In the years just after World War II, motorcycles were the third largest source of foreign exchange for the United Kingdom, lagging behind only automobiles and Scotch whiskey. And yet, the British motorcycle industry was essentially dead by 1975. This is the first comprehensive examination of the demise of what was once not only the largest motorcycle industry in the world, but something that virtually defined a nation for decades. With a critical look at business and trade practices, fresh information about the businessmen who built these companies and then ran them into the ground, as well as the engineers and designers who were brilliant and badly flawed, emerges alongside the full romance, beauty, and excitement of the machines and the top racers who rode them. Combining archival material and new interviews with industry insiders and living legends, this objective investigation will fascinate enthusiasts and is a cautionary tale for the currently declining American automotive industry.

Abe Aamidor's profile page

Abe Aamidor is a university lecturer, a life-long motorcycle enthusiast, and an award-winning journalist. He has been a reporter for the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette, the Indianapolis Star, and the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, and has taught journalism at Indiana University, Georgia Southern University, and Southern Illinois University. He is the author of Chuck Taylor, All Star. He lives in Carmel, Indiana.

"The book reads well and you have achieved a very good overview [of the industry]."  —William Colquhoun, former managing director, Norton Villiers Triumph International, Ltd.

"Goodness me, but you've done some research. There was quite a lot of material within that I was seeing in detail for the first time."  —Michael Jackson, Bonhams (Auctions) Motorcycle Department

"Engaging and well-researched."  —Motorcycle Classics

"Aamidor has made a significant effort to research his subject."  —Toronto Star

"Business schools, all of them, should include this case history in their collections of cautionary tales . . . Shooting Star is an apt title for this deeply researched and engaging account of the industry' trajectory."  —New York Times

"Takes a comprehensive look at iconic British motorcycle manufacturers Norton, BSA and Triumph and the business practices that eventually ran all three companies into the ground."  —Cycle World