Two tall tales from ex-maths professor and well-known classic bike nut John Bradshaw – and amazingly one of them is true!
Transmogrification tells, in great detail, how he designed and built (with help from others) Muriel, an astonishing confection of Morgan (Aero three-wheeler), Ariel (bronze-headed 680cc single) and Ural (gearbox & shaft drive) plus countless other bits, including a Model T Ford car, a Jawa speedway bike, a Vickers Wellington bomber and a Messerschmitt 110 night-fighter. Really.
Fascinating stuff, and the people, firms and vehicles involved are all listed and described at the end.
Turn the book over, and A Tall Short Story is a tale which provides some fictional provenance for Muriel. A budding young trials rider of the 1930s does well, goes to war, survives and comes back, transferring to Morgan three-wheelers in his much loved MCC trials. It’s a nostalgic glimpse of life, when men were lantern-jawed and women jolly good sports.
It could have been written 70-odd years ago and if you liked Biggles and Boys Own stuff, you’ll like this.