Latest News
December 16th 2011 - Sledging in a Winter Wonderland
We
do one of those once in a lifetime things and go inside the Arctic Circle.
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Old News - 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006
November 5th 2011 - Big Time Fireworks
No
Standard fireworks (!) for us this year, this year we supersize our Bonfire
night.
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November 4th 2011 - For the second time this year
Its
Mrs Grimroper's time to pass through the barrier.
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October 9th 2011 - Smurf-tastic 80s
We
have a blue, adults only weekend away.
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October 1st 2011 - 2 treats in 1 day makes Kev a happy man
Its
quite a nice way to spend the day.
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September 19th 2011 - 40 + 40 = 80s
One
simple sum equals one great party
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September 16th 2011 - Dark Knight in Gotham
After
our dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner,
dinner, dinner, dinner (we went to see) Batman. Live!
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August 13th 2011 - Some birds put on a show
Birds,
both feathered and lycra clad, perform at the Ashfield Show.
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August 1st 2011 - Holiday in the Forest
There's
no sign of Robin Hood but there are plenty of his little friends to keep us
company.
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July 23rd 2011 - Life begins at....
Kev
hits a big birthday milestone.
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July 2nd 2011 - Introducing "The Greatest" Man
The big day was here, please all welcome "The Greatest" Man.
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June 30th 2011 - Its finished!
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June 11th 2011 - It is a tradition!
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May 31st 2011 - Utility Room Part 4
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April 10th 2011 - Utility Room Part 3
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March 13th 2011 - Utility Room Part 2
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March 6th 2011 - Time continues to fly!
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March 5th 2011 - Utility Room Part 1
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January 23rd 2011 - Finally decided what to do
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December 31st 2010 - Happy Chinese New Year
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December 23rd 2010 - Its Christmas Time
Mistletoe
and wine, children singing Christian rhyme.....
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December 12th 2010 - Dream. Believe. Achieve
Britain's
Got Talent winners start their Diversitoys Tour and we go to watch.
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December 5th 2010 - Desperately seeking Santa
We
go on the hunt for the chubby present deliverer as we try to prove once
and for all that Santa really does exist.
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August 12th 2010 - Orlando Bound
We
go back to the Sunshine State for the second time in two years for more Disney
themed fun.
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August 7th 2010 - Divas in Mansfield
Three
shows in one day for the Divas.
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July 25th 2010 - Messrs Williams, Williams and Roper
Kev
and Chris go to see Red 5.
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July 18th 2010 - Its a walk in the dark
She
doesn't like to talk about her work for charity great mates.
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July 7th 2010 - Ilkeston is brimming with it
For
the second year running Ilkeston looks for Talent.
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June 12th 2010 - Its starting to become a tradition
The
Carnival is in town so it must be the start of the Dance season.
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May 1st 2010 - A boyhood dream is complete and so is Number 32 on Kev's 101 Things List
Over
22 years since first saying "Id like to see
"
Kev does.
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April 22nd 2010 - LAN-Tastic HDTV
Got
two HDTVs but only one HD box? Same here but now we can watch HD TV on
both. How?
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March 6th 2010 - Just dance, its Birthday time again!
FishyMaggie
turns 14.
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February 20th 2010 - Get of our LAN
No
we haven't turned into farmers, instead we've gone a little bit techy.
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December 31st 2009 - Happy New Year!
Its
Mexican New Year at the Kings house.
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December 24th 2009 - Happy Christmas!
Its
a Happy Christmas at our house.
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December 5th 2009 - Its Yuletide market time again!
Its
nearly Christmas and therefore time to look round Lincolns festive Market.
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November 8th 2009 - All the way from Death Valley
Finally
he was here! At 6ft 10" and weighing 299lbs its the dead man
himself, The Undertaker.
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October 29th 2009 - Welcome to Arty Towers
Back
at Alton Towers and this time going all arty.
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October 24th 2009 - The Pop Divas Just Dance
Months
of practice and all the Pop Divas had to do is "Just Dance"
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August 22nd 2009 - On Holiday in South Wales
Our
holiday didn't start off to well but we did have a good time by the end.
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August 16th 2009 - Sky's not the limit
Glorious
HD TV arrives and a hard drive gets upgraded, why?
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July 18th 2009 - Midsummer Madness
Diva
Mum and Diva daughter dance at Ilkeston's Midsummer Madness.
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July 8th 2009 - Turns out Ilkeston's got lots of it!
Its
the big final of Ilkeston's Got Talent!
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July 1st 2009 - Has Ilkeston really got it?
Its
the age old question, has Ilkeston really got talent?
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June 13th 2009 - Its Carnival Time in Ilkeston
For
the second year running Leah and Tracie perform at the Carnival.
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May 13th 2009 - Mum and Dad on the Orient Express
Kev's
Mum and Dad celebrate their 40th Wedding Anniversary by going on the Orient
Express.
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April 19th 2009 - Welcome to WrestleMania
Kev's,
Chris' and Leah's passion for people in lycra continues.
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April 16th 2009 - Alton Towers
A
cold day in April and we go to Alton Towers.
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March 6th 2009 - We are parents of a teenager!!
The
teenager years have arrived.
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February 5th 2009 - Playing in the snow
Proper
snow means its time to go sledging.
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December 31st 2008 - Good Bye 2008, hello 2009
Food,
games, singing, drinking and dangerous fire lanterns are all present at our New
Years do.
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December 21st 2008 - Last Christmas in Germany
Not
only do the Kings have to live in Germany but they have to put up with us
visiting too!
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December 19th 2008 - Dancing on Ice
Do
Nottingham's very own Torville and Dean have new competition? Well, no but
Tracie and Leah still have a go.
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December 5th 2008 - Lincoln Christmas Market
We
go to Lincoln Christmas Market, after all it tis the season to be jolly!
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November 12th 2008 - Lots of wrestling but no Big Daddy
The
World Wrestling Entertainment Survivor Series comes to town.
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October 25th 2008 - Kev's Ferrari Frenzy Day
Its
not every day you get a go in a Ferrari, this is what happened when Kev
got a chance.
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October 5th 2008 - Pop Divas "Entertain You" 2008
The months of
practicing are over, its time for the Divas to entertain us.
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August 4th 2008 - Off to Orlando, Florida
This
years big holiday was with Chris, Kerry and Carys as we go to Orlando, Florida
to help Chris celebrate his 40th birthday.
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July 12th 2008 - Ilkeston has Midsummer Madness
The
Pop Divas perform at the Midsummer Madness Festival.
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July 6th 2008 - Kev unveils a Silverstone surprise
Did
Kev and Chris watch the F1 British Grand Prix in front of the TV or did they
actually go to Silverstone? A long planned surprise is revealed.
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June 22nd 2008 - Dancing at the Ilkeston Carnival
Tracie
and Leah dance and Kev eats chips. Its all the fun of the fair at the
Ilkeston Carnival.
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May 26th 2008 - We go round the Windmill Route
One narrowboat, 2 kids and a map get us round the Windmill Route.
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May 15th 2008 - We have a new kitchen
The
title says it all, we have a new kitchen.
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May 1st 2008 - Say cheese!
We
enter a Labyrinth and, warning obvious joke alert!, are a-mazed with the
results (sorry!)
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March 28th 2008 - Tracie is back at school and needs your help!
Back
at school, joining Facebook and needing your help! Why?
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March 6th 2008 - Leah is nearly a moody teenager
Leah
turns 12 and the teenage years loom before us!
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March 1st 2008 - Grimroper wants you!
Do
you own a Playstation 3? Do you play games online? If the answer is
yes, want want you!
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February 19th 2008 - Pimp My Internet Connection
How
can you improve your broadband connection without having to hang with the
"Big Dog" Tim Westwood?
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February 16th 2008 - Operation "Bathroom" is a success
It
took a while but it was worth it, our bathroom has been transformed.
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February 9th 2008 - And in third place
Held
at the swanky
Moor Hall Hotel, Sutton Coldfield
the end of Season trophy presentations had a surprise for Kev.
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January 21st 2008 - Our garage hides yet more savings
It seems
our cheeky garage was hiding yet more savings in electricity.
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January 14th 2008 - Our garage hides a big saving in electricity
We
managed to drastically cut our electricity consumption for all the things we
have in the garage.
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January 7th 2008 - We watch our waste
Just
how much rubbish do we create? Well we are sad enough to weigh it and find
out.
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December 21st 2007 - Christmas in Germany
We
go back to Germany for Christmas with all of the King family.
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December 14th 2007 - Skating in the Square
We
all go skating in the Old Market Square, well all but Kev.
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December 1st 2007 - Is it a bird?
Kev
spreads his wings and goes indoor sky diving.
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October 25th 2007 - Our electricity is green, what colour is yours?
Sticking
with our theme of trying to be eco-friendly we now have green electricity.
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October 19th 2007 - Pam and David go sausage side
They may have turned into Germans but we still visited them in their new home.
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October 3rd 2007 - Isla India Roper
Isla India Roper is born.
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September 29th 2007 - We are a Non Starter at Loton
The
first sprint we applied to enter was the last one of the Season, a hill climb at Loton Park
in Shrewsbury.
Sadly due to illness we never even set off and so my first season as a racing driver ended.
I really enjoyed the whole thing and at the end of the season I had managed to finish third in the Class E Novice Championship. Not bad for a first go I think!
For a summary of the entire 2007 season click here...
September 15th 2007 - We go Sprinting at a Stately Home
Second
to last Sprint of the season sees us at the beautiful Thoresby Park, racing in
between the trees and hay bales.
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September 8th 2007 - The Pop Divas perform at Nottingham Castle
The
Pop Divas help Age Concern celebrate turning 65 by performing at Nottingham
Castle.
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August 19th 2007 - Back at Curborough again, but was it the same old story?
Our
third time at Curborough saw sun, rain, a fan club and a surprise result.
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July 28th 2007 - We go to London, Las Vegas and Los Angeles
Its
finally here, we go on holiday to the 3 L's. London, Las Vegas and Los
Angeles.
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July 15th 2007 - Who ran the Race For Life?
Leah,
Lorna and Tracie run the Race For Life in Newark.
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July 14th 2007 - Now we have two Divas in the family!
Tracie
and Leah perform at Ilkeston's "Party in the Park"
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July 11th 2007 - Our quest to save electricity moves to the Spare Bedroom
Electricity
usage has been monitored and changes made.
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June 24th 2007 - The WSCC Curborough Sprint
Kev
and Peter returned to Curborough for the WSCC Curborough Sprint.
For the full story click here...
June 23rd 2007 - Want to be a worm keeper?
Its
been two months since we got our Can-O-Worms so is it working? and have we
learnt anything?
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May 19th 2007 - Leah the Pop Diva.
Leah
and the other Pop Divas dance in a car park.
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May 13th 2007 - We race at the World oldest motor racing event
Our
first Hill Climb of the Sprint Series season at Shelsley Walsh sees us getting
incredibly wet and Kev making an imprint in the scenery.
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May 12th 2007 - What are we doing to reduce our electricity consumption?
We
are still working on
our plan to reduce our carbon footprint, this time by reducing the amount of
electricity we use.
What have we done and does it work?
For the full story click here...
April 28th 2007 - What have Kev & Stirling Moss got in common?
Sprint Three of the 2007 WSCC Speed Series at Aintree, Liverpool gives Kev a Second in Class and a link to Stirling Moss.
For the full story click here...
April 25th 2007 - We open a right can of worms!
What kind of chaos have we been causing this time? Well none really, its all a strange tale about compost!
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April 22nd 2007 - Kev, third in class in Speed Series
Kev surprises us all, and himself, by being third in Class in the 2007 WSCC Speed Series.
To see the latest Championship points table click here...
April 15th 2007 - Kev scares himself at Cadwell
Our second race in this years WSCC Speed Series took place at Cadwell Park in Lincoln, and Kev gives himself a bit of a fright!
For the full story click here...
April 9th 2007 - Kev and Pete do the Croft Sprint
We took part in our first Sprint of the 2007 WSCC Speed Series at Croft Circuit in Darlington.
For the full story click here...
April 3rd 2007 - The PlayStation is set free!
After
years of being captive in the conservatory, our PlayStation 2 has been
released onto the internet.
One Network Adaptor purchase, a little bit of fiddling to connect it to our wireless network and some "Net Play" games later it was all done.
Welcome one and all, to the world of Online gaming!
Oh, and we upgraded our Internet Connection to a 5 meg one while we were are it!
PS. If you want to see how fast your internet connection is, use this handy little Broadband Speed Checker.
March 13th 2007 - Kev, Pete and the Curborough Sprint Course
At
last the day has arrived and Kev finally gets behind the wheel of the Westie.
For the full story click here...
March 9th 2007 - Tracie receives School Caring Award
Leah's
school gives out awards for kids that look after or help someone. They
do this by nominating the kid who then gets presented with a Certificate
in assembly.
Normally this is just for the kids so its quite odd that Tracie was nominated by the kids she was helping with their sowing.
Sadly, Tracie wasn't able to collect the award in person due to prior commitments, so Leah did it on her behalf.
March 3rd 2007 - Leah's Pop Star Birthday Party
What
were Hannah Montana, Gwen Stefani, Joss Stone and a suspiciously pale
looking Michael Jackson doing in Ilkeston?
The answer? They were all here for Leah's "Pop Star" Birthday party.
For the full story click here...
March 2nd 2007 - School allocations are published, what did Leah get?
Surprisingly considering that anyone with the surname Roper usually gets forgotten, misplaced or given the exact opposite of what they ask for, Leah got offered a place at the school she (and us) most wanted. Ilkeston School.
February 27th 2007 - What's happening with Kev's racing career?
No
it hasn't died a death, in fact lots of things have happened. Me and Peter
went to the Autosport Show at the NEC in January where I managed to get my
helmet (Bell), race suit, gloves, boots, underwear and balaclava (all Sparco) and
get a good discount in the process.
We have both successfully entered the first race of the season at the Croft sprint track on 9th April and have got the new race tyres. We have bought a bullet cam so we can record our "performances" on the day.
Finally we have a practice session, possibly my first time driving the car, booked at Curborough race track on March 13th.
February 25th 2007 - What have we done to use less gas?
Continuing
our plan to reduce our carbon footprint, changes have been made to our central
heating system to get it to use less gas but keep us just as warm.
What have we done and does it work?
For the full story click here...
February 3rd 2007 - Entry into Croft Sprint Accepted
Kev
has successfully applied to the Darlington & District Motor Club for a place in
the Croft Sprint, race one of the WSCC 2007 Speed Series.
The race takes places Monday 9th April 2007.
January 13th 2007 - Tracie thanked for sponsorship efforts
Cancer
Research UK wrote to Tracie thanking her for her "wonderful donation of £1170"
the amount she raised by running the 2006 Robin Hood Half Marathon.
This puts the total raised by Tracie for Cancer Research to over £2200.
January 9th 2007 - Entry to 2007 WSCC Speed Series confirmed.
"We
confirm that your entry to Class E has been accepted" states the letter from the
WSCC. Also received the Series Registration Card and "WSCC Speed Series Driver" sow on
patch.
Kev is quoted as "Very pleased"
December 28th 2006 - Off setting with Target Neutral
We
cant get rid of our cars and start riding donkeys everywhere but we can
off set what comes out the back of them.
For the full story click here...
December 21st 2006 - Our Carbon Footprint is calculated and its not at all dainty!
It
turns out not to be the delicate footprint
we had hoped for. Instead think of a pair of huge hob nailed boots
trampling its way across fields, destroying trees as it goes.
For the full story click here...
December 14th 2006 - Westfield measured up for Roll Bar modifications
Went with Peter to the garage where his
Westfield is having a motorbike engine fitted, as we need to get the
Westie's (As they appear to get called) Roll Bar raised cos my head sticks out above it, and if it rolls its going to be me rather than it saving the day!
Garage man to weld hoops to the current Roll Bar to make it higher.
December 3rd 2006 - WSCC Membership confirmed
Got confirmation of my Membership
to the WSCC, so am now able to apply for my MSA Racing Licence and submit my application to take part in the WSCC Speed Series.
December 1st 2006 - Kev to become racing driver
Following on from my recent success driving a Mini Cooper S round the Rockingham circuit, ok I was crap really, I am now to become a proper racing driver.
What started as a conversation between me and Peter Cox about doing some endurance kart races next year, ended up with me agreeing to share a drive in his Westfield sports car and so become a full fledged (if unproved and probably talent less) racing driver.
So despite the fact that a, I don't own a Westfield and b, have only sat in it once, and then it wasn't moving, I have entered the Westfield Sports Car Club Speed Series in 2007.
For the full story click here...