Bob Birrell (77), Instructor (ARDS Grade A instructor, to be precise) at Croft racing circuit. Has been motor racing almost all his adult life and has the distinction of having raced at 100 different circuits in 24 different countries. We met Bob at the Nürburgring, where he raced in a 1961 Lotus 20.

‘My father took me to the last ever Swiss Grand Prix in Switzerland, in Bern. That was in 1954. That started it all. But even though motor racing fascinated me so much I wanted nothing more than to race myself, I never thought of becoming a professional racing driver. Instead, I went in the army. In 31 years, I’ve been posted all over the world. A few times in Germany, with the British Army of the Rhine, in Singapore, Oman, you name it. I’ve also done five stints in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. That was tough. Eventually, I retired at 50, and then I became CEO of the British Army Motoring Association running and instructing all Army Motorsport. I did that for 15 years. And all those years, I managed to race, sometimes even sponsored by the Army.’

‘What drives me to race? Stupidity’

‘I started racing at 18, with an Austin Healy Sprite. I qualified for my International Race Licence in 1969. I have raced throughout the world on 79 different circuits In Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia and Macau. I have raced at every circuit in Britain. But I still want to find some new ones. Over the years, I found myself in all kinds of racing classes, in all kinds of cars and against some tough competition. I did the European Formula Super Vee and raced against Keke Rosberg in the early seventies and Arie Luyendyk in 1977 – he won the championship that year. I did Formula Ford and competed against Emerson Fittipaldi. And I in raced in F3 in 1982 - 84 in British and European F3 Championships and went up against the likes of Ayrton Senna. Although it was always me behind those guys, of course. After 1983, I started competing in historic racing in F2, F5000 and GTS.’

‘As I got older, it became a bit too much for me. I am racing for fun, I never wanted it to be a professional career. I wasn’t good enough. In historic racing, in Formula Junior everyone is friends. This is not a career for us. I don’t make my money at racing – I spend my money on it! Moreover, there’s another reason to not overdo things. My wife doesn’t like motor racing. If you could fit a race car with a cold, wet nose, four legs and a fluffy tail it might be another matter.’

‘My main motivation to have been racing for so long? Stupidity, I guess. My greatest assets as a driver? Mainly enthusiasm. Certainly not speed. Although I have won quite a few races during my career, my last win dates from a while ago. I get slower as I get older. But I still enjoy every second of it. There’s no reason why I’d ever stop racing. Well, except money. But I am very fortunate, very lucky to still be able to do this. Of course I did have my share of mishaps as well. One of my favourite cars was a Brabham BT6. That was really a nice car to drive. But I completely wrecked it at Goodwood, after I had a puncture and the tire burst. That was a shame.’

‘I have raced against Keke Rosberg, Emerson Fittipaldi and one Ayrton Senna’

‘I have stopped following the exploits of the current generation of F1 drivers. I did follow it when I was young, but not anymore. It has become a different world, with too much companies involved and too much money. I prefer MotoGP. You look at F1 and you think: I can do this. And then you watch MotoGP and you think: I know I can’t do this. The only Formula 1 icon I admire, is someone from my own generation: Jackie Stewart. I’ve met him, although I’ve never raced against him. But I admire him for his advances in safety in motor sports more than for his world championships in F1. His fight for safety is a much more lasting benefit. And he was always right: there’s nothing said for being dead.’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photography: Maurice Volmeyer   /   Words: Diederik Plug