Fresh out of University Chris was fast, cheeky and quite dangerous to know. One afternoon he took time off from finishing the last chapter of his first novel (or was it the first chapter?) to drive in his souped-up mini to visit a friend somewhere in Kent.
We passed a sign saying “Brand Hatch”. Chris was easily diverted.
Approaching the entrance we confronted a barrier and a security guard who wanted to know who the hell we were, what were were up to and who we were visiting.
“We’re with Fred at Mercedez”, says Chris.
“OK”, said the security man. (Presumably Chris had struck lucky and there was a real person called Fred at Mercedez.)
And off we went, as fast as the souped-up mini would take us round the circuit, breaks squealing at every corner. I would guess that the car would do no more than 80mph, but it felt like 200.


Robin White
Mary Restieaux