David Stuart — the co-author of a new book, “Motorcycling in California’s Central Valley” — is the speaker for Thursday’s meeting of  the Manteca Historical Society.

The free event takes place at 7 p.m. on June 8  at the Manteca Museum, 600 West Yosemite Ave.

Stuart’s book is a pictorial history with more than 200 photos focusing on San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties and covering 1900 to 1970.

 He will present a PowerPoint program summarizing the history of motorcycling in the northern San Joaquin Valley, illustrated with historic photos from the book. He will have copies of the book available to sell and sign.

Stuart is a third-generation native of Ripon.

His interest in motorcycling was sparked by his Grandfather, Art Stuart Sr., who was a San Joaquin County motorcycle patrolman in 1927-29, after which he was a California Highway Patrol sergeant until he retired in 1950.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Stuart rode off-road “dirt-bikes” with friends from the Modesto-Ripon-Manteca area.

 Stuart has been the Assistant State Archaeologist of Colorado and a Cultural Resources Specialist and planner for the National Park Service.

He was the director of museums and programs for the City of Ventura and directed the Sacramento Science Center (now called MoSAC) and the Sacramento History Museum in Old Sacramento.

After 11 years as director of the San Joaquin County Historical Museum in Micke Grove Park, Stuart retired five years ago. The book was one of his post-retirement projects.