Driving round and round
I have always had an interest in cars and motoring. In the early days, I was driving a 1966 Austin Mini Countryman, I toyed with the idea of tuning and rally-driving, but this came to nothing. After college I kept to the practical with a Mini-van, finally selling that in 1975 and buying a 1972 Morgan 4/4. On joining the Morgan Sports Car Club I discovered the local group - the Anglemogs - were one of the keenest in the country for racing. In the first season I took a trackside seat spending many hours in the cold and damp of Siverstone outfield photographing my fellow club members. The photos here though are of a sunny Donnington. The following season I needed to get some of the action for myself. A roll bar, some minor tuning modifications and a RAC licence later and I was on the track. A gentle introduction at the Eight Clubs meeting at Silverstone and I was hooked. The delights of early Sunday morning drives to Silverstone, Donnington, Mallory Park, Snetterton and Lyddon Hill were discovered. Servicing became a weekly event, not the 6,000 mile intervals I had been used to. "Front wheels are a bit rattly." "Must be your king pins worn." "I'll give you a hand, strip the front end on Friday night. Up to London Saturday morning, get the uprights rebushed and a new pair of king pins, back together Saturday afternoon, ready for the off on Sunday for racing." - and to think we did that for fun! In four years of club racing, I had a few pieces of silverware on the shelf, a cup from the Bentley Driver's Club, the large silver salver for the six hour relay at Donnington (shame that was only for the year!) and the Morgan Club trophies and runner up shields. By 1981 it was time to get married. The Morgan has gone but the memories remain. |
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