MOTORING
Simon's gear change
By Peter White
Simon Kefford knows exactly what it’s
like to live in the fast lane. He worked
extensively on arguably the most
prestigious road car ever built – the
McLaren F1.
Driving the 237mph super-car, as
well as working on it was exhilarating,
and allowed him to mix with a host of
multi-millionaire celebrities.
Simon grew up in Woking, Surrey
and when he left school at 16
continued in his passion for BMX and
soon became a highly accomplished
professional rider.
Performing in shows at holiday
camps which brought him to the
Island many times, and on BMX
Beat the popular Saturday morning
TV show. In 1987 he won the British
70
www.visitislandlife.com
BMX Flatland Championship, but
when he reached 19 he found new
love in his life. "Cars and girls", first
taking a job as a valet he was soon
asked to become a mechanic. After
serving an apprenticeship, his career
gained momentum in several main
dealers and business ventures before
he successfully applied for a post with
Grand Prix Engineering – then part of
the McLaren.
He was finally in the fast lane,
initially re-building and restoring
historic Formula One cars, including
the one in which James Hunt won the
1976 World title. Undertaking special
projects that included fitting a TAG
turbo F1 engine into the back of a
Porsche 911- ‘totally undriveable’ –
and a mock-up for a land speed record
car.
After a two-year spell travelling
the world Simon returned to
McLaren Cars, getting a job as test
and development technician on the
iconic F1 road car, from prototype to
production.
It was a car that took motoring to a
different level – 0-60mph in 3.2secs
and top speed of 237mph.
“As technicians we got to test drive
them, but they were two quick for us
mortals,”claimed Simon, they were
sold at £647,000 each to the rich and
famous worldwide.
“People were invited to buy them.
The late George Harrison owned one,
and as a result of working on it and
delivering it to his home I was invited
round for tea, but that's another story.
A lottery winner wanted to buy one,
but was politely shown the door. One