17 YEARS AGO

Then-Advertiser sports reporter Bert James just missed out on realising a full-throttle dream back in the summer of 2002.

Formula 1 fan Bert got the chance to sit in the driver’s seat of Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari car – but he was unable to fit into the tiny space.

Instead Bert had to settle for sitting outside the car’s cockpit.

The vibrant vehicle was visiting a Shell petrol station in Bank Street, Coatbridge, when revved-up Bert got in gear for his special afternoon out of the office.

Youngster Calum Hay, from the Kirkwood area of Coatbridge, had much better luck than Bert, though, as he managed to fit in the car seat.

Calum said:“It was absolutely brilliant to be able to sit in the same seat as Michael Schumacher.

“It was quite funny to see Bert wasn’t able to fit!”