Sunday mornings,Summer ...the newspaper run.I rarely took the GT40 because the starting procedure was rather long winded.On the dash were 2 red toggle switches,one ignition and the other for the auxillary fuel pump.Igntion on,pump on then wait for the Aux pump to stop ticking.Then press a big red START button.It always started first time.Rush it .it flooded and then spark plugs out and into the Aga.
This day I took the Ford to the newsagents in Castle Hedingham.Parked up.
From across the road an old boy started shaking his walking stick at me.He was bout 55.Military type.

'Young man' he called ..appeared friendly.

In these situations when you are about to enter the unknown I always reply in my best public school accent

'Good morning Sir ,can I be of any assistance'
'Do you have time for tea?'
'OK'

We introduced each other..

'Now ' he said' we have a problem'

Heart in mouth time.My Dad always said to me 'you boys are luckier than most be careful not to antagonize people.'
He went on..'when you come thru the village at night we all lose our pictures on the telly.There have been complaints'
'My boy says because it's a racing car the electrics are not suppressed,can you do anything?'

No problem.I felt relieved.

'Another thing the boy wants a ride'
No problem.We arranged the next sunday if it was fine.I sorted the suppression problem.. easy peasy.
Week on.Parked outside revved it up so he knew I was about.
Dad appeared.No boy.

'My son is just coming'

He appeared, pushed by a cracking looking nurse, in a wheel chair.He was 25,crippled up to hell.
If we could get him in .how would we get him out.The nurse was not impressed with the cars living quarters.She started going on and on...injury,death blah.blah.In the end she drove me mad.

'You're employed by his Dad.The Dad is happy.Get him in'

The boy was articulate and lucid its just that his body had given up.He was enjoying the encounter he knew he was going to win.

'Where am going to sit' nursey said.
'You're not coming'
'But its 24 hour care'
'Not today'
'I insist'
'Ok ,you can sit on the gear stick,It might improve your demeanour'

She went absolutely ballistic.The Dad kept quiet which annoyed me.
she gave up..we bundled him in.His legs and arms were all at sixes and sevens..trying to get a full race harness around him was a nightmare.
Nursey said 'you aren't going to go fast are you.'

'No'...nose growing
'50 max'

I said OK.
Richard said in the car 'I think she meant 150 max.'
He turned out to be very keen on GT40's and was impressed when I told him it had run at Le Mans in 1965 and had won Daytona the same year.
Managed about 140 and he was visibly emotioned.Crying actually.I was worried but he apologised and said days like this made his inability to move seem much worse.We got back and we actually got him out quite easily.Adrenalin?
We bade our goodbyes.The nurse turned friendly.If were unmarried I would definitely have had a pop at her.
Got a nice letter from the Dad a few days later.Kept in touch,dropped in with photos and things regularly.
3 years later another letter.. he had died. MS. 28 years old.
NOTHING is more important than your health.

More pictures:




Full on showing the 2 cooling fans in the Grille.With Webers fitted (instead of a single Holley carb) these fans rarely came on. If they did the whole car shook.



The Annual Miracle: I think today the MOT would have been a problem...I think you need a handbrake.



Induction Dream: This is the 4 X Weber 48IDA carb set up.When all eight throats were sucking a conversation in the car was precluded.Note banana exhaust bereft of silencers!



Down on the farm: During the Summers of 72-74 Dad and I used the car as our transport from the house to the Farm.Colour here was Brown and Gold stripes as purchased.Photo from the top of one of the grain silos.



The Halibrand wheel,10" front,12" inch wide rear standard fitment on GT40.



Dear Old Dad(RIP)who put up with so much.I think he is about to Duraglit the Weber Carb Intake Trumpets...again!



The Hot seat.Gearstick can just be seen right of steering wheel.NB Position of Rev Counter



The veteran Australian racing driver Paul Hawkins made a series of wider rear section to take wider tyres.
My Ford was fitted with such a back.I had a standard rear section which I never fitted.
This is a 32 year old polaroid...hence iffy quality.Would have helped to get car in the middle.





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