Having raced or tested over 350 competition cars, this super-successful driver also runs a restoration and race preparation business
GEARBOX
1 This cartoon by my great friend Mike Gibbs recalls a fantastic day in 1983 when he co-drove with me in my ’Nash on an unofficial road-race against other ’Nashes around the French Alps. It was one of the best drives ever – and we won.
2 I’ve lived in the countryside all my life but had never tried shooting until a friend invited me, about ten years ago. It was such a wonderful way to dump any worries and meet interesting people that I immediately took it up. I now have four guns: an 1895 Lang, a 1920 Boss, and this brace of AYAs that were custom-made for me and are my ‘everyday’ guns.
3 Almost 45 years ago, I bought my Frazer Nash. Its current spec dates from about 1948 and I rebodied it early on as a lightweight racer, enjoyed it for ten years and then lent it to friends while I was building up my business. At one point, I thought I’d have to sell the house or the car, and my then-girlfriend, bless her, agreed that the house could go – fortunately, it never came to that.
4 One of my dearest friends, the late Paul Benton, was a bon viveur who, while trying to enthuse me about fine cigars, gave me this humidor. I’d only known him for two weeks when he lent me his Blower Bentley for an event through Portugal – he was that kind of bloke.
5 In 1984, I did the Mille Miglia in my uncle’s Frazer Nash Targa Florio. During the event, I mended Murray Smith and Phil Hill’s vintage Bentley, and at the Ferrari factory checkpoint Phil introduced me to Enzo himself, who gave me this keyfob.
6 My mother
