Reactions

I recently took the Dallara to my nephew's Spar shop as a sort of attraction for a promotion he was running. As a result it was inspected by a selection of the good burghers of Bridgnorth. The conversations might raise a smile and be recognised by anybody who has ever done a similar thing.

"Freddo The Frog" has appeared in a Monoposto pit lane. Photo:Stuart James

Standard comments
"How fast will it go?"
"What's it worth?"
"I love motor racing. I watch all of the F1s, I do"
"There's no tread on the tyres!"
"Did you drive it here?"
"I've done some of that indoor go karting"
"Don't you sit low down. It must seem ever so fast."

Slightly surprising comments
"Is it a Formula 3000?"
"Is it a hillclimb car?
"It's held together with gaffer tape!"
"All this technology and you've got a sheet of plywood screwed under it."
"This has done some work hasn't it!"

Very surprising comments
"Is it from the 1950's?"
"This is like those Bob Bondurant cars"

Best bits
Young lad walked round the corner and went "oh wow!"' and meant it.
Different lad said "this is the closest I'll ever get to a proper racing car" and the look on his face when I then suggested he sit in it.

Winning Friends In Motor Racing

Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney (L) and NASCAR's Dan Hesse.

Since Simon Davey is widely thought to be the next big thing in NASCAR, it is important to be "down with the good ol' boys". In this respect we are in good company with US presidential hopeful Mitt "Man o'the People" Romney.

We are indebted to BBC's News Quiz for the information that he went to the Daytona 500 NASCAR race and in casual conversation with a journo, he was asked if he follows the sport: "Not as closely as some of the most ardent fans. But I have some great friends who are NASCAR team owners."

Bet Bernie thinks that makes him a bit working class.

You might have spotted that we don't give full results in Startline reports of races, and a few comments about this have been received.. The reason for this is that retyping them is very time consuming and the website of the results copyright owner warns against reproduction.

In order to properly confirm matters, we did drop that website an email, but unfortunatley I must report that no reply was received, which was of course disappointing.