How did you get into racing?

[XR2 Baz]

Hi, welcome aboard Orangegirl, and keep up the good work. I used to marshal myself, and as a racer now I really appreciate what the marshals do, it's hard work and often totally thankless save for the odd lunchtime pie .

How did I get into motorsport? Lilke so many others, I saw a GP on telly. The 1990 Monaco GP to be precise, and from there I started to watch all the GP's and got more into the sport. I joined a club (Monklands Sporting Car Club) and started competing at 'grass roots' level...that is trials, autotests and the like. This is the true way to do motorsport on the cheap...and it's great fun.

Anyway, on a trip to Edinburgh with my mum and dad one day, I spotted the sign advertising Ingliston which led me to duly nag my dad into taking me. Not that it took much nagging, he loves it too and is even helping me with rebuilding the car! From there I started marshalling until 2000 when I disappeared off down under for a while. Never got involved in motorsport there though I went to a couple of races. I did learn that Aussie motorsport = V8's...awesome. Then I returned here mid 2002, mashalled a couple of events, saw the XR2 advertised and bought it.

That brings us to where I am today. I still compete in the 'grass roots' events and have actually just been doing a trial in the new XR2 whilst it's still in road going form, did quite well too. I'm also still involved with Monklands, I'm a director of the club now there.

Baz

[Michael Booth]

Hi all

Just noticed this topic and thought I'd better reply - but I've probably got the shortest story as the youngest member.

In '98 I first started to watch F1, and then got into it even more after buying AUTOSPORT and reading the report about the BTCC.

In 2000 after school my mum and dad took me up to the Friday practice and came back on Staurday. I returned on Sunday as a surprise. I then went to the night races @ Snetterton and Silverstone and met 'Reidy' and wife.

In '01 + '02 it was more of the same: Powertour, BTCC superbikes and DC fan club meeting @ the G.P. Also Donington at final meeting '02.

I started taking photos really this year and embarked on my website project. I noticed SCR's web address on the back of wheelspin (having a look through the archives here I think that it was davefiddes) and found the forum. Got to know some and became interested in the club scene.

Michael

P.S. Always wanted to be a racing driver and never thought it would happen 'cos you need loads of dosh. Club racing seems a better, cheaper option.

[Mike Hogg]

Very interesting thread - thanks for all the info, everyone!

As for me, I started watching F1 seriously towards the end of 1993, having occasionally tuned in a couple of times in previous years. Got more into it in 1994 and became a fanatic anorakish F1 fan in '95 As the "F3" style cars came in I lost interest a bit but had started watching the BTCC in 94/95 ish and various other bits and pieces on TV (Anyone remember "Best Of British Motorsport"? All I recall is a bearded guy at the end of the show always reminding us to "drive safely" ) As the years passed I started watching almost every type of racing I could see on the box (minus bikes and I'm not huge on rallying though I'll watch it at a push) when I was able to get my hands on sportscar, CART, IRL, NASCAR, etc etc footage.

My first trip to Knockhill was for the 1997 meeting with my Dad - had a blast but didn't make it back in '98 as he couldn't go and I didn't have a car... However I got my first car in early '99 and went to every club meeting as well as the BTCC - I was hooked on club racing from the first meeting onwards and not even blizzards calling events off has kept me away since! Never done any racing myself though I'd love to try one day when I win the lottery (optimism never hurt anyone!) - I'd even settle for getting a lap or two in an XR2 or a Legend some day if I get a chance. In true Murray Walker "Those who can't do it, talk about it" fashion, I've done a small amount of journalism to do with the club racing, doing stuff for scottishmotorsport.com back in '01 and now writing bits and pieces for this very lovely website. I think Kevin Pick has the perfect job and fully expect to assassinate him in the near future to try and get it from him ;D

[dagman16]

Oh well... off-season boredom setting in so might as well bore with you my motor sport life, such as it is!
Thank goodness Ali and Lance have spoken about 60s/70s... I may not be the oldest on here... Oh, there is Charlie of course!! Only joking, Charlie!
I was taken to Ingliston as a 13 year old in 1966 to spectate for the first time and was hooked!! I carried on spectating there and then at Knockhill when the cars first appeared in 1975. Competing was always a thought but at that time, a wife, 2 children, and a mortgage prohibited such activity! Two sessions at Tom Brown's race school at Ingliston also confirmed that my talents lay off track rather than on... 20 seconds off the Formula Ford lap record wasn't too promising! Mind you, I loved the outing in a Legend last week.... and the wife and kids are now off my hands... Hmmm !!

In 1990, I was finally persuaded by a marshal friend to jump the fence and join the orange brigade..... That I did and haven't looked back since. I completed my 100th race meeting in 2002 and have enjoyed them all even in the Knockhill rain, snow, wind, sun, etc..

The Chicane is now my second home and look forward to seeing you all next season whether spectator, marshal or floppy hitter...!!

Hope they have rebuilt the marshals' post after its attacks this season.. Never know so many direct hits as we had this year!!

Regards
Dave

[speedyV]

I think it's my mother's fault - she started following the press coverage of David Coulthard's exploits in 1994, and I started viewing GP's regularly the following season. And did so feverishly until about two years ago, when Ferrari began to turn the sport into a political joke, culminating in 'that' race in Austria last year.

I got into the BTCC the exact same year when John Cleland won it, but again, my interest has fallen a bit due to the inferiority of the modern tourer. Have been to three Knockers meetings, between 1998 and 2000. Enjoyed them all, despite heavy rain at the former event.

[davefiddes]

This is a great thread. Good to hear where everyone is coming from and some of the stories. Racemania can you add the extra chapters please?

Went to Ingliston in about 1980 or 1981 or something. Don't remember much from it other than it was noisy, I hadn't a clue who was winning (hey I was 7) and that the cars that looked like drag racers were cool (learned later that they were front engine Clubmans). FFwd about 6 years or so. My parents took my brother and I to see the Scottish Rally round Cardrona forest near Peebles (Colin McRae in a Nova and Jimmy in a big Sierra Cosworth). Watched the occasional GP on the TV when it was on at a time I was allowed to be up (this was before we had colour TV never mind a video recorder).

Got the F1 bug big time when Nigel Mansell won the first race in 89 in Rio in the new semi-automatic Ferrari. Read everything on motorsport I could find in the local library. BBC seemed to start showing lots more motorsport in 89 including the BTCC, F3, rallycross(of course) and even the FF Festival... Slowly discovered Autosport and Motoring News even though I couldn't afford them very often.

After much badgering I persuaded Dad to give me and a friend a lift to Ingliston for the last round of the 1990 season. Pure magic. The first race cars I remember seeing were FF1600 doing their practice in the morning going round Arena. There was a *huge* field back then (20 cars?) and the noise was incredible. There were loads of Imps and derived things like Darrians still racing then, Derek Butcher in a FF2000, Fiat Abarths(extremely rare now) racing c/w the engine cover proped to provide downforce and Laurence Jacobsen (I think) in an ADA C2 sportscar. The huge yellow ADA made a big impression on me. I can still remember him booting it to get the tail out to get round the hairpin because the car didn't have enough lock...

Went to most rounds at Ingliston since then till about 93 when I got fed up with the Sunday Market crowd and realised I'd seen far too many near misses with flying cars and brick walls and didn't want to be there when somebody had their Big One. I still miss the screaming Imps and Clubmans (Mallocks, etc)...

Started going to KH in 92 once I'd learnt to drive...but sadly missed out on the first BTCC in the wet...made up for it every year since until it got boring in 99 or 2000.

Le Mans the movie, an old Matchbox Group 6 Martini Racing Lancia sportscar that I lost aged 6, Laurence Jacobsen in the ADA and Don Panoz have all contrived to make me spend far too much money on a proper sportscar of my own... I had no say in the matter.

Apologies for rambling on...

[Racemania]

Chapter 1 the Awakening: Having been a marshal at Ingliston for my student years and getting nowhere trying to persuade Drivers and Teams to let me have a go I realised it was all down to me. My first job after qualifying was Orkney but I quickly realised 2 things. Firstly I couldn’t compete with the locals on the drinking front and second most of my drinking companions were excellent mechanics and engineers only too happy to help out. I decided to turn my MG Midget into Modsports 1149cc spec so spent the winter converting the car for racing, took welding at evening class and made Roll bar and trailer for car there. Sourced a quick engine in Kent that Ronnie Mackay from Thurso who raced in Formula Atlantic brought up when he was down at the Brabham Works. Could only afford one set of tyres so it had to be intermediates, I determined racing in Scotland how often could it be warm enough for slicks!

April 1969 my first race as a competitor wow a dream come true.

Actually managed to get gearing correct for Ingliston so had reasonable practice times and my engine made me up 3 places at the start so I had a fantastic first race.

Looking back it was ridiculous no fireproof overalls a borrowed helmet mine didn’t pass scrutineering so had Graham Birrel’s helmet and compared to me he was a big head! My car was too heavy - no fibreglass panels - so I had my work cut out, no money to buy off the shelf bits so everything was done myself with what help I could find.
Tom Walkinshaw was racing Formula Fords then and seeing him resplendent in his Nomex with his name splashed across the front did make me feel a country bumpkin so I had to change the image and invest in a Nomex suit myself and proper fitting helmet. Great help at that time was Johnny Fydo (Agra Engineering) who use to come up to Orkney Kart racing. He prepared Alex Souters Lotus Elan and raced an Imp himself so had a wealth of racing experience. Giving a demo at the Orkney Kart track I blew the engine damaging the head which was initially patched with an insert. I then managed to persuade Bill Borrowman to sell me BOX1 head.. They had moved on to the crossflow heads in the Mini’s so it was getting less likely they would ever use it again.
About mid season we had the pleasure of Team Lotus coming to Ingliston in the guise of Johnny Miles with the Lotus 69 ? Sportscar. At the drivers briefing we always had after practice & before racing the bespectacled Johnny politely asked if all the Modsports Drivers could stay behind. He then told us to carry on racing as we normally did keeping to our racing lines and not to move over to let him past when he lapped us! You should have heard the comments: Arrogant B , who does he think he is etc. however true to his mild mannered word he blew us all away, I think he lapped us all twice. Great to see a professional team at work setting up a car and made all the more special when there out on track with you.
Happy days, no money but still good memories.
Ali

[Racemania]

Chapter 2 the Re-awakening: Daughter down to University in Edinburgh so I thought why not do a single seater experience at Knockhill.- Tyres squealing round every corner, great fun, hooked again. How do you get more laps and unrestricted? Sorry you can’t so either race hire or buy your own car.
Aly Hunter couldn’t guarantee a full season of Hires so what next? Do I want to take a chance on a race or two or do I want some seriously selfish fun and race the full season.
Check out SMRC website Special Saloons big mix of cars and classes didn’t fancy that. Formula Fords only grid of 9 cars, similar for Caterhams so an old guy like me would look ridiculous if off the pace. Down to XR2’s or Legends both big grids XR2’s practice and one long race, Legends practice and 3 short races. No contest had to be Legends check out cars for sale but first see if I would pass the medical. Next was the ARDS test which I managed to pass so Aly Hunter had made a sale. That Day Aly was doing his first unrestricted day so I got my initiation to Legends and it had to be a wet day. These things do not go round corners in the wet so the euphoria of getting back to racing suddenly changed to “What have I done?”
Back to Orkney with the car and strip it down, as it hadn’t raced before it needed a lot of work to bring it up to racing spec. Managed to get it all together and gave it a blast early one Sunday morning at the largest area of tarmac I could find that might possibly not be a public road. A few of my old Kart racing rivals that weren’t suffering a hangover had a go as well which seriously impressed them. It was then down to Knockhill for Aly to check out my work and set it up for racing and the first test day at the end of March. I was happy to find that although 55 and the oldest, there were at least 3 others close-ish to my age racing Legends.
The rest is as they say History and I am highly delighted to get times down to low 63’s and finish 10th three times out of between 19 & 21 cars. Next target is 62. Something lap times.
Ali

[Charlie]

NS-R said:

Orangegirl - welcome to the forum - you guys do a sterling job out there and we wouldn't be racing if it wasn't for you...

Cheers,
Nick
www.ns-r.co.uk

Hear. Hear,

Hope you managed to make it to the Marshal's day out at Knockhill, when some of the drivers gave them a few laps insight from inside the cars.

[orangegirl]

YES, I was at the marshals fun day. I have realised that racing is not at easy as some folk think.

I (thought) I was doing very well when I was trundling round in the legend on a very wet track. Having gained a false sense of security I decided to hit the gas going round hairpin - oops.

Anyway, pointing in the wrong direction trying to figure out what gear I was in before and after, then realising I had stalled the bloody thing was all very embarrising.....

So, the next time we have a lovely rainy SMRC day I will have respect for you!!

[Pistonheadz]

Sitting comfortably? then i'll begin.

First taste of racing came through watching F1 in the early 80's as a kiddywinkle. This led to many a lost saturday afternoon glued to the living room carpet watching the likes of I.T.V's World of Sport (hands up those who remember that) and Grandstand when the showed 'proper cars' in touring cars, rallycross, & rallying. I was an addict at age 5 or 6!

As for seeing racing in the flesh, this was sometime around 1983 at Armadale Stadium for some banger racing, the sight of 30 odd garishly painted cars knocking lumps out of each other was awesome, the noise, the dust, i can still remember that first race. This was followed up the next day with a trip to Cowdenbeath for some 'proper' stock car racing. I attended the ovals fairly regularly till the mid 80's, then my neighbour who used to take me moved and i couldnt go any more.

Fast forward to the mid 90's and Knockhill for the Supertourers. Having followed the series on t.v seeing them in the flesh was a must. This led to Eurocars and following the SMRC classes. Memories of this time include getting sunstroke at the btcc meeting Ron Cummings various mad special saloons, Gabrielli Tarquinis multi roll at McIntyres, meetings being fogged off, 2cv's!, and those kerbs at the chicane that threw the cars over on two wheels. Went to Ingliston also, remember the place was packed with FFords (1600's) at one point they were almost at a standstill queing at the hairpin! Great stuff.

Now ive lost interest since the demise of the tourers and the eurocar series and the thin grids in some SMRC classes, so ive been an oval regular since 98, the constant over taking and the closeness of the action does it for me. I have visited for the rallycross and saw the final SMRC meet of last year which was good, plenty Legends and an interesting mix in the Sports/Saloons.

As yet ive remained a spectator and due to time/space/money/excusess its going to continue like that for a while!! Although a shot of an ex Aussie V8 Supercar would go down a treat in the Sports/Saloons class methinks

Anyways, thanks for reading my nostalgic ramble... Enjoy your racing...

[dragonfly]

how I got into racing (don't think there has been much racing involved yet more like following)

I have always been interested in motorsport from as far back as I can remember and did some rallying around the north east, back when you hated crash helmets cause you had just spent six pounds and eighty pence on your kevin keegan type perm.(yes I did have hair once) but I got married and couldn't afford to carry on and I sort of drifted away to watching it on tv, the motorsport not the wedding urgh. anyway I digress. a lifetime later I took my then fairly new girlfriend to see the f3 / gt's at knockhill and she loved it but where she was happy to be one of the thousands watching I realized I wanted be one of the twenty driving so skint and happy I am now.