MotorPunk October 2013 | страница 5

D espite firing off a broadside of begging letters it became apparent that no-one was prepared to lend MotorPunk a priceless classic to participate in some racing at the Goodwood Revival this year. Even if Ferrari had coughed some keys to a 250GTO our lack of celeb’ credentials meant we wouldn’t be rubbing chrome with Rowan Atkinson and that chubby northern Chef, thingy, what’s-his-face. Sat in the Press tent, watching the real journos hammer out race reports you’ve probably already read in WHSmiths, Dr Octane and I hatched a plan combining our two favourite things: drinking and racing. Starting in the press tent we were to each take a drink in every bar on site with the winner being the first person to reach the Speckled Hen tent, in a one-lap dash. The man from ‘Ferrari Fawning Weekly’ kindly dropped the flag and we burst out of the tent and took a hard right, both Dr O and I sauntering through a paddock of Lotus Cortinas. Yes, sauntered. Neither of us was going to show a lack of decorum by actually running; PE is a sweaty and unpleasant business and therefore this race would be won on cunning, guile and bladder capacity. My first stop was the Veuve Clicquot marquee for a cold glass of bubbly; this took longer than hoped for as I insisted on a glass champagne flute, not a half-pint plastic beaker. I had already lost Dr O. Perhaps he had been refused entry; his tweed did have the unmistakeable aroma of charity shop; I must be ahead already! 5