An Inventor's Life: The Story of a Teenage Inventor Who Changed Motorcycle

by Don Richardson, Rueben S.B. (Editor)

AN INVENTOR'S LIFE...The true story of an 1970s American teenager who invented the game-changing rear suspension system that shook up the motorcycle industry and all the years of litigation that followed in his success. Don Richardson is a self-educated mechanical prodigy who grew up tinkering in the 60s muscle car era. His main focus in high school was making sure he had the fastest car around; to fuel those ambitious, he worked as a Ferrari mechanic and then as a chief race car mechanic by his late teen years. While not the best at motocross, he sought out the best ways to improve his odds. It lead to him creating the first linkage suspension for the rear wheel of a motorcycle at the age of nineteen. Called the "Full Floater" by the company who used it, Don's invention eventually rose to becoming a near necessity in motocross and off road racing. It spurred many other patents. Without credit to him, Don had no choice but to fight tooth and nail to retain what he could on it.

112 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 7, 2014

About the author

DON RICHARDSON, author of Secrets of the Koran, Lords of the Earth and Eternity in Their Hearts, has been studying the Muslim world for more than 30 years.

He and his wife, Carol, spent 15 years among the Sawi, a Stone Age tribe of Irian Jaya. Don designed an alphabet suited to the Sawi language, authored 19 primers, taught the tribesmen to read in their native tongue and translated the entire New Testament. More than half of the Sawi accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Peace Child is the story of this mission.

All of Richardson's books focus on what he calls his "redemptive analogy" thesis: the idea that each culture has some story, ritual, or tradition that can be used to illustrate and apply the Christian gospel message.

Since 1977, Don has served as ambassador-at-large for World Team, a mission organization.

Don holds an honorary doctorate of literature from Biola University in La Mirada, California, is an ordained pastor and speaks at more than 40 church conferences each year.

Reviews

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding

An incredible roller coaster journey through the life of an incredibly resourceful, brilliant, resilient, and determined man. It is written well enough that I could smell the hot tires from burnouts, I could taste the dirt in my mouth from the off-road chases. I could feel the vibrations of a racing motor and the exhilaration of eluding arrest. The injustices he endured enraged me. This is an exceptional book by an exceptional man. Don, it was inspirational to meet you. Thank you for your work and innovation. Where the rubber meets the road/dirt, your inventions have positively affected my life.

[Richard K. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up in the same era as Don. I was impressed that a kid my age invented the full floater - impressive! I was fascinated by the legal battles that Don, and probably most inventors go through. Recommended reading for anyone with the thought of inventing something.

[George · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhat interesting book about an inventors challenges with large corporation and his own ineptness. Those who are inventors or into motocross/racing will find it interesting.

[Darin Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Amazing insight on the cruel world of the little man trying to make a name vs the big corporations

[Don Fast · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointed

I enjoyed the book until the author overwhelmed the book with his legal woes. I respect the author’s entrepreneurial genius.

[Michael A. Simmons, Sr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting Tale

An interesting tale about a young man who revolutionized motorcycle suspension systems and his battle to retain his patent protection.

[Jim Haan · Rating 5 out of 5]

on Fri Feb to get to see the new one