DOWN THE PUB

WITH DAVID METHLEY

63 Chichester Historic racer and trialler

He’s raced for 50 years “I started racing karts when I was 13, so I’ve been racing for 50 years and I’ve absolutely loved it. I’ve raced in just about every formula, including Historic F1, Historic F2 and Group C. I’ve always done my own preparation.”

He worked in F1 “In the 1970s I worked for Emerson and Wilson Fittipaldi, building the Copersucar F1 car. They were built here and taken to Brazil to be assembled. They weren’t great cars but it was great fun and I learned a lot, after doing a six-year aerospace apprenticeship. I’ve always been mad on cars.”

He prepares cars “I did race preparation so I could race myself. In order to be able to drive them, I had to work on them and I’ve prepared lots of cars for other people. I remember taking 11 cars to Spa one year and there were five of us trying to run 11 cars. I’ve met some fantastic people and some of the nicest people in the world do what we are doing. I’m very lucky to be a part of it.”

“I’m still looking for a car to race this season. I like to buy a car, put it back together and develop it. I don’t like something that someone else has prepared. I’ve been looking for some time, but haven’t found it.”

He’s now doing trials “Frank Lyons told me I had to do historic sporting trials and I absolutely love it. It is much harder than racing. In racing you only have to stay on the track. With trials, on every single section you have to concentrate and work out exactly where you are going to go. You have to be very accurate on the throttle. The cars need little preparation and it is perfect to do in the winter. I did have a win on the Isle of Wight a few years ago and I won at Plashes Farm last August. My wife Lesley-ann passengers.”