DOWN THE PUB
Age: 69 Lives: Ruislip In his final season of racing
He’s raced for 28 years “I started when I got made redundant. I think my wife hoped that I would eke out the redundancy pay to provide for her and our young son, but I went and bought a racing car. It was a 1958 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint and I was recommended to the HSCC because it was suitable for Road Sports.”
He started with the HSCC
“The HSCC proved to be the ideal home as it had a novice championship at the time. This was PRE-ARDS and in the days of steam-operated racing, I got a suit and turned up with my race licence to Donington, which was my first track. That was 1991 and I’ve done about 200 races in all.”
He now races a 1960s Camaro “Very sadly the owner of the Chevrolet Camaro I’m driving now, Hugo Dixon, died most unexpectedly. Hugo used to race three or four times a year and had the Camaro prepared. I’d always loved this era of American cars and the sound of a V8. There’s just nothing like the sound of a V8. I’ve had more fun in the last six years racing the Camaro than I probably had in the previous 10 years racing Alfas.”
Retirement beckons “This is definitely my final season. I cherry pick the dates a bit because the Camaro is not the ideal car for Cadwell Park, for example. The Finals Meeting in October will be my final race and then I’ll sell the car. I drive it to and from each meeting: well, to and hopefully from! I do about 3000 miles a year in total in the Camaro, including the races.”
It is a thirsty road car “The fuel consumption on the track is four or five mpg and about 12 on the road if I’m lucky. But it sounds great! You get to know the car really well and it is a beautiful old beast. I’m a hopeless driver but I enjoy myself. Historic Road Sports is a friendly crew and there is good behaviour on the track, which can’t be said for every series I’ve raced in.”
He enjoys historics “There is something about the atmosphere that I like and this is club racing. It’s not an exercise in spending huge money: it is just going out and having a good time. A life without racing would be a loss, so I’ll still come along and watch.”