have been filmed after shutdown for the night?

Quite an expensive thing to do to take the actors and crew there just for a quick joke sequence. But a fun thing to do.

I wouldn’t be that surprised if they did it for 20 minutes during a shift changeover or something. Ambassadors weren’t exactly hot sellers, so I expect they only built them on one shift anyway. At one point circa 1982 Cowley was down to the Ital and the Ambassador, although this was probably around the time when assembly of the Rover SD1 was moved there. Things got busier again in the mid 80s once the Maestro, Montego and 800 were all under way.

Still, the current BMW site is around a quarter of the size of the original Morris/BMC/BL operation at its peak in the 1960s, the rest is now housing and retail parks.

BAe really made money on surplus property sales during their ownership of Austin Rover, I doubt the operations made much of a profit. And they wanted out once they’d sold off all the easy pickings. 

[Verysleepyboy]

Looking forward to reading this when it is published - do you think it will be available on a Kindle version?

[motorpunk]

18 hours ago, Verysleepyboy said:

Looking forward to reading this when it is published - do you think it will be available on a Kindle version?

Thanks!

The problem with Kindle is that my royalties would be something like a couple of pence, plus I get bad reviews when people complain that the book doesn’t work properly on their MeeowX816luckydelux tablet and email me asking for IT help. I much prefer print, so will probably only do hard copies.

It sounds a bit grand, but I might do a book launch event where folks can pay cash to have me scribble my name in a copy for them and stuff. I did a launch event for Looking for the real weasel book at The Motorist and it was really good fun.

[Verysleepyboy]

3 hours ago, motorpunk said:

Thanks!

The problem with Kindle is that my royalties would be something like a couple of pence, plus I get bad reviews when people complain that the book doesn’t work properly on their MeeowX816luckydelux tablet and email me asking for IT help. I much prefer print, so will probably only do hard copies.

It sounds a bit grand, but I might do a book launch event where folks can pay cash to have me scribble my name in a copy for them and stuff. I did a launch event for Looking for the real weasel book at The Motorist and it was really good fun.

Absolutely understand the commercial and reputational challenges - was more of a "wish" than a request I guess. I have finally moved over the the dark side for reading matter on holiday now, mainly because I can devour a good novel in a day and it can really eat up luggage allowance!!!

If there is anyway you can offer a pair of signed editions of this when it is launched and "Weasel" - I'd be more than happy to cut out the middle (Amazon) man and pay you directly for them.  I know of a great venue close to me for a launch event as well!

[motorpunk]

19 minutes ago, Verysleepyboy said:

If there is anyway you can offer a pair of signed editions of this when it is launched and "Weasel" - I'd be more than happy to cut out the middle (Amazon) man and pay you directly for them.  I know of a great venue close to me for a launch event as well!

Thanks. I’m sure we can work something out.

What’s the venue? I’d rather not have to pay £££ to hire somewhere as this is all self-financed stuff and I’m not getting rich off these books. Well, not yet, anyway! 
 

[lesapandre]

Communist Party HQ - Ruskin House Croydon? 

They might just do it if you are not too rude about them in the book.

You are you doing a press release? You might find the press turn up - there is a 'story' here.

You could have a bestseller on your hands!

The other alternative is Longbridge - either via MG at the works or nearby. 

Lickey may have a village hall or you could do it at one of the new educational buildings on the factory site. Might get a good turn-out.

You certainly need a  Bridget Jones:

 

[sierraman]

4 hours ago, motorpunk said:

Thanks!

The problem with Kindle is that my royalties would be something like a couple of pence, plus I get bad reviews when people complain that the book doesn’t work properly on their MeeowX816luckydelux tablet and email me asking for IT help. I much prefer print, so will probably only do hard copies.

It sounds a bit grand, but I might do a book launch event where folks can pay cash to have me scribble my name in a copy for them and stuff. I did a launch event for Looking for the real weasel book at The Motorist and it was really good fun.

This is true about reviews, so often you read a review of something on Screwfix, let’s say a pack of rawl plugs, then someone adds one on that they’d bought it to do something totally unsuitable, it didn’t work and then give it 0/10. There should be some sort of IQ test before you are allowed to review things. 

[Verysleepyboy]

22 hours ago, motorpunk said:

Thanks. I’m sure we can work something out.

What’s the venue? I’d rather not have to pay £££ to hire somewhere as this is all self-financed stuff and I’m not getting rich off these books. Well, not yet, anyway! 
 

Great venue in Weedon, Northants (central to  the UK England) - Gasoline Juice https://www.gasolinejuice.com/ located in a Napoleonic era arms depot,  You could cover the costs with a ticketed event potentially to include signed copies of the book?

Give Cesar a call - he is a real petrolhead and car designer. Explain the situation and see if something can be organised?

 

[Saabnut]

8 minutes ago, Verysleepyboy said:

Great venue in Weedon, Northants (central to the UK) 

 

Ha ha ha! 😀

[motorpunk]

4 hours ago, lesapandre said:

Communist Party HQ - Ruskin House Croydon? 

The other alternative is Longbridge - either via MG at the works or nearby. 

Lickey may have a village hall or you could do it at one of the new educational buildings on the factory site. Might get a good turn-out.

You certainly need a  Bridget Jones:

Thanks. I seem to have rubbed the communist party up the wrong way. They're quite fierce in their defence of his memory, it seems. A pity as I'm quite sympathetic to a lot of the politics in this book. Ah well. 

Longbridge, or specifically the owners, SAIC, will lynch me when they read this. Uyghur rights, anyone? A pity as the octagon building would be a dream location. 

[motorpunk]

57 minutes ago, Verysleepyboy said:

Great venue in Weedon, Northants (central to the UK) - Gasoline Juice https://www.gasolinejuice.com/ located in a Napoleonic era arms depot,  You could cover the costs with a ticketed event potentially to include signed copies of the book?

Give Cesar a call - he is a real petrolhead and car designer. Explain the situation and see if something can be organised?
 

That's a great venue, thanks @Verysleepyboy. Hey, @Saabnut - I get your point, but I think "central UK" here means sort-of the centre of the UK population. I held the last book launch at the Motorist near Leeds which was too far north/south/up/down for some people. I'd happily do a few events if there was interest but I find there's a huge gap between those who say online "Yeah, I'll be there" and those that actually bother to turn up. I launched MotorPunk magazine (RIP) at the Morgan factory which was an amazing venue but too far south/west/other for some people, too. Sigh. 

I won't name them, but a few venues wanted (say) £500 to rent the place. If I make a 50p royalty on a hard copy (for example), that's 1000 extra copies I have to sell just to cover my costs of the venue, and I'd be gobsmacked if 1000 people wanted to listen to me chat about some old Communist car maker and sign a few books. What I can do, however, is run an advert in the magazines I write for and bring a reasonable crowd to any venue that won't charge me and are happy to flog drinks, coffee and their own merch, for example. Or I ask everyone to come to my house which would be terrifying and weird. 

@lesapandre - My missus is my Bridget Jones, I love her to bits for it

[Saabnut]

@motorpunk Don't worry, it was in jest as I am well used to travelling for several days to get anywhere. The plus side is others have to travel the same to get here, meaning it is nice and quiet   However, if it is at your house, I might just travel down to upset your neighbours!

[lesapandre]

This is Lickey Village Hall - just opposite Holy Trinity where Lord (Herbert) Austin is buried and nearby to his old house Lickey Grange. Really just up the hill from the Longbridge factory - so you might get some locals show up.

[Madman Of The People]

I’m sure there are more than a few decent sized pubs who would be more than happy to host such an event free of charge, in the hopes of attracting even just a few thirsty readers.

Ace Cafe possibly another option?

 

[chaseracer]

The café in the Sainsburys where North Works used to be...? 

😉

[chaseracer]

Slightly more seriously...

https://www.sccb.ac.uk/campuses/longbridge/

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/directory_record/3707/the_factory

[New POD]

Just put up a gazebo on Cofton Park. 

Can you find which house on the new build estate, is located closest to the union office?  See if the resident is okay with using his front room. 

Ut more seriously.   There's a working man's club.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/5TVJeJFo1Xej2ApC7

[Dobloseven]

How many people, realistically,would you expect to turn up?

[Dave_Q]

11 minutes ago, Dobloseven said:

How many people, realistically,would you expect to turn up?

I think there were about 20-30 of us at the last one? It's been a while. Maybe this time there would be more due to the authors increasing* fame*?

FWIW I'd definitely recommend it, whilst being a self-deprecating sort @motorpunk is a very entertaining chap with an excellent moustache.

I found it really interesting to hear about the writing/research process and you could hear about stuff in person that doesn't quite make it into the book due to him not wanting to get sued.

[Dobloseven]

4 minutes ago, Dave_Q said:

I think there were about 20-30 of us at the last one? It's been a while. Maybe this time there would be more due to the authors increasing* fame*?

FWIW I'd definitely recommend it, whilst being a self-deprecating sort @motorpunk is a very entertaining chap with an excellent moustache.

I found it really interesting to hear about the writing/research process and you could hear about stuff in person that doesn't quite make it into the book due to him not wanting to get sued.

Yes,have meat him when I collected the last book from him directly.He lives quite near me.Would want to go along if it was convenient time and distance wise.

[motorpunk]

40 minutes ago, Dobloseven said:

How many people, realistically,would you expect to turn up?

I dunno. I guess I could ask on here how many would come? I’m not that active online any more (other than here) which doesn’t help. 

[Rocket88]

Ref book signing… how about Gaydon?

[comfortablynumb]

I think Gaydon is a good shout, and how about 'The Motorist' up Leeds way?

[Verysleepyboy]

18 hours ago, Saabnut said:

Ha ha ha! 😀

Apologies for my geographical faux pas - edited now! 😜

[Dobloseven]

6 hours ago, motorpunk said:

I dunno. I guess I could ask on here how many would come? I’m not that active online any more (other than here) which doesn’t help. 

Would think a goodly number would turn up.But only if  it wasn't too far and on an evening suitable to them.I'll say no more than 30 miles from Leicester assuming I'm not on holiday.Not sure if that helps!