My favourite Motorsport memory has to be when I went to Goodwood festival of speed last year. I went all four days and I never imagined the impact it would have. I got to meet Sir Stirling Moss, Alain Prost, Sir Jackie Stewart, Jacky Ickx and Heikki Kovalainen.
First and foremost - all five were so nice and up for chatting and signing things for people. I was blown away. Sir Stirling was absolutely hysterical, his wit and friendliness knocked me for six: I'd given a kid my pen as he wanted something signed and didn't have a pen so I lent him mine - only afterwards Stirling decided to keep the pen and I pointed out it was mine to which he said: "oh it's yours is it?" - such a legend. Jackie was brilliant I got to watch him try out an old merc from the 50s which was magical. He said one thing to all of us waiting - some were pushing a bit too eagerly and he said "be nice to the cars". Heikki was a gentleman and so kind, took ages signing things for everyone.
But I have to say meeting Alain and Jacky topped the lot.
When I met Alain it was just unreal. A friend and I had been sat mid afternoon on the Saturday having a coffee break having been there 5 hours. My friend said "there's a crowd over there.. Must be a driver coming out. Oh my god it's Prost!!"
We left our coffees on the elevated benches in front of the rac stage and rushed over to the picketed fence, where he was coming over to be interviewed on stage. We got there just in time as the crowd massed and we watched him be interviewed. Kept nudging each other and shaking the whole time, unable to believe it was really happening. She a lifelong Senna fan, me more of a Prost fan. Soon the interview was over and he went down to all of us waiting and he started to sign things for people. He started from the left and worked his way up and soon he was in front of us, my friend was first then he signed my notebook. I was just speechless, there in front of me was the Professor and I just did not know what to say. I said "thank you" and got out of the humongous crowd that had gathered by then. We got back to our coffees and could not speak, or at least in legible sentences.
Jacky Ickx is my absolute hero. Although his career finished before I was even born I've watched races, Le Mans and F1 of his for years and my favourite car is the Ferrari 312, with which he won his first GP in 1968.
I'd seen glimpses of Jacky throughout Saturday, but didn't get the chance to meet him, so I made it my mission on Sunday to do so. So mid morning Sunday I went over to the fences around the black rock drivers club entrance and set up "camp" and waited. To my surprise he walked out of the club and started signing things, chatting etc with people way down to my left at the beginning of the fence. I chatted to people while I waited and they'd been there a good hour and half and said no-one was really coming out. Then what felt like it was sudden, Jacky was right in front of me and I said "hello" with a big a smile as I could to which he said "hi" back. He signed my notebook, which he took up the majority of the page - which I love him for. I managed a "thank you very much", trying to contain how happy he just made me - he said, while looking slightly surprised at how genuine I was at getting his signature, looked me right in the eye and said "It's my pleasure", in his wonderful Belgian accent.
I can't say how much that weekend means to me, or if it'll ever sink in- even now - nearly a year later and Goodwood coming up in just over a month. I'd recommend to anyone I meet to go, because you can literally just walk past Mark Webber like I did just wandering around the grounds. It's the best Motorsport garden party in the world.
Both of my heroes were as humble and lovely as you always kind of hope they would be if you met them. That's why that weekend is my favourite memory.
Pollie
Memory added on May 20, 2013
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