Before my life became complicated by building pipelines and Energy facilities, I would often be found at a race circuit; Brands Hatch; Donington; Silverstone etc. In fact anywhere where cars were being put through their paces, I would be there, cameras in hand. 

_{Bruno Giacomelli GP De Europe 1983 – Photo: Peter Mallett}

_{Poto: Donington 500 1983 – Photo: Peter Mallett}

_{Keke Rosberg Pole Lap British GP 1985 – Photo Peter Mallett}

MG Car Club meetings were always good value because they ran small club events with grids filled by MGs of varying types driven by people, a lot of whom became friends. Armed with my trusty Canon AE1, I started taking photographs of the races and became quite adept at catching the moment. So much so that drivers would ask me to provide pictures of their heroic racing efforts. In those days circuit fencing was pretty minimal so getting a good shot was far easier than it is now. But then I parked the cameras and went racing myself, initially in a Class A (Road Going) MG Metro in the MG Car Club Metro Challenge.

_{Photo: Steve Jones}

Later I entered the Classic Saloon Car Championship (now the Classic Touring Car Racing Club) Pre 83 Group 1 races with my Capri and great fun it was. Not only did we race all over the UK; but, due to the late Barry Sidery-Smith, we got the opportunity to race at Spa Francorchamps annually. As time moved on I invested(?) in a barn find Rover SD1 which was one of the original BL Rover Works cars in the British Saloon Car Campionship built by Dave Price Racing. It was restored by ex TWR engineer Ken Clarke of Ken Clarke Motorsport. We ran the car in its 1981 Daily Express livery as (then) run by Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR). On its debut after restoration, this car qualified on the front row at Goodwood in the 72nd Member’s Meeting with Tiff Needell at the wheel. 

_{Photo: Unknown}

That car is with its new owner now and I’m left with a FIA MGB which has successfully competed in the Spa 6hrs, Spa 3hrs, Silverstone Classic with Masters Racing Series, Pall Mall Cup with Motor Racing Legends; and, the Historic Racing Drivers Club Dunlop Allstars.

_{Photo: Steve Jones}

I still enjoy motorsport of most kinds so I’m often found trackside, trying to avoid the inevitable safety fencing. The problem here is that if you stand on something e.g. a large folding step; you tend to be looking down on the subject so searching out the right angle can often present a challenge. This, picture from Silverstone Festival last year, was taken from the Luffield encloure. 

_{Photo: Peter Mallett}

There are locations where the elevated view may not be so obvious such as this one from the MRL Jaguar Challenge:

_{Photo: Peter Mallett}

Then there are the Scrambles and other gatherings, with opportunities to catch particularly attractive cars such as this E Type Jaguar, where the composition seemed almost perfect:

_{Photo: Peter Mallett}

Or The Car Collective meets in Leighton Buzzard where some interesting vehicles attract the camera:

_{Photo: Peter Mallett}

So, having retired from my day job, I’ve decided to return to wielding cameras and thus I’m often found at Cars and Coffee in Leighton Buzzard; Bicester Scramble Jaguar Enthusiasts Club events; Silverstone Festival; MRL and HRDC race meetings, and anywhere a car can be found.

See you there.