How did you find Brisca F1 Stock Cars?
My first vague memories are watching my uncle (Ian Durham) at Brafield as a child with my parents in 1971. After Ian retired all the family rarely missed a Brandon, Brafield or Leicester in the 70s supporting Andy Webb and Steve Bateman. My dad also loved to shout for Smithy and I liked Smiler. My Dad didn't take me to the 79 WF and I was gutted when I learned that Frankie won and I'd missed it. In 1979 I started at Carbody as a Saturday boy and then went on to leave school early to start work for real. I spent the 80's racing Motocross but never missed a Brandon or Long Eaton on a Saturday supporting Webby. We always had stockcars into the bodyshop for painting, I can remember cars for Scott McKenzie, Gary Castell, Webby, Jason Holden and many others. We managed to talk Ian into having another go and I remember collecting the Peter Falding 86 WF car after a Long Eaton meeting in 1989. We stripped and rebuilt the car and Ian ran it for the first time at Brafield, he went on to hold a red top for the rest of the season. However, he felt the sport was knocking him around a bit too much for comfort and I took the helm along with Phil Smith in 1990. Phil did the shale and me the tarmac, but Phil took a couple of harsh knocks before he could really prove what a damn good driver he was and I became the full time driver of the Carbody car. I only ever raced at about 50 meetings in my whole career but had a hoot doing it and made many long and great friends.
What gave you the incentive to race
Ian Durham, for sure. He is a massively inspiring guy and I am in awe of him.
First Car - Built, Bought or Borrowed
The 86WF Peter Falding car
Memory of your first race.
Hednesford Hills, flat out, smoking tyres, run out of brakes, hit the wall so hard that it broke the front axle in half. You soon learn to respect the throttle a little more!
Best Racing Memory
Heat and final win at Brandon. It was my life's ambition and I did it.
Worst Racing Memory
Losing the feeling in my legs at Boston after a big shunt. Thankfully nothing too serious and the feeling came back after 15 minutes.
Reason for Retiring
Bad back
After Retiring - What Then?
I really enjoy supporting Mick Harris and Tom Harris and feel proud to have Carbody still associated with F1's, but I am gonna have a go at drag racing and have nearly finished a Competion Altered Dragster powered by a big Block Chev.
