ACORN SELF INTERVIEW No. 6

Name: Andy Elcomb

Occupation: Business Development Manager
(even more glorified bookkeeper than Chin!)

1. When did you join 7 Oaks?… 1980. Had been with NatWest MC from leaving big school.

2. What or who inspired you to get into motor sport?… That’s easy. Chris Dennis was nuts about cars even when we were at primary school together and some of it rubbed off. He bought an ex-Lanfranchi Moskvitch as his first car and I got lumbered with fixing it. He was always the instigator – I just went faster!

3. What was your first competition car and why did you choose it?… My Frogeye Sprite. Because it was cheap! It’s still mouldering away in a lock-up. One day, one day….

4. Brief history to present day… Done hundreds of scatters, 12-cars, sprints, hillclimbs, road and stage rallies over the years. Went Classic Saloon racing with Chris and Pete Hanaway in a Vanguard Sportsman, Morris Minor and Triumph 2000 through the ‘80s. Won Pre-65 Championship outright in ’86 in the 2000. Then did the inaugural year of Formula First – mad!! Colway Formula 1300 Champion co-driving for Daren Hall. Now try to keep Colin Billings pointing the right way and keep my patience when Viv’s navigating for me!

5. Most extravagant bit of kit for your comp car?… Had to buy a new(£70!) laminated windscreen for MK2 Triumph 2.5PI Estate to compete at Goodwood. Still it served well as it came out in one piece when rolled at Lydden, went into racing Mk1 T2000 and was then transferred to new shell when that car written off on Eppynt.

6. Did it work?… Course it did! A toughened one would have smashed at Lydden!

7. Favourite venue/track/hillclimb and why?… Valence was great fun, particularly throwing the Caterham course car up it. Manx and Ulster Rallies take some beating for sheer excitement and Belgium is so friendly but the Preston “Road” Rally is tops – its hard!!

8. Worst venue/track/hillclimb and why?… There’s no such thing – it’s only the organisers that sometimes spoil things.

9. Worst/Most expensive accident?… Worst has to be rolling the Frogeye at Bodiam Hillclimb – broke my wrist in that one. But crashing (my fault) whilst leading in Ulster with Daren was most expensive – lots of damage and a long way to go!

10. Best/Favourite motorsport car ever?… Surtees TS20 F1 – only ‘cos I drove it up Goodwood Hillclimb. Lancia Stratos for the sound it made up in the forests on the RAC Rally.

11. Best/Favourite racing/rally driver ever?… Graham Hill – for being a gentleman and prepared to chat to a young autograph hunter at Brands Hatch.
Our Daren – he could fly high with the right breaks.

The Acorn : May Edition