Oh S***

Posting this in 2016, a week before the final Formula 1 championship race in Abu Dhabi and the decision in the ding-dong battle between Hamilton and Rosberg.

My pale complexion has nothing whatsoever to do with these photos being taken in the middle of a British winter. It was the result of a loss of blood to the brain area after an experience several hours earlier.

I was lucky to have a good boss, Kevin Bragg - although the Finance Director and thus not naturally generous with cash, he did believe in spending money on team building. Given my team of auditors had recently been put together after yet another reorganisation, he had given me a generous amount to spend on a days worthwhile activity. As all my team were driving daily around the UK and causing (or as in my case, being the victim of) the odd bump, came up with a day at Brand Hatch Racing. I think we were around a dozen, one of whom was female. We had the track and instructors to ourselves.

Day started with everyone individually getting in to a souped up Ford Escort as driver, with an instructor  as passenger. Then drove a lap as we thought fit and then pulled off the track on to the grass and the instructor gave a resume of all the mistakes one made - I don't think many of us got much right. Then we swapped places and that's when the blood left my head and other parts of my body were in danger of losing other things. It was horrific!

Some may know the Brands Hatch circuit, those who have driven it can appreciate just how nerve racking it is to hurtle down the hill after the first corner and then up to the 2nd , virtual U-turn, corner.

Again car halted, again place changed and then one is expected to have learnt something from the few minutes before, despite having closed one's eyes and no longer having any feel in the fingers after having crushed whatever part of the seating and handles one could grasp on to. After that a score sheet which determined if you were fit to drive alone in a single seater.

After lunch then the single seater sessions and ultimately a timed lap. As one would have expected all us macho Nigel Mansells were beaten by the only female, added to which, she was probably the youngest of us all.

In the extra photo, a few more bad images of the day that I took. Nice to see some of the old faces - lightfooted Sue, Nice Neil, Roger the Dodger, Andy the flying Scotsman, always good for a laughGeoff and my long standing colleague and to this day friend, Phil,.

A good day.