DOWN THE PUB

Age: 65 Lives: Pontypridd Saab enthusiast

He competes in a Saab “I’ve been rallying since the late 1960s and have done a lot of co-driving. I’ve also done a lot of historic rallies with the Saab 96 two-stroke and it has won a lot of historic road rallies. I’ve never done any stage events in the Saab; it’s not set up for stage rallies and it doesn’t have a roll cage or suitable seats. I’ve had it for about 24 years and have always used it. We use it mainly on tours these days.”

The Saab went to Shelsleywalsh “The Shelsley Walsh Classic weekend last month was the first hillclimb the car had ever done and it was the first time it had been on a trailer. Everybody seemed to love it and I think it was pretty rare for a two-stroke Saab to compete at Shelsley. When I was ill last year I decided to start booking up some events for when I got better and the Classic was on my ‘to do’ list.”

It’s not bursting with power though “It is a 1965 two-stroke with an 841cc engine and about 45bhp on a good day. The fastest cars at Shelsley were crossing the finish line at 130mph and I crossed the line at 45mph. The whole hill is flat out in the Saab, you don’t lift off anywhere. It is a four-speed gearbox and most of the hill was flat in third. I did change down to second for the Esses. It takes a long time to get to the Esses!”

He’s also a renowned co-driver “I do a lot of co-driving at places like Epynt and Caerwent and I’ve been going to Caerwent since it opened for rallying 20 years ago. I do know it very well, but I also like Epynt and we go to events like West Cork in Ireland. I’ve not done so much this year as I’m recovering from lymphoma, but I did Carlow earlier in the year. But the plan is to do more over the rest of the year and beyond.”

He’s a Saab enthusiast “I work three days a week as a driving examiner. I also do quite a lot of art; I draw and paint cars mainly. I’ve done three Eric Carlsson pictures because I’ve always loved Saabs.”