The only sport I've been interested in is motor sports. I've no natural ability for games of any sort, but found I can drive and operate machinery well. I grew up in the Lincolnshire countryside, spending much of my time on farms, driving tractors and other farm machinery, so this may account for some of my skill.

I lived 10 miles from Cadwell Park, the racetrack, where I had been to a few race meetings while in my early teens. I remember going to an F1 Stock Car Race there, aged about 14. It was possibly the first one to be held there, as I went with my Father and his friend.

When I was 17 and started working 12 miles away, I had to have my own transport of course. I couldn't afford a car so had to ride a motorbike. That first year I went to Cadwell most weekends, watching racing of all types. There were only 5 Stock Car meetings, but I enjoyed these the most. The following year I managed to go to a proper stadium for the first time. I had met a driver who lived near Lincoln, and he kindly took me racing with him a few times. I only had to ride the 30 miles to his garage, instead of the long distances to the tracks. I did go on my bike, a 250 Ariel Leader to Brayfield near Northampton on one or two occasions, also managing to go when I was back on a two month course at the Agricultural Engineering college at Thame near Oxford, as it was much closer.

Also while on that course I went to an F1 Stock Car scramble. I've never heard of one before or since, and it could have been at Brill (I think) as there was a motorbike scrambling course there. I can remember the cars having to cross the field, and then wind their way around a track in the woods alongside.

I had to wait another two or three years before I got a car, and could attend on a more regular basis. Brayfield was 100 miles away, Long Eaton was 80 and Belle View at Manchester was 120 miles, and this was before the M62, so had to travel on normal A roads. The first year I often went with a friend I had met who lived locally and had the same interest, however the next few years I usually went on my own. It's a wonder I made it as I had a succession of old cars during that time (grin).

I liked Stock Cars the best because you can push slower cars out of the way, and they are safer, as you're heavily protected when you crash. Also I like the F1s because you aren't limited in engine size, so didn't have to have a highly tuned, and fragile engine, unlike most other motorsport at that time. Although they are highly tuned today.

The other great attraction was the friendliness of the drivers, mechanics and spectators; also the open nature of the sport. You could walk up and enter the pits at Cadwell for instance, even though the World Champion was racing there. Something I was not allowed to do at large Bike or Car meetings, well not without buying an extra ticket........some hope. I didn't ever buy a program (grin). Many, although not all of the stadiums are still the same today, allowing spectator access to all areas.

When I was 19 or so, I decided I was brave enough to have a go. I would only race an F1 as I had no other interest in any lower formula. My father was a blacksmith, and he allowed me to use his workshop, but I got no other support. I built the bare chassis, and even bought an old V8, however my enthusiasm soon waned, when I realised how un-competitive I would be, and the enormity of the task of doing it on my own. Also I would have to borrow a tractor and trailer to take it, so would only do 1 or 2 races at Cadwell, and I wasn't much of a fan of the track there, much preferring the ovals of the stadium.

So for the next few years I was just a frustrated driver watching from the terraces.

In 1973, I worked for a small firm reconditioning car engines. There was going to be a beach race for Bangers at Mablethorpe, at first a one off, just for carnival week. I still had no interest in Bangers, and didn't intend to take part, however my boss asked me if I would take a car. He supplied me with a Mini and a Morris 1100 for the engine. So I constructed what was basically a Ministox. He had a Morris 1000 and tuned the engine.

Some of my friends were also racing there, in total we took 5 cars from the nearby garage. There were only 20 cars there, with 2 races of 10 in each, so plenty of space to keep out of the way of others.

The first race I was passed because I was running wide on the bends due to my lack of experience. There was no fence on the outside of course, we were just driving around some oil drums, placed in a large oval. I tried to retake the lead several times, before finally succeeding, and had quickly learnt to keep to the inside. I was winning the first ever race I had entered and, quite naturally wanted it to finish before anything happened.

Having no experience and no confidence in the people running the event, I was certain the race had ended, and they had lost count of the laps, so when they finally put the flag out, I slowed thinking I had won. I was slightly disappointed they didn't have a chequered flag, however this was nothing to my disappointment a few seconds later, when I discovered they had. It was the last lap flag I had been shown, so by slowing I had lost the race. I was gutted, as you can imagine and, to this day have not really forgiven myself. However many of my friends say the have had the same experience while winning their first race on an oval track. Possibly something to do with driving 2 straights and 2 bends each lap.

The first five cars of each race entered the third race, and the slowest five the last, so making it fair. So I had another chance to win, which should have been easier, however once again fate took a hand.

I had been told to be ready, because the tide was coming in, and time was short. I went to my car but it failed to start because the battery terminal was loose. I had put a small bolt in the boot where the battery is, so needed a spanner. I had just retightened the terminal, and tried the starter, when someone said, the race had started. Spinning the nut on to hold the boot shut I jumped in, and joined the race just in front of the cars as they were coming round. I was putting my helmet and belts on for the first couple of laps or so, however I drove well, and was catching the leader at the end, but the race ended so I came second just behind him. Quite a good result all the same.

My car was better than my Bosses Morris 1000, and he demanded it back, well it was his but I had built it. However I had no choice so that was that. The sand racing carried on, developing as things do, until becoming a grass track club a few miles away up the coast after a few years