Marcos Visit 2002

Driving!

As I sat in the warm California sunshine, sipping a beer and thinking this was really one of those days which makes life worth living, I heard Ned’s wife, Linda, talking to Tom.

She was saying "He’s come all the way from England to see the car. We should let him have a drive". Well, I was the only one to come from England, so she must mean me!!! They realised I’d heard and she asked if I’d like to drive it. Would I? "Of course!", I replied, "but I’d fully understand if you don’t want me to. It’s great just to have seen and ridden in the car".

Tom said he didn’t mind, but the car wasn’t his, so Linda went over to Ned and a short version of the conversation was repeated. I’m not sure Ned was entirely convinced this was a good idea, but he asked me if I’d like to drive it. This was definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity and I was going to take it if possible, but at the same time I didn’t want him to feel pressured, so I said "I’d love to, but I’ll understand if you don’t feel comfortable about it" adding that I, at least, was used to right hand drive (of course being a racing car, the gear lever is where it would be on a LHD car, which somewhat negated my experience).

"OK", he said. "Come with me, then", I said, hardly able to believe that I was going to be one of a tiny handful of people who could have ever have driven this car. "I have to die too?", Ned replied in a rare show of American irony (I don’t think he was serious, as he smiled as he said it) and we climbed aboard. Ned turning it round, so that I could take a straight line out.

Getting in was tough – Jem couldn’t have found this an easy car to drive! – but I got it started fairly easily this time.

Ready for the off!

I think I stalled it once, pulling away as the clutch was quite sharp (but not especially heavy) and it needed quite a few revs.

We traversed the narrow and rutted road out of the Morris’s home and pulled out onto the main road.

Yes! That REALLY is me driving! - Photo Courtesy of Don Lattimer.

The accelerator was stiff and the driving position (for my 5’ 10" frame) very cramped and twisted slightly to the left. I can’t imagine how the 6’ 4" Jem Marsh raced this car in the wet at Spa! A firm prod on the throttle made the car surge forward and it was time to change gear. CRUNCH, CRUNCH, CRUNCH – up and down changes were hard with the full-race gearbox and I only really started getting to grips with down-changes (double de-clutching) as I finished my short, but memorable, drive.

Despite the car needing restoration, it felt supremely competent on the road. The brakes were confidence inspiring (the match of any road car I’ve driven) and the car responded instantly to any input on the steering, throttle or brakes, but never felt twitchy or nervous. I’ve never driven a race car on the road before, but I didn’t expect it to feel so refined.The ride, especially, impressed.

I don't know how fast we travelled at any time, but as we returned I wasn't hanging around (although we had been faster with Ned driving and I suspect Don's freeway experience was the fastest!), but the car felt solid, stable and as responsive and safe as you'd imagine a race car to. It felt like a fairly modern sportscar in most respects, except the noise and the terrible driving position.

The rear view mirror is mounted on the roof and you look up at it through a small perspex window in the roof. At first this feels highly unnatural, but once you get used to it (and it doesn't take long) it provides a useful, and impressively stable, view.

The journey was short (about 10-15 minutes, I’d guess), but I know it was a privilege to drive this car, making me one of a tiny handful of people who would have done so and I’m incredibly grateful to Ned and his family for the chance to drive it and, especially, to his wife for talking him into it!

Ignore all the words in this article - that expression says it all! - Photo Courtesy of Don Lattimer.