w.atching the w.orld unw.ind

The British Racing Drivers' Club is celebrating its 75th year. On Sunday, I was fortunate enough to attend an exhibition of motoring photographs which were being sold to boost its Benevolent Fund. Some of the b&w ones were especially stunning. There were some famous attendees, including Damon Hill, David Coulthard and Martin Brundle, whose Le Mans-winning Jaguar was on display, together with John Surtees' MV Augusta motorbike. Beautiful examples of motoring machinery (can't you tell I'm a petrol-head?)

I managed to meet the Sirs Jackie Stewart and Stirling Moss and had a brief chat with the quite diminutive Murray Walker. Years ago, emigrating friends were distributing stuff they didn't want to take with them and I 'inherited' an ep of Murray narrating about two top motorcyclists of the day. Returning recently from a holiday with those friends, I remembered about the record and burned a copy, to send as a jokey Xmas present. I was telling Mr Walker about this and he reckoned the ep was probably worth a few quid.

So my mate's getting a CD copy and I'm keeping the vinyl.

Well, retirement's not that far away now ...