Hobbies / Interests

Besides Motorsport, my other hobbies are mainly Steam engines and vintage machinery, Amateur radio and working on land rover’s and general mechanic duties (essential when owning a land rover).

I have been actively involved in steam and vintage machinery since 1990, attending many rallies over the years with different varieties of equipment.

I own a 1949 Field Marshall Series 2 tractor, which I have rallied extensively in the past, but have not used it for 2 or 3 years now.  It is three quarters of the way through an overhaul at present, and will hopefully be out on some rallies in 2005.  Attending rallies and other commitments have made it a slow overhaul.

Lately I spent most of my time with steam with a good friend of mine, Ben, who owns a 1902 6nhp traction engine, carrying the name of ‘Old Timer’.  This engine was left to Ben in a will from the late Arthur Napper, who in 1950 raced the engine against another owned by Miles Chetwynd Stapleton.  The winner was to receive a firkin of ale.  A few locals and newspaper reporters turned out to see this event.  Arthur won the race, and consequently more of these races took place and gradually more & more people turned out to watch.  This was the start of the steam rallies, as we know them today.

As for mechanic’s, I have always had a keen interest in this area and spent a year studying Agricultural Service Engineering, after studying computers for 3 years and deciding that it probably wasn’t for me.  Either mechanical knowledge or a very large wallet is definitely essential for owning and running a land rover.

I have always had a keen interest in radio’s and radio communications.  I knew people who were radio amateurs, but when looking through the radio amateurs examination manual realised how much knowledge was involved as far as electronics and circuitry is involved.  When the licensing laws changed and the 3 levels of amateur licence were introduced, I set about obtaining the foundation licence, with an M3 call sign. 

Amateur radio has also proved to be very useful on some Motorsport events to keep in contact with other units also running ham radio, without using the Motor Sports Associations safety frequency.

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