Gary Tippings
Gary began racing motocross in the British schoolboy scene of the mid-seventies, going on to win club championships and compete at the British championship level, representing the Cambridge club alongside future 500 GP superstars such as Mark Banks and Kurt Nicoll. Beginning his working career at BBC television in the early 80s Gary went on to work at Channel Four Television as a senior production assistant. Having spent most of the 1990s working on the other side of the camera as an actor/model, he also has over twenty years of experience as a writer of novels and short stories. Gary incorporated Large Art Productions Ltd in 2016, and is currently producing a number of his original screenplays in partnership with one of the major film studios, working in conjunction with some of the industry’s leading film producers.
Having been a fan of Jaroslav Falta since the events of ’74 unfolded Gary met Jaroslav’s daughter Martina through social media in early 2021, and realized a dream when his offer to write an expanded and updated English version of the 1997 Czech publication ‘Ukradeny Titul’ was accepted by Martina and the Falta family. The rest, as they say, is history.
Martina Faltova Cope
I’m Jaroslav’s daughter and biggest fan. The idea of having my Dad’s story told in English come up in 2001, when Ukradeny titul, a book by Ivo Helikar, was published in Czech Republic. A lot of years went by, life happened, many tries, errors, tears, time and disappointment in between. I almost gave up. But I knew Dad would want his story to be set straight and told freely. What really happened at the infamous race in Wohlen, Switzerland in 1974 or the FIM conference in San Marino? Nobody really knew or had the full story. Including Dad. I set up a Facebook page (JAROSLAV FALTA and CZ) and started connecting with old friends, fans and searching for answers. Gary Tippings found me two years ago and was able to put all my research and findings into this brilliant book. Not only about my Dad, Jaroslav Falta and motocross, but his private life, friends, motocross history, Cold War politics in sport and much much more. Happy reading.
Martina
Siege
My name is Siege. I’m an Artist: Painter (Fine Art) & Graphics in the Pacific Northwest. I ran the Hammer & Tongs Vintage Motocross Series for a decade. I met Jaroslav and Martina in 2011, when I was asked to design the first “Falta shirt” for his surprise birthday party shirt, and attend as well – a huge honor for me. Arriving in the Czech Republic, knowing nobody, I was welcomed by the family, and since, we’ve became close friends. I’ve designed different shirts for the World Champion in the subsequent years. When we lost the Man this Spring, I was asked (read “told”) to design the covers for this book, and came to the task already knowing the style and treatment needed.
• My Fine Art / Design work here: wischt.com • @siege_americanpainter