Like many kids, my interest in motorsport began with seeing it on TV. I grew up on a pig farm on the North Yorkshire Moors. I used to drive tractors and vehicles around the farm and really became passionate about cars but of course there aren't many motor racing circuits around there.
Once I got embroiled into the food world, I saved up a little bit of money and bought a diesel fiesta, but then I got myself a Lotus Elise. I followed that with a Caterham and then moved on to a Ferrari 360, which was my only car. It was at that point that I started growing the collection of classic cars. I was about twenty eight when I bought a 1955 Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing. It was then that I really began to learn what collecting was all about, it was a steep learning curve. You generally end up with a garage full of shrapnel that doesn't work before you finally get to a position where you realise it is quality, not quantity that counts.
My passion for historic Minis stems from being invited to do my ARDS test at Silverstone to gain a racing licence. 5th Gear contacted me, knowing I was a bit of a car fanatic and asked me what would be my ultimate dream car to drive. It had to be the chance of driving a Formula 1 car, so they introduced me to a guy called Paul Osborn who in turn introduced me to the guys at Silverstone where I completed my ARDS test and gained my licence. Paul owned a number of Formula 1 cars and 5th Gear decided to film me driving one.
Jason Plato taught me step by step, starting with sighting laps in a Ford Fiesta and gradually moving up to Formula Ford, Formula 2000, Formula 3 till I was driving at Silverstone in an F1 car. It was an amazing feeling and experience, which I didn't think could be topped but it led on to recording the Racing Legends programme with Sir Jackie Stewart.
The programme culminated in me driving Sir Jackie's 1972 championship winning Tyrrell for 56 laps round Monza. The enduring image of that amazing experience would be around 6pm as the sun was starting to set, racing along with my right foot absolutely flat to the floor, doing something over 180mph on the start finish straight and there was Jackie Stewart, wearing his tartan cap, hanging out over the railings on the finish line watching me drive his car.
It was just astounding, I really did think what the hell am I doing here?! A farmer's kid from North Yorkshire, racing Sir Jackie Stewart's car round Monza. An experience I will cherish for the rest of my life. There are moments in your life when you maybe look back and think how lucky you've been to experience certain things. Well I can safely say that when I started out piping chocolate eclairs at 8 years old, I never dreamed I'd get to race Formula 1 cars.
The other fantastic aspect of motorsport is just how friendly folk are. Many of the people involved in the top teams are real foodies and they are as interested in my job as I am in theirs and you end up being good friends. Ross Brawn has become a good friend over the years and Jody Scheckter is a neighbour. They are all keen to give me advice on my racing, I'm happy to share how to make a souffle as long as they tell me how to get round a circuit quicker!
I raced last year at the Croft Nostalgia meeting. Jason Plato rang me before the race and gave me some advice on lines to take, particularly the hairpin, which is the tightest on any race circuit in the country. Basically he told me to ignore what others were doing and to take it in a certain way. I shared Andy Harrison's classic Mini and we won our class and ended up 2 seconds a lap quicker than anyone else. It was only my second race.
This season I've got my own car too, it was bought as a rolling shell, Nick Swift built me a storming engine. We had our first outright win two weeks ago at Brands Hatch and Andy had a class win in it yesterday in the first race at this year's Croft Nostalgia meeting. We've done alright, it's fun and going well, the only problem I have is that filming Saturday Kitchen always knackers up qualifying, it means I always have to start at the back of the grid as I'm never there to put a lap time in, so everyone watching assumes I can't be any good as I always start last. It does make it interesting for the race though, as it's a quick car.
I've a couple of works Minis in the collection now, which totals six. There's just something about a racing Mini. When you are going flat out in third gear through Paddock Hill bend at Brands Hatch, it certainly gets your attention!
James Martin
Memory added on August 4, 2013
1 Comment
hi James Read an earlier article about your car collection and some numpties deriding the fact that you had them. I actually commend your choice in vehicles in particular the early works minis, however I was surprised that you don't seem to appreciate the 70s rally cars, mk1 escort, capri , chevette hs etc. the 80s were a different breed I agree, the ascona 400, fiat 131 abarth, Quattro s1 just fantastic. I was fortunate to spend some time with mark Lovell on the knock hill circuit in the works sierra cosworth, long time ago but impossible to forget. I still dream of driving one of the gpB rally cars; on the A82 from Tarbet to Crainlarich, then be dropped of at home in Fort William. By the way my Missus always watches you on Saturday Morning Kitchen, so when are you going to do the omelette challenge, lol? Anyway number one bloke, Best regards Panda 4x4 driver Allan
– Allan Kinnear, January 10 2015 at 23:08
