Sometime in the early/mid 1980s, I attended my first rally; Nicolet in Wales I think. There was an accident on the stage, and we walked along the road, passing the line of cars all waiting to run. I was invited to sit in a Metro 6R4 (incredible experience as a kid). I'm sure I was told it was Derek Bell. I can't find a reference to him running a 6R4, even though I know he did compete at rally events.

I was thinking of how to sum it all up, it would've been very long winded as this reply is.. but you got it spot on. Cheers

he seems nice, ive never personally met him however. he's not very quick in historic racing because he came dead last in the TT in a relatively competitive car being the porsche 906 Carrera

@@georgeure1942 I think that could be down to the fact that at these events the drivers don't actually own the cars so are always respectful to the owners. Also, he has nothing to prove so it's more of a social occasion and chance to catch up with old friends

My uncle met him some years ago, before my uncle passed away from cancer. Bell was a friend-of-a-friend who my Uncle knew, an employee of Bentley. During his illness, my uncle's last brig trip was over to Europe and the US to see all the big motorsport events, and it just happened to be the year that Bently won Le Mans. It was during this time that they met, and they quickly became fast friends. My uncle died a few months later. Word got back to Mr Bell who wrote a letter that was sent all the way back to Australia to be read out at the service. Derek Bell is genuinely one of the nicest people in motorsport, and I hope to meet him myself one day.

That's the only thing I took exception to. It could be a 787B, a more current Le Mans winner than any Ferrari... ;)