CHANCE TO MEET RACING LEGENDS
I will admit it: I broke a few rules at Autosport International. Doing the job we do, keeping a level of professionalism is important. Hero worship is something you have to do your best to disguise at all times, otherwise you will lose the respect of anyone you are interviewing. But I let my guard down.
I’d spotted Mark Skaife’s name on the list of stars who were attending, and was desperate to meet him. When he wandered on to the British touring car championship stand, where I was based, I couldn’t help but slip straight into ‘fan boy’ mode. I must have been feeling brave, because I interrupted a chat between BTCC series director Alan Gow and Skaife to force a meeting with the five-time Supercars champion. He didn’t disappoint, and luckily snapper Jakob Ebrey was on hand to capture the moment. I maybe lost the professionalism and integrity for a moment, but I got a photograph I will cherish.
Thinking of tin-top legends, it was also a delight to see Andy Rouse at the show. The four-time British touring car champion and master engineer was on the Autosport Stage to collect an accolade to acknowledge that he was voted as the greatest driver of the first 60 years of the BTCC. That poll was conducted by Motorsport
News and Autosport in August last year, and again it was a privilege to have been part of that as well – another real show highlight. And I haven’t even mentioned the cars that were there too…