BRETT HAWKSBEE
Brett has misspent his entire youth and adult life with a passionate interest in cars and racing. In the early 1980s he built ‘Jailbait’, a 1970 street/strip 351 4V Cleveland powered Mustang, a car which featured at Santa Pod racing in BDRA ‘Roadster’ class as well as in the now defunct Custom Car Show at Alexandra Palace and Olympia. Various projects preceded ‘Jailbait’, most of which were regular features on the Kings Road and Chelsea Cruises in the late 70s.
In 1987 Brett created ‘Bug Jam’, the first of over 150 car events of various types, and by the time he wrote ‘Bug Jam And All That…’ he had promoted events featuring VWs, Hot Rods/Street Rods, Classic Yanks, as well as the legendary ‘Shootout’ series of Drag Racing events. He has had cars featured in Custom Car and Volksworld magazines, written for Volksworld, worked for both Roy Phelps and ‘National Dragways’ at Santa Pod, formed the Volkswagen Drag Racing Club, and in 1997 built – with a host of helpers – the National Auto Showground, on a site near Peterborough. (Sadly this venue ultimately fell victim to nimbys, but it was great while it lasted!)
Brett also owned the first UK AC Cobra Replica, which became the Pete & Marts ‘Unique Autocraft’ Python, which then itself spawned many copies. But that is a long bar-room tale, and not for explanation here. Brett happily accepts that his bike ownership credentials are very lacking, comprising of a single Vespa in the early 70s – bought for a fiver. Apart from that, some other interesting rides have included all sorts such as a Hillman Imp, Humber Super, Sunbeam Alpine, Ford Popular, Mk IV Zephyr Farnham Estate, Daimler 250, T34 ‘Razor Edge’ Karmann Ghia, Air Express Dragster, ‘Graphical’ Ghia, Porsche 911 (964) Carrera, Porsche Boxster 3.2S, Alfa Romeo GT 3.2 as well as several Beetles and other VWs, BMWs, Audis, Mercedes, Hondas, and many other marques.
