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Morris minor travelogue book
Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2022 7:10 pm
by philipkearney
Has anyone ever seen a short book called 'Coleman's Scottish Drive' ? It's a relatively short book written by John Coleman who famously drove an Austin 7 from Buenos Aires to New York in the sixties. He wrote this book, a travelogue of a journey around Scotland in his Morris Minor.
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Has anyone ever read the book or know where I can obtain a copy ? I can't find one anywhere.
Re: Morris minor travelogue book
Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2022 8:39 pm
by philthehill
John Coleman, 81 died at the wheel of his Morris Minor on the 5th of Jan 2010 at the junction of Common Lane and Warsash Road, Titchfield, Hampshire on his way back from his publishers. It appears that he lost control of the car on the icy road surface.
Re: Morris minor travelogue book
Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2022 10:26 pm
by philipkearney
Thanks Phil, that stirs some memories. I think I remember reading about that at the time. Can't have been much later after he had finished the book. The trip around Scotland's was for his 80th birthday.
Re: Morris minor travelogue book
Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2022 11:35 pm
by unclealec
99% topic drift, but "Coleman's Drive", his account of driving across South America, was inspired by "Tschiffely's Ride - Southern Cross to Pole Star" in which the eponymous adventurer rides on two feral Argentinian horses from Buenos Aires to Washington DC in the 1920s.
Coleman in effect recreated the experience in an Austin 7.
It is without doubt one of the best reads I have ever enjoyed.
Should anyone unaware be inspired by my recommendation to buy a secondhand copy; if you don't agree with me I will refund your money.
Re: Morris minor travelogue book
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2022 7:14 pm
by philipkearney
Excellent recommendation, I may just follow your advice and seek a copy out.
Re: Morris minor travelogue book
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2022 7:28 pm
by philipkearney
philthehill wrote: ↑Wed Nov 23, 2022 8:39 pm
John Coleman, 81 died at the wheel of his Morris Minor on the 5th of Jan 2010 at the junction of Common Lane and Warsash Road, Titchfield, Hampshire on his way back from his publishers. It appears that he lost control of the car on the icy road surface.
https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/484164 ... -accident/
I was sure I'd read about this previously.
Re: Morris minor travelogue book
Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2022 8:17 pm
by neilmorey
I don't have a subscription to be able to read it but do remember finding this article from the Telegraph before.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/cl ... Minor.html
Part 2 is readable though.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/cl ... t-two.html
Re: Morris minor travelogue book
Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2022 9:51 pm
by philipkearney
Thanks Neil. I think it was these links that originally put me on to the book. I found them when googling for something else. They've just whet my appetite to read the rest of it. It's not a big book at only 67 pages but those articles certainly give the gist of it.
Re: Morris minor travelogue book
Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2023 4:08 pm
by Myrtles Man
unclealec wrote: ↑Wed Nov 23, 2022 11:35 pm
99% topic drift, but "Coleman's Drive", his account of driving across South America, was inspired by "Tschiffely's Ride - Southern Cross to Pole Star" in which the eponymous adventurer rides on two feral Argentinian horses from Buenos Aires to Washington DC in the 1920s.
Coleman in effect recreated the experience in an Austin 7.
It is without doubt one of the best reads I have ever enjoyed.
Should anyone unaware be inspired by my recommendation to buy a secondhand copy; if you don't agree with me I will refund your money.
In the light of your very strong recommendation I bought a copy of the book and I shall NOT be approaching you for reimbursement; it is a truly remarkable account of what any sane person would regard as an utterly mad, not to say impossible, undertaking. My wonderment at his achievement is only compounded by this analysis and road test of exactly the same model Austin 7 as Coleman acquired (from its abandonment in a ditch) and then used for what was clearly an even more epic trip in 1969 than it would be nowadays:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCKjTp62_M8
Re: Morris minor travelogue book
Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2023 6:04 pm
by philthehill
Now awaiting delivery of the story of John Coleman's epic drive from Buenos Aires to New York in his Austin 7 in the 1920'S.
A hardback first edition too and in very good condition.
Re: Morris minor travelogue book
Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2023 9:07 pm
by Myrtles Man
philthehill wrote: ↑Tue Jan 10, 2023 6:04 pm
Now awaiting delivery of the story of John Coleman's epic drive from Buenos Aires to New York in his Austin 7 in the 1920'S.
Er, it was in 1959 Phil.
Re: Morris minor travelogue book
Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2023 10:10 pm
by philthehill
Well spotted
The Austin 7 build date should have read 1920's not the date of the journey. Silly me.
The Austin 7 was 1925 model and the drive took place in the late 1950's according to the web entries.
I look forward to having a good read.
Re: Morris minor travelogue book
Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2023 7:41 pm
by philipkearney
Well, having still failed to locate a copy of his Scottish Drive book, it very much sounds like I'll have to buy a copy of this one instead. All of these recommendations can't be wrong !