LJK Setright

Really? Great writer, I've enjoyed him for many years....

Sorry to hear the news - he was good on motorcycles and a rare character.

Used to read him all the time too - he used to love his Linn radio for sure - a great loss, who'll be sadly missed.

A real shame, I was an avid reader of him when he wrote for "Car" in the early days. I remember his fave at the time - A Honda Prelude with an Automatic and special tyres. He wrote a great article once about driving to Glasgow to get his LP12 serviced. Phill Llewllen passed away recently too

The loss of a remarkable talent. Mr Setright wrote for "CAR Magazine" during a time when it's readers had attention spans greater than 30 seconds.

Yes, I used to like him in Car, too. He only ever seemed to write about two or three subjects, most prominently his Honda.

He continued that tradition at Hi-fi World where he only ever seemed to be writing about two or three subjects, most prominently his Linn system.

But he managed to pull it off with charm and grace, and it is sad indeed to learn of his passing.

A recent interview that finds the man as I remember him.

quote:

A recent interview that finds the man as I remember him.

Great link. Thanks again Marcus!

I first came upon him in Bike magazine in the 70s. I know he was mainly on the Hi Fi side of late but he kept me entertained in motoring magazines for many years. Leonard Setright, Phil Llewellyn, Russell Bulgin, it’s been a bad couple of years for motoring journalists. We will see none of their like again as the motoring (and Hi Fi) comics continue the plunge.

May he rest in peace.

Markus

It is early morning here on the west coast of North America so I hadn't had the opportunity to read your link until just this moment. It is very definitely vintage Setright. Thank you.

Clay

Does anybody know why dogs do like to urinate on car wheels?

Glad you like the link, guys.

Me too thanks
Martin

LJK and Ogri in Bike were what I looked forward to dropping on the doormat in the '70s. I didn't even know he was into hi-fi and wish I'd read some of his pieces on that.

Dear All

I am very sad to hear of his passing.

I have obviously been reading his mutterings for longer than most as i remember his wonderful descriptions of his passions for all things Bristol.

Especially the KNITTING NEEDLE PUSHROD DESIGN of the BMW/Bristol 2 litre straight 6.

He also wrote of the absurdity of supercars as he once followed with consumate grace a Lamborgini Countach in his Bristol 411 series 3.
What a beautiful car and what performance.

He had a passion for elegant engineering solutions and was able to describe his opinions on engineering matters to those of us who enjoyed his writings and did not have the engineering knowledge.

I adore his wonderful book on Bristol Cars.

He also loved the VW Scirocco especially the series 1 Storm which he considererd had one of the best balanced chassis of the then current crop of FWD hot hatches.

He then loved his Honda Prelude with its elegant solution for rear wheel sterring so that slip angles of the rear axle were adjusted under load to give a controlled rate of rear steering action.

My only gripe was his taste in Linn Products.

Still we all have our faults and idiosyncrises.

That is what makes the person of interest.

In my opinion he is and now was the greatest writer on the Motor Car . He regularly gave informed opinions on what he felt to be blind alley engineering solutions and was dismissive of those . He was respected in the automotive industry for his accurate and articulate articles on motor cars and the engineering behind the cars.

I wish i had my copies of Car magazine form the late 60 's and early seventies when i first encountered the writings of :

Leonard J K Setright.

The elegance of his writings can be seen by the forward to his book on Bristols:

Esher May 1974:

" Many of the illustrations come from my own collection and from that of the Bristol Owners Club, several more from that of Mr T A D Crook who is proprietor of Bristol Cars, and the balance from some furiously dedicated efforts on the part of Messrs C Taylor and M Cannon at a recent Club gathering."

I have had a passion for Bristols since 1972 when an old Gentleman had a beautiful 411 Series three in Dark blue with grey leather upholstery. He used to drive this beautiful car with such care and elegance, and i used to see the car most days when i was at school in Bristol.

I would love to have just such a car.

oh well another interesting individual passes from this mortal coil.

I can forgive him his fondness for Linn Products.

regards David

Just seen this news and am in a state of shock. I greatly enjoyed reading his monthly column in Hi-Fi World (that august and level headed journal). I well remember looking up from choosing CD's at the Vivante stand at last year's Heathrow Hi-End Show to see him standing very close by - with his height and imposing physical appearance he rather put me in mind of a beacon, which he surely was.

Best regards,
Mole Man

Irreplaceable. One of the very few that dared go into print recognising the strengths of the MG Maestro..(yes, it did have some).

A great loss indeed, he was a real enthusiast, and a great writer.

Before his affair with the VW Storm, he had a Fiat 1/9, and at some time later on, after he had sold the Bristols he bought a Suzuki Whizzkid, the smallest car then available, and extolled it's virtues. Beacuse of his writing I went out and bought both of these cars. Yes, a sad passing.

I didn't know he was a Linn man though, I'm just getting over a disapointing experience with a Linn Classik.

I liked reading his stuff in audio comics and pictures of him with a pipe. Until seeing this 'thread' I didn't know he isn't.