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That Was Close!

Brief Description
The perfect book for motor enthusiasts, thrill seekers and anyone who loves a good yarn. Fear and I started our long relationship at a very early age, and every time we met, I think we worked together to thicken my skin a little. As a veteran... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$3199
Elsewhere:
$3999
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Releases 28th July 2026 (Approx. Date) Pre-order  "That Was Close!" now to secure your copy from our first shipment

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The perfect book for motor enthusiasts, thrill seekers and anyone who loves a good yarn.

Fear and I started our long relationship at a very early age, and every time we met, I think we worked together to thicken my skin a little.

As a veteran of the famous (some would say infamous) Targa Tasmania Rally, Philip Blake has had plenty of brushes with death, but even the bravest and most foolhardy of rev-heads would be shocked by his record.

In short, Philip Blake should not be alive. He has fallen off a mountain, been blown out of bed by a bomb and had far too many close shaves on the road – and that’s before you even get to Targa Tasmania.

In this wickedly funny book, this master storyteller races through a life overflowing with thrills.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781761639654

Publisher: Affirm Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 28 July 2026

Country: Australia

Imprint: Affirm Press

Illustration: 8pp

DIMENSIONS

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 0g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Born in Northern Ireland and growing up in Belfast during the Troubles, Philip Blake escaped to Tasmania in 1974. He is a professional writer, a former national magazine columnist and the winner of an Australian Literature Board Fellowship. He was also one of Tasmania’s most highly awarded advertising copywriters. A trained teacher, he has many years of
experience in teaching Plain English writing.
Finally, he is an experienced competition driver and co-driver, who has run in Targa Tasmania 25 times in eight different cars. He holds a diamond Targa trophy, is a member of the Targa Hall of Fame and is so far the only two-time winner of the Denny Hulme award.
He is a former A-grade racing motorcyclist and has twice won major Targa Tasmania competitions – in eight different cars and in two different seats.

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