Practitioner Richard Ward (left) was the lucky winner of a special Optrafair competition to experience the thrill of speeding in a pre-war racing car.
NEC exhibitor PCS Cheltenham ran a free prize draw for tickets to Silverstone the following weekend and a ride in a 1926 Bugatti. The Bugatti is owned and raced by PCS Cheltenham director Mike Preston (also pictured).
Ward, a DO from Richard Ward Opticians in Hampshire, was treated to a few high-speed sections of the Silverstone infield. Afterwards he said: 'Amazing - especially for a 1926 car, the acceleration, braking and cornering were much better than I had expected. Watching vintage cars race like that is quite speculator - loads of overtaking, no seat belts, and a 1926 car averaging 70mph must mean at least 110 on the straights - all very impressive.'
Over 400 people entered the draw. A number of visitors to the stand had also asked if Preston would drive the car to do installations or demonstrations of their practice management software. 'I will be on a social rally with the car in Norfolk in a week,' he said, 'so I may pop in to see a few clients with it then.'
Practitioner Richard Ward (left) was the lucky winner of a special Optrafair competition to experience the thrill of speeding in a pre-war racing car.