STREETCAR ADVENTURES FEATURE
“ All that really helped , but oh , I was so nervous when I got to the start line ! The marshal asked me if I was ready and I told him ‘ no ,’ but he just said ‘ okay , three , two , one , go !’ and that was it . Straight away the nerves went and by the time I finished the run , I was absolutely buzzing !
“ Once you are away off that starting line , you don ’ t think of anything else other than your next apex where you need to be , your next checkpoint , and just keep going . There were two courses set up and everyone had a number . I was number 12 . Everyone did a lap , joined the queue , did a second lap , queued , did a third lap , then moved on to the second course .
“ It flowed really well ; it was really well run , and it was easy to understand . There were so many marshals , checking the cars for your number and directing you and telling you where to go . It was so easy – and on the course , I was getting clean laps straight away , no mistakes . In fact , it wasn ’ t until the sixth run that I hit a cone .
“ The leaders were doing 40-44 seconds , and I was doing 52-56 seconds , so there was about a 12 second gap – but they ’ ve been doing it all their life . Some people were doing 70-76 seconds though , so I was in front of them , and it shows you can get straight into it . In fact , after my first few laps , the marshals asking me if it was really my first go !
“ I did my first ever handbrake turn too ! It was the scariest thing I ’ ve ever done , but I loved it ! The first couple of laps I never touched the handbrake , I was just getting the feel for the lap , getting through the cones , learning how the gravel behaved . It wasn ’ t until my fourth lap when I started sticking the handbrake on but by the end of it , I felt like I was a professional !
“ The event had an App with a live scoreboard and that was amazing . The marshals updated the times as it happened , so as soon as you came off the course you could check how you did . It was really interesting tracking whether I was getting better or worse through the day and I hope that over time I keep getting better and catch up with the professionals !
“ By the end of the day , I had an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment . It was so satisfying , and I felt great . I lost my brother a couple years ago , so it also brought that sentimental feeling back . I didn ’ t expect to do so well . I expected to make a lot of mistakes – but it wouldn ’ t have mattered if I had , because of the thrill of it and the community spirit .
“ I couldn ’ t believe my neighbour had kept this from me for so long ! I could have been racing years ago ! I ’ d been worried at the start that everyone was going to have fast cars , but while there was a handful of Mark I and Mark II Escorts , there was also lots of everyday cars . Clios , Peugeots , Minis – even a big people carrier !
“ I did not ’ believe you could just use the everyday car you take to work . I will definitely be entering the next Autotest – but as I drive a van at the moment , I don ’ t actually even own a road car ! I just sold my Mini two weeks before I did the event , which was annoying ! So , I ’ m now looking at buying something I can build up myself and I can ’ t wait to get going .”
StreetCar Star at 14
At just 14 years old , Emily Freeth has been inspired by StreetCar and has already made a remarkable impact in the local motorsport scene , earning three prestigious awards with the Devizes & District Motor Club ( DDMC ) last year – Ladies Champion , Beginner Novice Navigator Champion and Best 12 Car Organiser with her father , Paul .
Like many who come into the sport at a young age , her passion for motorsport runs deep in her family . Her Nan , Pam Burton , who lives in Melksham , was the winner of the Club ’ s Ladies Champion award in 1987 , and since then her Aunt Amy Fletcher , has also claimed the honour , making Emily the third generation in her family to achieve this award .
Following in her family ’ s footsteps into the Road Rallying scene , she entered her first competition – the Club ’ s annual summertime Scatter Championship – in 2023 , at the age of 13 , and won . She also got her first taste of the organisational side , helping her father run a 12 Car event that year .
Emily ( left ) is one of three members of her family to win the Ladies Champion Award
Revolution - March 2025
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