| This is the first part of the story of my own | | | | adapted from their original oval specification to run |
| unlikely route into the world of motorsports - with | | | | on the more prevalent road-course circuits of |
| any luck it can provide inspiration for those | | | | Europe, a very popular British series was built up |
| standing on the outside and looking in, wondering if | | | | and following a lot of interest in the cars |
| maybe one day they could do the same. | | | | whenever the British Championship made visits to |
| The adventure began on Valentines Day 2007 | | | | Scotland, a Scottish Championship to run over |
| when I opened an anonymous looking letter to | | | | roughly ten rounds in the Spring and Summer |
| read the words "delighted to inform you that you | | | | months at Knockhill was created. Run since 2000 |
| are one of three successful candidates for the | | | | when six entrants took to the track, by 2006 it |
| 2007 Scottish Legends Championship Scholarship." | | | | regularly saw upwards of twenty-five entrants at |
| Having entered it more as a laugh than anything | | | | each round, the fields mostly made up of wealthy |
| else while I scrimped the pennies to try and go | | | | businessmen with money to spend on thrills and |
| racing for the first time in some way, shape or | | | | young drivers fresh from the karting scene and |
| form during the year, I have to admit to being | | | | looking to make their way up in motorsport |
| very shocked to have received it. I'd had a shot | | | | circles. All of this combined to make the SMRC |
| at the Legends Experience (a voucher that | | | | Scottish Legends Championship one of the top |
| entitles any member of joe public to have a go in | | | | levels of Scottish Motorsport. A big fan of the |
| a race-car) at Knockhill Racing Circuit in Fife, | | | | series, I'd hoped one day I might get a chance to |
| Scotland the previous September and tootled | | | | have a go at racing one of them, but I had |
| around safely if not spectacularly and enjoyed my | | | | neither the racing background or the money to do |
| time, expecting it would be the last time I'd drive | | | | so - it looked like a life as a spectator was the |
| one of the little machines. To then find out I'd | | | | best I could hope for. |
| been given some funding by Aly Hunter's | | | | Then came the news of the Scholarship. With |
| Scotlegends car preparation team, Knockhill Racing | | | | interest in the series at an all time high, funding |
| Circuit and the Scottish Motor Racing Club (the | | | | was provided by the SMRC to Aly Hunter's team |
| governing body of Scottish Motor Sport) with the | | | | to run a drive to bring some new talent into the |
| condition I attempt the full series came as a | | | | series that might not normally be able to afford |
| massive surprise given my total rookie status | | | | the leap to that level. The basic package would |
| having attempted no previous form of motor | | | | provide most of the funding towards the first |
| racing! | | | | three rounds of the Championship along with |
| At this point I should explain the setup of the | | | | testing and entry fees. With three rides in the |
| Championship itself. Created originally in the United | | | | Championship available via the Scholarship, it was |
| States in the early 90's to combat the spiralling | | | | at the very least worth a shot and I duly sent in |
| cost of motorsports, a Legends car is a 1250cc | | | | the application form, convinced that due to my |
| Yamaha racing-bike engine and gearbox bolted | | | | utter lack of previous racing experience that it |
| into a 5/8 scale replica of 1930's style Ford, | | | | was probably a pointless endeavour. Then came |
| Chevy and Dodge coupes and sedans. Imported | | | | the letter on February 14th that was better than |
| into the United Kingdom a few years later and | | | | any Valentines Card. |