FEATURE
Laura Young
Club : Saltire Rally Club Event : Autotest
“ I grew up watching my big brother race from a very young age . I saw him build up a 1979 Austin Mini Cooper , fit roll cages , fire extinguishers , and I remember being in the passenger seat and that was me hooked . We had motorbikes as we grew up , and the passion was always there , but I never really acted upon it and went racing . I always just watched .
“ I ’ ve always had a thrill for driving , but I just never really knew how to do it – and I certainly didn ’ t know it was accessible to everyday car users . I found that out from my neighbour . He and his son have always been a part of the Club , and we just got chatting . He told me he was doing an Autotest , and it seemed a really easy thing to do for my first ever go .
“ I went onto the internet and applied for to be a part of the Club , got my RS Clubman licence and my neighbour and I entered the same car – a 1979 Mark II Ford Escort – into an Autotest . It obviously wasn ’ t your everyday road car , but being a rear wheel drive , it was really good for my first ever time , making the corners , doing handbrake turns . It was really nice to drive .
“ I didn ’ t watch any videos before I went but I did read up on the Motorsport UK and Saltire Rally Club websites to get an understanding of it . I was so nervous when I arrived and I remember pulling up at the gate and thinking ‘ Oh my God , what are you doing ?’ I ’ d been told to look for the Chief Marshal , so I went up to her and it just broke the ice from there .
“ Everyone made sure I was welcome , and they were giving me tips and cheering me on once the event was going . There were four courses with three laps per course , then one with two courses put together . If anyone made a mistake , they weren ’ t mocked , they were supported . It felt like such a great community and that settled my nerves a lot .
Gary Plimer Photography
“ It was a bit daunting and confusing to start with , but someone suggested I walk around each course and follow it on a printout , to get a feel for where everything was . I was also told to try not to get tunnel vision and to remember that sometimes going slower , making the corners , makes your time better .
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Revolution - March 2025