DOWN THE PUB

WITH MARK LINSTONE

Racer and restorer Age: 54 Lives: Salisbury

His father was heavily involved “My father Cyril started racing in 1948 and was part of building the Emeryson racing cars. My mother worked for Les Leston in the 1950s and my father prepared Leston’s saloon cars. That’s how my parents met and when their children came along, we went racing.”

He started in rallycross “I started rallycrossing in a Saab 96 when I was at school and I still drive a 96, though not that one. I did a bit of rallying in a Lada and a Saab 99 Turbo. Then we met Duncan Rabagliati from Formula Junior and he had one of my father’s old Emerysons and we did a bit of work on it. I had the opportunity to race that car and we raced a lot in Europe with it.”

“I then raced for Ean Pugh, who we sadly lost earlier this year, and he let me drive all his grand prix cars and I had a terrific time for many years. He had BRMS, a Brabham BT34 and Mclaren F5000s and I was very fortunate to drive all sorts of lovely cars.”

The business is in classic cars “My business, Linstone Classics, is based on restoring and rebuilding classic cars and old race cars. We’ve always been busy and my dad, who is now 88, is still working with me. He and my mum came to the Silverstone Finals meeting in October so they are still involved.”

“More recently I’ve been racing the one-litre Brabham BT21 in Historic F3. I’d always wanted an F3 car and I managed to acquire this car some years ago and restored it. We got it up and running about five years ago and have had great fun with it. Of all the cars I’ve driven, this one really does stir my soul. They are hard work but great fun and we’re getting better with it. We’ll carry on with it next season.”

Trials for the winter “A friend of mine lends me his Cannon historic sporting trials car for the winter and my partner Deborah is passenger. It’s very affordable and a lovely bunch of people. We can do this together and we love it because it makes the winter shorter.”