THE SELF INTERVIEW No. 8

Name: Colin Billings
Occupation: Old Boy Racer

1. When did you join 7 Oaks? …… …………....1988 0r 89, the memory isn’t that sharp!!

2. What or who inspired you to get into motor sport?… I’ve been into bikes and cars for as long as I can remember and have always had bikes.  We then bought a 911 and via a mutual friend of Max Haycocks, I did some scatter rallies.  I can remember Ceri Hurford-Jones having a good laugh when we turned up for the first event! I then started to do some sprints and the rest as they say is history!

3. What was your first competition car and why did you choose it?  ….The 911, it was what I had.

4. Brief history to present day. ...From sprinting, I started to do some road and stage rallies, at first in a Mk1 Golf and later in the MK2, although I think the steering column is about the only part of the original car that was bought from Wolfe Garage, come to think of it, part of that has been changed!

5.  Most extravagant bit of kit for your comp car...The most recent bits are 12 new compomotive wheels with some really sexy blue alloy wheel nuts and a bit front brake set up.

6. Did it work? ……..I’ll let you know!!

7. Favourite venue/track/hillclimb and why? …....Avon Park, It’s really quite a testing venue with a good mix of roads plus we usually do quite well there.

8. Worst venue/track/hillclimb and why ….....Not so much a venue as an event—The Bullnose Road Rally.  I’ve done it several times and always been excluded by some stupid small minded official!! I’ll say no more!!!!

9. Worst/Most expensive accident ……..Probably the roll last year at Longcross, not because it was fast but because we were taking it easy for a nice safe top ten finish!!

10. Best/Favourite motorsport car ever …….This has to be between the Porsche936 Le Man car, as driven by Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell, and the Lancia Stratos.  The group B cars were awesome, I have to admit to hankering after building a replica but don't tell Sue!!!

11. Best/Favourite racing/rally driver ever ………....This is a difficult one, Penti Airikkala because he really knew how to enjoy his sport.  It was a shame he had to retire so early; Barry Sheene because he just knows how to enjoy himself.  But when it comes down to it, probably Mike Hailwood because he was just a born racer!

The Acorn : September Edition