Under Down Under

In the remote Kalgoorlie Goldfields in Western Australia, Robert McCracken was born in February 1928, just before the world experienced its worst depression. McCracken shares a lifetime of memories in his autobiography, beginning with details of his early years as a gold miner's son in a dusty Australian town. Life was not easy and often littered with disappointment, hardship, and even danger. Hungry families lived on kangaroo, rabbit, goat, and pigeons. After World War II ended, McCracken bought his first motorcycle and joined the Goldfields Motor Cycle Club, a decision that would change his life forever. As he reflects on his life, he tells of many more adventures including his travels to Asia, the United States, Mexico, and Europe. McCracken also shares the fascinating story of how he carried pieces of Skylab around the world in a plastic bag in his suitcase and personally handed them over to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC. Through his collection of remarkable tales, you will witness how McCracken survived such harsh circumstances as a young man and how those experiences eventually built the foundation of his boundless zeal for life.