This month Deborah Pennell helps us to re-launch our motoring page
Me and My Cars W ITH nearly ten years of employment in the motor racing industry; working for Formula One teams, GT Endurance racing (Le Mans series), Historic car racing and being a keen driver and owner, of many types of vehicle - I volunteered to fill the role for one issue. Granted I am not a mechanic and I do not study statistics too closely when purchasing a new vehicle - anyone who knows me will vouch for this; I currently drive a 10 year old VW Touran which billows smoke from the engine if I remain stationary at traffic lights too long - something to do with the diesel fuel filter system not working correctly! A fixable problem, albeit slightly embarrassing when you are sitting outside The George in a traffic jam! I have changed a wheel and started a Formula One car when testing in Barcelona; ‘driven’ a Gulf McLaren through scrutineering at Le Mans 24 Hour Race, hit 146mph in a Porsche on a motorway in the North of England, and I am knowledgeable enough to know if a wheel bearing has gone, and how to check the oil. So I know a bit about cars. I was lucky to pass my driving test first time despite kangarooing up a hill on my hill start, and my parents soon treated me to a gorgeous little white Mini. We had such fun together, but my need for speed soon became apparent. One afternoon after 18 months of Mini ownership I drove my mother home across the Yorkshire Wolds. During the journey she experienced overtaking manoeuvres more suited to a racing car, than a Mini, to say she was terrified would be an understatement! That evening’s conversation between my parents resulted in a decision to upgrade my car, otherwise “I was going to kill myself”! I had convinced them I needed a faster vehicle, with more acceleration, which would let me overtake in a ‘safer’ manner! Result! And so, my little white mini was replaced by a bright red Peugeot 205 GTI, which as the insurance broker suggested to my parents, would go like “sh*t off a shovel!” And it did! This was probably one of the best cars I have ever owned, and we had many adventures! A further escapade in the boyfriend’s aforementioned Porsche 911 saw me come into a hairpin bend at Snetterton Race circuit, with no brakes at all, as I had ‘boiled’ them earlier on the circuit - both the car and I survived, and this stood me in good stead for a later road trip across the Atlas Mountains in a long wheel base 7.5 ton articulated lorry! I was doing location catering on the set of Gladiator movie in Morocco and we needed to get equipment to Ouarzazate, five hours south of
Marrakech – a memorable road trip, worthy of its own article. Working in Formula One helped feed my need for speed; we thrashed hire cars around most of the circuits we visited, raced go karts, and the mechanics even motorised an armchair and did laps of the circuit! On moving to London, a practical vehicle was required to transport food to clients all over the city. I plumped for a Bedford Rascal relatively small, manoeuvrable and nippy: I loved the challenge of driving in London. Unfortunately, this vehicle was stolen whilst I was abroad one time, and was never recovered. I then plumped for practical; I was doing more and more work on motor racing circuits all over Europe, so a Jeep Cherokee seemed to fit the bill - a work horse, with space for food crates, but comfortable for the longer journeys. Sadly, diesel engine Jeeps were notorious for ‘blowing up’ at about 80,000 miles, and mine did just that. From Jeep I moved to Landrover Freelander, probably the worst car I have ever owned. Volvo V40: practical and reliable, but not really big enough for a family with three kids and four dogs, so I upgraded to a VW Sharan. However, an unfortunate lapse of concentration resulted in a contretemps with a lamppost in a Waitrose car park, and this car was written off. And today; if you see a VW Touran with smoke billowing from under its bonnet, sitting at one of the many traffic lights around Stamford, it is probably me! I will no doubt be dreaming of owning a Porsche or a Mclaren, but sadly I can only dream!
Stamford Living is looking for a regular contributor for the Motoring Page – if you think you have what it takes to fill this role, please contact The Editor at Nicholas@bestlocalliving.co.uk STAMFORD LIVING MAY 2018
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