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As promised, it is time for the second interview in the series, Men at Work.
We authors tend to be a tad self-indulgent. We are ‘artists’, after all-or at least this is what our oft over-inflated egos tell us. No-one else could possibly understand the strength and tenacity that is needed in our quest for that ‘perfect’ novel or poem. With this blog series, I want to show we are not unique. Dedication, hard work and passion are the three cornerstones of success, no matter what line of work one may be in. Each week, I will show case a man, who, I believe, possesses all three attribute, who, through sheer determination, hard work and { yes, that word obsession} with his craft has risen to the top of his game. The first in the blog was a man known to many of my author friends. Jimmy Thomas, cover model extraordinaire and friend to all romance authors, but this week, my guest will take us along a very different road {if you will excuse the pun}. I will stop rambling now and hand the floor over. Ladies and gentleman, without further ado, I would like to welcome Martin Short to my humble little blog.
First off, Martin, welcome and thank you for stopping by. So on to the interrogation. I know you have always loved cars but how old where you when decided you wanted to be a racing driver?
When
did I start breathing? No, seriously. After my divorce from the lovely owner of
this blog, {amicable, I might add} I found I had a few more pennies in my
pocket. I have always loved cars, but, now, I was able to indulge my new found
'wealth' by acquiring silly cars. All cheapies, around £2k, I was,
nevertheless, attracted by them. My early stable housed a 1932 Hot rod / custom
car, a dog of a Corvette, and an armoured car I used for the
occasional trip to the supermarket when I decided it was necessary to eat. My
pièce de résistance was the Lincoln Continental driven by Kevin Kline in the
film, A Fish called Wanda.
My ambition, however, was to own a Lotus 7,
a model well out of my price range. I am, as our dear blog owner can attest to,
stubborn and so, undeterred in my dream, I came across a similar looking 'kit
car' while browsing through Exchange and
Mart. At the time, I was working in a London garage so it was easy for me
to pop around to the dingy lock up where it sat – waiting for me. It was
perfect; a tiny little car with a powerful engine. It cost a mere £1750. There
was no doubt. The car had to be mine. From that day on, my fate was sealed.
Proudly, I drove it home to Cambridgeshire
that night, running out of fuel on the way. But I didn’t care, just so amazed
at how fast it accelerated, handled on corners, braked…..it was like a
motorbike on the road, but faster. Because of my job, I had spent the last few
years driving to London and back, using a particular back road to join up with
to the A1. I’d always driven this road pretty much flat out, always striving to
better my time. Well, in my little kit car, I smashed all my previous records. This
small East Anglian B route became my training track and I got to thinking…. well
maybe I can race? I was twenty-six
years old.
Six months later, I
had built my first roll cage (later to become a business that would fund the
racing). In 1987, I had rebuilt the car with help from friends, and drove it to
my first race. I came 2nd in that race, and went on to win the Championship.
Who do you consider to be the
biggest influence on your life, either professionally or personally?
It’s
not glamorous at all in my eyes. It’s a practical business. But maybe I have
forgotten what a normal world is like so it’s hard to say. I definitely started
off thinking that it would be a good sport to get involved in to 'pull a bird'
(lol) but girls generally are not interested,{ as I later found out - motorbike
racing is the one for the girls.} However it is, I guess, pretty exciting, and it
has taken us, my family, friends and loyal employees over the world: USA,
Australia, Malaysia, and Japan plus most of Europe. It’s been quite a ride.
I admit to getting very scared in my earlier racing. Racing
is dangerous and ferocious stuff. It can feel as if you were going into a
physical fight. I used to be on beta blockers, then I took to swigging whisky
to calm my nerves, but once the race started, the adrenaline took over. Now I
am older and more experienced. I don't get scared like that anymore. I am
generally very confident. However, I do not drive to the edge like I used to.
Having my two sons definitely had an effect on me. I am more aware of my
mortality.
At Le Mans, my first time in the Prototype car, I was doing
206 mph, 4 times a lap. Now, there is one point on the circuit where, a few
years previously, cars had taken off – literally – and ended up in the trees. But
these cars were closed cockpit. I was
driving open cockpit. Was I nervous? Definitely – every lap. At one point, when
I could feel the car go light at the front, I thought…. am I going to see my sons again? Thankfully, after that year, the
cars became safer. These days I try to drive cars that are very safe. I make safety equipment, so I am more aware than most as
to what can injures or, worse, kill a driver.
Would you
like your boys to follow in your footsteps?
I don't have a great desire for that,
to be honest. I know how hard it is. I succeeded because I was incredibly
obsessed. My dad once said, if I put as much effort into his business as I put
into my racing, that he would be a
millionaire. He was right. I worked all hours and spent every penny I had to be
the fastest. I am not sure if my lads will have that same drive. It’s an
incredibly expensive sport. My dad wisely did not fund me at all for my racing.
I had to earn it all myself, which is why I started my own business. That’s the
kind of drive you need internally. At the moment they love football. They are
both goalies and they love it. Morgan {the eldest and named after a British car},
like his brother Marcus (Marcos)) is starting to show an interest in Karting.
He's not pushing me very hard on it, and I am not going to throw myself at it
like a doting wannabe-like-me Dad. Let’s just let time take its course and see
what happens.
Where do
you see yourself in ten years time and is there anything you feel you still
have to achieve?
Thank you, Martin for that very
insightful and candid insight into your life. Despite your success, you seem so
grounded and it is so obvious your family is important to you. I wish you
continued success. And now for the silly, fun part. Take it away, Mr. Short
Racing drivers - Hamilton or Schumacher?
Racing drivers - Hamilton or Schumacher?
Good question. I adore them both. I
modelled myself on Schumacher a lot, though not necessarily with anywhere near
his talent, but in terms of aggression and attitude. I admit he could play dirty at times, but I
could understand what happened with him when the madness/competitive spirit
took over. Hamilton? I love his fight, but since he dumped his Dad, he has gone
downhill. He doesn't see it, and having worked with my Dad for so long, I know
what it’s like. You only have to at the relationship Jenson Button has with his
to see why he is so grounded and on
it. I will abstain / say both.
Kick-ass
heroines - Lara Croft or the Kill Bill bride?
Kill Bill bride without doubt, which
strangely, is one of my wives favourite films!
Crap food
- Big Mac or Double Whopper?
Yum. Double Whopper. But they don't
like me. Indigestion!
Spielberg
movies - ET or Close Encounters?
You bugger. You know me too well.
E.T. Seen it around 30 times now and I always get teary.
MJ -
Thriller or Billie Jean?
Thriller. I stayed up late to watch
the first screening of it. Amazing.
Monsters
with big teeth - Godzilla or King Kong?
Don't go much on Monsters, but loved
the last King Kong film.
Friends
ladies - Monica, Rachel or Pheobe?
Rachel. Blade Runner.
Friends
dudes - Joey, Chandler, or Ross?
None!
Well-Hard
Heroes-Maximus Decimus Meridius or Leonidis {300}
Maximus!
Cocoa or
ovaltine?
Neither. Yuck.
Once again, thanks again, to Martin
for stopping by. For more information on Martin and his racing team, you
can find him at these links.
