This is an engaging and well-told tale of a son's love for a father, a son's wish that his dad might live forever. It is the true story of "Big Sid" Biberman, a legendary motorcyle mechanic who refurbished and repaired old bikes. He worked on machines owned by everyone from Jay Leno and Steve McQueen and in fact spent more time fixing broken pistons and bent steel than in repairing his own relationship with his son.

The son, our author, took a different path to become a Shakespearean scholar and rarely ever even spoke to his father. But when the elder Biberman suffers a near fatal heart attack and more tellingly just about gives up on living altogether, the son is moved into action. He promises his father that together they will build a Vincati, considered the grand statesman of all motorcycles. A combination Vincent and Ducati, the building of the bike brings these two together and provides for "Big Sid" a reason to live.

It is a touching story, and though a bit maudlin in its efforts to tug at heartstrings, Big Sid's Vincati should receive high marks from those who read it.