My grandparents buying me a 'push'n go' model of a Martini Liveried Porsche 934 kickstarted the whole thing, followed by a very spirited ride in a Porsche 930 a couple of years later to cement a fascination.
Supplement this with being taken to see the 1000km races by my dad, great, great memories of the RAC rally at Chatsworth-dad again, days out at the NEC for the motor show with my dad, and- to ensure I was fully under the influence of everything car related, Le Mans in 93, with my dad and my brother. I was in awe of the place, the atmosphere, the spectacle, the noise, the crowds. So much so, I went again in 94. And 95. And 96. I continued until 2010, always without my old man, until we took him in 2008, and 09, and 10. Sacred times. Not been since 2010, when i moved abroard- I will be back for my 40th birthday.
I love virtually all cars, most motorsport, and Porsche especially. I recently looked at a 3.2 with a shell that was all but 934- rears flared to perfection. Ummed, arhhed, discussed with a fellow PH'er...and missed my chance.
Had it come to fruition, first job would have been martini stripes, completing the circle for me.
I've been lucky to Drive some great cars, some rubbish ones to form benchmarks and bases for comparison, seen some amazing events, and met many, many fantastic people. I've also drunk a lot of beer, and laughed more than seems appropriate.
Cars, you either 'get' them, or you don't.

For me it was one of my earliest memories.

Lusting (if you can at approximately 3 years old) after my uncles Mk1 escort 1300E.

Which until i was 16 i referred to as my first car.

The bar-steward sold it 6 weeks before i was able to drive. I say sold. He basically gave it away.

Not me but my two year old was born with petrol in his veins. as soon as he could grasp he took hold of a corgi (matchbox size) car i have beside the bed (A mk1 escort) ignoring all the stuffed toys e.t.c in favour of the car. His second word was "car" and he has about 50 of them now

1981, my dad brought one of these home, but in yellow with a white roof

mk2 Escort RS1800



plus a quite a few parts making it not far off full rally spec.


big fun on zimbabwean metaled roads

caught someone once trying to steal the prop-shaft

he did not get it

my dad's Hillman Avenger.

it was ovetaken at night on the 7 sisters just outside welshpool by 3-4 'caterfield' type cars, My dad proclaimed 'Bloody Idiots' if I ever manage to get down to my target weight (ie small enough to be able to fit one) i'll be aiming to recreate that moment

when the old man sold his ex polizei supercharged V8 bmw 502 to a bloke from switzerland, I was about 4/5 and remember watching it being pulled up onto a trailer.
-one of these but white;

This has really made me think. Apparently at 2 I could identify 'Daddy cars' (Morris Minors) and 'Grandpa cars' ( Mk1 Cortinas) from my pram going down the street. My dads Dinky car collection was pretty well played with from before I could walk( still got them in the same box in the shed,they've survived 60 odd years and have three generations of play wear) I used to watch tv and films just for the cars- still do. My first Motorsport memories are sand racing on a Jersey holiday in 1968 when I was 4, and going to a Sunday stage of the 72 RAC at Weston Park. My favourite toy was a scrap A40 Somerset that sat at the bottom of our garden for about 5 years, my brother and I spent hours just pretending to drive that thing and both cried when it was finally weighed in . Saturday afternoon banger racing and rally cross on Grandstand, playing 'the Persuaders' with my mate Peter in primary school having car chases on foot ( I was always Danny in the 246 Dino), collecting car adverts from Sunday supplements and Country Life . Any and all of these things nurtured ad fed an obsession that has shaped my life, I met my wife when I was at a mates house putting a 2.0 Cortina engine in an Escort, my career choices were made on the strength of what company car was on offer and I remember important events in my life by what car I had at the time- all 4 of my daughters know what car they left hospital in when they were born( including reg number) so maybe I've inflicted this obsession on them( the fact that between the 3 that are old enough to drive, we have on the drive 2 MX5's an e30 and a couple of usual superminis suggests its hereditary !

1. Matchbox
2. F1, the crashes, 1983ish
3. Paulton's Park Go-karts, age 7-8, can't have been any later than '86