Two-Wheeled Thunder

by William Campbell Gault

I went into the turn like a fool — and the real wheel started to slide before I could compensate with a weight shift. The front wheel swung uphill; the rear spun wildly; I was out of control, heading backward down the slope, all traction gone on the slippery grass outside the course.
I jumped to get away from my machine, as Jerry swept by above. In that one crazy moment I lost second place — and wrecked my cycle!

191 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1962

About the author

William Campbell Gault (1910–1995) was a critically acclaimed pulp novelist. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he took seven years to graduate from high school. Though he was part of a juvenile gang, he wrote poetry in his spare time, signing it with a girl’s name lest one of his friends find it. He sold his first story in 1936, and built a great career writing for pulps like Paris Nights, Scarlet Adventures, and the infamous Black Mask. In 1939, Gault quit his job and started writing fulltime.

When the success of his pulps began to fade in the 1950s, Gault turned to longer fiction, winning an Edgar Award for his first mystery, Don’t Cry for Me (1952), which he wrote in twenty-eight days. He created private detectives Brock Callahan and Joe Puma, and also wrote juvenile sports books like Cut-Rate Quarterback (1977) and Wild Willie, Wide Receiver (1974). His final novel was Dead Pigeon (1992), a Brock Callahan mystery.


Series:
* Brock 'The Rock' Callahan
* Joe Puma

Reviews

[Rodney Haydon · Rating 5 out of 5]

William Campbell Gault wrote some of the best juvenile sports stories. This one, about two best friends who learn more than how to ride motorcycles, is another winner.
I wonder how many kids who read this back in elementary or middle school were bitten by the excitement of motorcycle racing from this book?

[Michael Oakley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book as a youth. I still have my copy. I need to re-read it.

[Andrew Webster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was in 5th grade. I found and ordered it off the Internet, and have read it a couple times since, as an adult. It is still a great book to read if you like motorcycles.

[Bret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book when I was a kid and have read it at least a half a dozen times.