‘Sox’: Gary Hocking the Forgotten World Motorcycle Champion

I had never heard of Gary Hocking until I discovered his grave in a cemetary in Wales. On looking-up his name, my jaw dropped. I had heard of Geoff Duke, and Mike Hailwood, and John Surtees. Yet Hocking had raced against them all, and eventually became double World Champion.I was fascinated to learn of his retirement, at an early stage in his career, and to learn, later, that the explanation so often given for this was far removed from the real reason. Gary’s decision to move to car racing because it was safer, only to be killed in a car is a tragic end to the story, and the many suggestions as to how the accident happened are explored.This book is a positive celebration of Gary ‘Sox’ Hocking’s life and career, and the stories, from those that knew him, reveal how he went from riding a motorbike to work, to becoming World Champion - a riveting story, made more so by being told by those who were close to him.With photos covering Hocking’s early career, racing Nortons in South Africa, through to his final motorcycle ride, at the 1962 Isle of Man TT - a win which was, in many ways, so important to him - this book is a fitting tribute to a forgotten champion.