Product Description

The story concerns Mike Brookes and his Pegasus Car Company as they attempt to build and enter a two car team for the 1957 Targa Florio road race in Sicily. Pegasus build road-going sports cars but Brookes wants to take them onto an international stage to compete with the likes of Ferrari, Maserati, and Mercedes. He selects the Targa Florio as it is the toughest road race in the world, combining a car breaking mountain section with a long flat-out 180mph straight. Brookes problems are many he has no budget, no engine, and no tyre contract, however, he does have one ace to play : himself. Mike Brookes is a superb designer and has several innovative ideas to put into the car. In addition to overcoming all the problems with the car, Pegasus also has to contend with the 1956 Suez crisis, which severly affects the car market; consequently they are being hounded by their bankers. They also have to overcome industrial espionage and the possible cancellation of the race itself, but finally the cars line up on the grid for a race which by now represents nothing less than the survival of the company itself.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #159196 in Books
• Published on: 2009-06-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 252 pages

Customer Reviews

A Sure Winner
Being familiar with Michael Pearson's previous work which has centered on Naval History, A Ribbon of Road in the Moonlight shows how versatile a writer he is.
In this book that tells of a small motor manufacturer and the determination of its owner to build a sports car and assemble a team of mechanics, drivers and financiers with a view to winning one of the most prestigious road races of the era.
Set in the early 1950's it captures the fascination with speed and glamour, much sought after in the post war years.
The characters Michael Pearson has created are alive; you feel you are in their company during their arguments and negotiations.
This novel has been a joy to read. I look forward to others from Michael Pearson.

A racing cert
A friend recommended this book to me and I'm really glad he did. Even though I have never been remotely interested in motor racing, I soon found myself caught up in this terrific tale of the struggle to put together a winning team and machine for what must have been a truly gruelling contest. The characters quickly become as familiar as real people, and the various twists and turns to the story make it a real page-turner. I'm now looking forward to Michael Pearson's next offering - on this form, it will be well worth the wait!

First novel from a noted historian tips a wink to famous poem
If you have read any of Michael Pearson's naval history books then you will recognise the same attention to detail here set in 1957 as he turns his hand to motor racing fiction. As a first novel its an enjoyable read and I was sufficiently taken back to the era where political correctness didn't exist and some of the character stereotypes lifted straight from a 1950s movie and its fun because of that. You feel yourself rooting for the plucky British sports car maker gambling his entire busines on a single race. The title may confuse some in that the Targa Florio is daylight road race but the phrase is lifted from the poem 'The Highwayman' by Alfred Noyes and immortalised in the music video for Fleetwood Mac's 'Everywhere' which is a nice touch. Looking forward to the next one.