Motorcycles Merlins and Mosquitos (HB) ISBN 978 1 85983 7665 - Description
Motorcycles,
Merlins and Mosquitos: The Story of Chris Harrison, Racing
Motorcyclist, Rolls-Royce Engineer, Mosquito Pilot tells the fascinating story
of Chris Harrison, the boss of author Peter McManus at Rolls-Royce in Derby
immediately after the war when they both worked on aero-engine development.
Chris is a remarkable man, a born engineer with a genius for problem solving.
Since those days they have never lost touch. He raced an ex-works Norton in the
1930s, worked at Rolls-Royce on aero-engine testing then volunteered for
service in the RAF.
He commenced flying in America
but was diverted to Packards, Detroit,
to help with Merlin engine manufacture before finally completing his flying
training. Back in England he
flew Mosquito night fighters over Occupied Europe...and
survived!
After the war he returned to Rolls-Royce, Derby
where he eventually took charge of the Test Office.
In 1953 Rolls-Royce opened a branch in Australia
to service the Royal Australian Air Force turbo-jet engines and Chris moved to Australia.
After Rolls-Royce he eventually worked for Goodyear in their aviation tyre
division where his problem solving skills were again successful.
Chris was born in 1914 so now in 2009 he is 94 years of age. He rode a
motorcycle until he was 90, still drives a car and continues to work on vintage
motorcycles.
