"Celebrity" drivers? - Page 4

Sheila M · 17 May 2007, 22:04 (Ref:1915680)

Quote:

Originally Posted by lifeline-fire

Anyone remember Ian Botham racing a prod saloon Cossie at Donington around 1993.

Yep - I lined him up on the grid!

I also remember Shane Lynch's first race at Mallory Park in a Ginetta. Shane was a member of Boyzone at the time and there were loads of screaming "girlies" around, which was a pain (in more ways than one

)

GORDON STREETER · 18 May 2007, 06:59 (Ref:1915801)

I also remember a meeting at Silverstone with those young screaming girls. I thought they were for me but no, it was for a Ginetta driver just starting , we had never heard of him. Getting old is horrible and I still cant sing !

davyboy · 18 May 2007, 08:06 (Ref:1915832)

Does anyone remember Matt Aitken of Stock, Aitken and Waterman in the one make Jaguar XJR15 series of 1991 ? Its probably among the fastest cars a celebrity has raced. They were nigh on a $1M a pop when brand new. Matt's car was sold at auction a couple of years ago for around $175K

Grandslammer · 18 May 2007, 09:09 (Ref:1915874)

Quote:

Originally Posted by davyboy

Does anyone remember Matt Aitken of Stock, Aitken and Waterman in the one make Jaguar XJR15 series of 1991 ? Its probably among the fastest cars a celebrity has raced. They were nigh on a $1M a pop when brand new. Matt's car was sold at auction a couple of years ago for around $175K

He also raced a Prosport,(silver one I think)

ensign14 · 18 May 2007, 09:15 (Ref:1915875)

Quote:

Originally Posted by davyboy

Does anyone remember Matt Aitken of Stock, Aitken and Waterman in the one make Jaguar XJR15 series of 1991 ? Its probably among the fastest cars a celebrity has raced. They were nigh on a $1M a pop when brand new. Matt's car was sold at auction a couple of years ago for around $175K

Matt Aitken lost a fortune on a car?

inpitlane · 18 May 2007, 09:43 (Ref:1915884)

Not sure if anybody has yet mentiioned it but Actor Eric Bana (The Hulk, Blackhawk Down, Munich) is a regular on the Australian motorsport scene. Raced (and crashed) a Falcon in this year's Targa Tasmania as well races a Porsche GT3 in the Victorian State Series where he also ran a 944 a year or so back. (I think there's still footage of him on one of the In Pit Lane podcasts) Also former England Cricket Captain Tony Greig raced Production Cars here in Australia in the late 70s. Fast bowler Jeff Thomson did a bit of Drag Racing in Queensland too. Plus there's been quite a few local personalities, footballers etc.. that race here that no one outside Australia would recognise.

andy97 · 18 May 2007, 10:27 (Ref:1915912)

Tiger Woods' Caddie is the NZ Stock Car Champion (& reputed to be the highest paid "sportsman" in NZ!) & Tiger Woods raced a stock car in NZ at the inviation of his Caddie.

rcarr · 18 May 2007, 12:01 (Ref:1915976)

Former All Blacks player Johna Lomu apparently drag races in NZ somewhere, with the "Fastest car in New Zealand" supposedly.

nycuk · 20 Dec 2008, 12:19 (Ref:2358793)

Pretty sure Matt Aitken raced in ARP F3 sometime in the early 90s too. And I seem to remember Donny Osmond racing a saloon of some sort at Silverstone circa 89?

retro_msport · 20 Dec 2008, 17:30 (Ref:2358914)

Gary Barlow races in the DMN / Intermarque ....

Ok its not the real Take That Barlow, but i've heard people ask for his autograph

sorry i'll leave you to it now

GORDON STREETER · 22 Dec 2008, 13:14 (Ref:2359704)

Neal Fox (DJ FOXY) did a race with us in the Heritage series at Brands a couple of years back in an Aston. But under his own admission he isn´t cut out to be a racing driver.

Alan Cherry · 23 Dec 2008, 00:52 (Ref:2359969)

I can't find it now (sure it was on youtube) but John Noakes was in a pretend race at Lydden - think it was Gerry Marshalls DTV Firenza/Viva, and possibly Nick Whitings Escort - has anyone got the link ?

p.s. Non motorsport related, for those of you of a certain age - just type Barry Bucknell into youtube. If you don't know who Barry Bucknell was, don't bother - it won't mean anything - If you do know who he was, it's the funniest video clip ever - a work of genius on the dubbing !

Alan

GBRM · 23 Dec 2008, 10:46 (Ref:2360086)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Cherry

I can't find it now (sure it was on youtube) but John Noakes was in a pretend race at Lydden - think it was Gerry Marshalls DTV Firenza/Viva, and possibly Nick Whitings Escort - has anyone got the link ?Alan

It was John Noakes, Dad and I think Des Donnelly all in Viva GTs - basically showing what a standard road-going Viva goes through to become a racer; it's quite funny on places and is on YouTube but I also have it on DVD if anyone wants a copy.

davyboy · 23 Dec 2008, 16:46 (Ref:2360268)

Here's one kinda for you. Did you know that 1980s Austrian touring car driver Mercedes Stermitz made the semi final of Miss World in 1983.

R59 · 27 Dec 2008, 19:17 (Ref:2361590)

Not forgetting Shane Lynch who now races in the Sport Maxx series - formerly of Boyzone. Nearly won the British GT series a few years back too.

I remember John Noakes in the F.Atlantic when I was a kid. A proper Blue Peter presenter without a doubt! The H&S department at the BBC won't let them in the passenger seat of a milkfloat these days.

I too recall Barry McGuigan, when they televised his ride in Will Gollop's 6R4 rallycross car and him claiming to be terrified and never having done anything like it - even though he'd been doing "Production Rallycross" at Lydden for a while.

beefy · 28 Dec 2008, 08:44 (Ref:2361746)

I can remember Richard Dunwoody, the Jocky, barrel rolling spectacularly in a single seater at Pembrey!

I was also surprised by the language used by Shane Lynch when I helped him out of his ginetta after he'd stuffed it into the barriers at Pembrey again. Turned out to be a nice guy though.

GORDON STREETER · 28 Dec 2008, 12:38 (Ref:2361816)

Shane Lynch is still with Boyzone, he is also into "Drifting" and looking at the state of his last car it looks like it "drifted" into something !

Graz · 28 Dec 2008, 15:00 (Ref:2361871)

Quote:

Originally Posted by davyboy

Here's one kinda for you. Did you know that 1980s Austrian touring car driver Mercedes Stermitz made the semi final of Miss World in 1983.

83 was an off year in said comp...

Graz · 28 Dec 2008, 15:02 (Ref:2361872)

Quote:

Originally Posted by davyboy

Does anyone remember Matt Aitken of Stock, Aitken and Waterman in the one make Jaguar XJR15 series of 1991 ? Its probably among the fastest cars a celebrity has raced. They were nigh on a $1M a pop when brand new. Matt's car was sold at auction a couple of years ago for around $175K

Didn't he also race Formula Vauxhall Lotus in the UK for a few years. He also has a 1985 Ferarri F1 which he demo's every so often, or at least he used to

Graz · 28 Dec 2008, 15:04 (Ref:2361873)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

Shane Lynch is still with Boyzone, he is also into "Drifting" and looking at the state of his last car it looks like it "drifted" into something !

btw, the one on the left of GS's avatar won miss Austria 1983...I rest my case.

smokystove · 30 Dec 2008, 19:31 (Ref:2362918)

May not really count as "racing careers" but there was an American tv show called "Fast Cars and Superstars" where celebs would take racing tuition from NASCAR drivers. William Shatner is a highlight, as well as the lovely tennis star Serena Williams.

mark_l · 30 Dec 2008, 19:53 (Ref:2362927)

Ford ran a "celebrity" car in the Ford Fiesta Championship that supported the BTCC in the 90's.

The car could usually be found on the back row of the grid keeping the medical car company.

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