IF YOU'RE the sort of bloke who likes nothing more than chewing the fat over the best tyre valves for a Model T Ford, then this book is for you.
The 40 or so fanatics that make up the book are men who have big and often loud hobbies. How does a Centurion Tank sound for starters?
- Big Boys' Toys: Blokes and their magnificent obsessions, by Scott McGregor. Allen and Unwin, rrp $24.95
This is Bruce's big toy. While not many of us can boast a tank in the machinery shed, Bruce has a few hundred acres to play with the former Vietnam War machine.
As a mechanic by trade he can do his own servicing.
That's one of the features of the obsessives included here. All can do what is needed to make their toys work. Some have learnt it on the job, others are trained.
Whether your interest, like Mal's, is the Lance Bulldog vintage tractor or the restoring of wrecked paddle steamers salvaged from the Murray such as Gary has done with now rebuilt, Hero, this is a book to inspire.
So you like historic motor bikes?
How does a vintage Indian that can top 150 miles per hour sound?
There are choppers hot rods, trains, aircraft, even a lighthouse and much more.
While the toys are the centrepiece here, it takes a special kind of enthusiast like James to put on 47kg of chain mail and go medieval!
There are specifications for the technically minded for each big toy and a list of useful links.
