Ted Simon
Encyclopedia
Ted Simon is a British journalist born in Germany in 1931, noted for circumnavigating the world twice by motorcycle
. He was raised in London by a German mother and a Romanian father.
After studying chemical engineering at Imperial College he began his newspaper career in Paris with the Continental Daily Mail. Back in England, whilst undertaking National Service with the RAF he founded Scramble, a magazine for recruits, which caught the attention of Arthur Christiansen, redoubtable editor of the Daily Express, and worked in Fleet Street
for ten years. He eventually became Features Editor of the Daily Sketch, and shortly before that paper was amalgamated with the Daily Mail in 1964 he left to found and edit a man's magazine, King, which survived for three years. He moved to France and contributed to various English newspapers and magazines, including The Observer
and Nova
.
His first book, The Chequered Year, was an account of the 1970 Formula One season.
In late 1973, sponsored by The Sunday Times
, Simon began travelling around the world on a 500 cc Triumph Tiger 100
motorcycle. For four years he travelled over 64000 miles (102,997.8 km) through 45 countries. Most accounts from his trip are detailed in his book, Jupiter's Travels
,
while some of the book's gaps are filled in its second part, the book Riding High.
His books and long distance riding
later inspired the actors Ewan McGregor
and Charley Boorman
in their journey from London to New York on motorcycles (Long Way Round
), during which they arranged to meet Simon in Mongolia.
In 1980, married with one son, he moved to Northern California, became active in organic farming and consumer supported agriculture, and wrote the book The River Stops Here: Saving Round Valley, A Pivotal Chapter in California's Water Wars.
He went on to write, The Gypsy in Me,
which details his search for his mother's and, particularly, his father's roots in Eastern Europe. This time he mainly walked and caught public transport between Kaliningrad
and Romania. This was not long after the Communist
regimes in Russia, Poland, Ukraine and Romania had fallen.
In 2001, Simon started a new motorcycle journey, this time on a modified BMW R80GS,
that roughly followed the same route as his 1973 trip. He was around 70 years old at that time and completed the journey in three years. His new book, Dreaming of Jupiter, detailing this journey, was released in March 2007.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
. He was raised in London by a German mother and a Romanian father.
After studying chemical engineering at Imperial College he began his newspaper career in Paris with the Continental Daily Mail. Back in England, whilst undertaking National Service with the RAF he founded Scramble, a magazine for recruits, which caught the attention of Arthur Christiansen, redoubtable editor of the Daily Express, and worked in Fleet Street
Fleet Street
Fleet Street is a street in central London, United Kingdom, named after the River Fleet, a stream that now flows underground. It was the home of the British press until the 1980s...
for ten years. He eventually became Features Editor of the Daily Sketch, and shortly before that paper was amalgamated with the Daily Mail in 1964 he left to found and edit a man's magazine, King, which survived for three years. He moved to France and contributed to various English newspapers and magazines, including The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
and Nova
Nova (UK magazine)
Nova, published from March 1965 to October 1975, was a British magazine. It has been described as "a politically radical, beautifully designed, intellectual women's magazine"....
.
His first book, The Chequered Year, was an account of the 1970 Formula One season.
In late 1973, sponsored by The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
, Simon began travelling around the world on a 500 cc Triumph Tiger 100
Triumph Tiger 100
The Triumph Tiger 100 was a British motorcycle first made by Triumph at their Coventry factory for 1939.With the runaway sales success of the Triumph Speed Twin, Edward Turner's mind turned to further developing the potential of his new parallel twin motor...
motorcycle. For four years he travelled over 64000 miles (102,997.8 km) through 45 countries. Most accounts from his trip are detailed in his book, Jupiter's Travels
Jupiter's Travels
Jupiter's Travels is a book by Ted Simon which narrates his four-year journey through 126,000 km across 45 countries on a Triumph Tiger 100 500 cc motorcycle from 1973 to 1977. His book was first published in English in 1979....
,
while some of the book's gaps are filled in its second part, the book Riding High.
His books and long distance riding
Long Distance Riding
Long-distance riding is the pastime of riding motorcycles over long distances in defined times, with a popular target being to cover 1,000 miles in a day....
later inspired the actors Ewan McGregor
Ewan McGregor
Ewan Gordon McGregor is a Scottish actor. He has had success in mainstream, indie, and art house films. McGregor is perhaps best known for his roles as heroin addict Mark Renton in the drama Trainspotting , young Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy , and poet Christian in the...
and Charley Boorman
Charley Boorman
Charley Boorman is an English TV adventurer, travel writer and actor. He is well known for his association with motorcycles and enthusiasm for biking.-Education:...
in their journey from London to New York on motorcycles (Long Way Round
Long Way Round
Long Way Round is a documentary television series, DVD set and book documenting the journey of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman from London to New York on motorcycles...
), during which they arranged to meet Simon in Mongolia.
In 1980, married with one son, he moved to Northern California, became active in organic farming and consumer supported agriculture, and wrote the book The River Stops Here: Saving Round Valley, A Pivotal Chapter in California's Water Wars.
He went on to write, The Gypsy in Me,
which details his search for his mother's and, particularly, his father's roots in Eastern Europe. This time he mainly walked and caught public transport between Kaliningrad
Kaliningrad
Kaliningrad is a seaport and the administrative center of Kaliningrad Oblast, the Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea...
and Romania. This was not long after the Communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
regimes in Russia, Poland, Ukraine and Romania had fallen.
In 2001, Simon started a new motorcycle journey, this time on a modified BMW R80GS,
that roughly followed the same route as his 1973 trip. He was around 70 years old at that time and completed the journey in three years. His new book, Dreaming of Jupiter, detailing this journey, was released in March 2007.
External links
- Jupitalia - Ted Simon's official website
- Jupiter's Travellers The Ted Simon Foundation