Some Donington Inspiration

Published January 20, 2013 | By Jim

Last month, we accompanied the Help for Heroes ‘Band of Brothers’ at a Motorsport Endeavour event at Donington – was a great day for our lad Lionel, who was let loose in the Mission Motorsport M3. He got it rather sideways on the cold wet track, but did as taught and was relaxed enough to catch a rather tasty drift coming out of Coppice

Big grins from Pte Lionel "DriftGod" O'Connor safely back in the paddock in the Mission Motorsport M3

We ended up helping fit something rather tasty with hand controls…

Jim, can we find an automatic car? Erm, yes, I think I know where one is...

Huge thanks to the Maserati press team, that was a very excited young lady. Car sounded epic, and she didn’t hang around…

If you are going to learn hand controls, do it at Donington Park. In a Maserati

We were also fortunate enough to meet Stephen Carr, a veteran who has something of a gift for poetry. He finds it cathartic, we think it is brilliant. He’s been kind enough to allow us to reproduce his words here:

I did my duty
I did my best
I hid behind a bullet-proof vest

I walked the streets with gun in hand
I held the peace in a foreign land

People didn’t want me there
They would often stand and stare

But my duty was to keep the peace
I tried to save a life, at least

I saw men die
I saw men suffer
Life couldn’t get too much tougher

Bombs and bullets played their tune
And forced me deep in to the gloom

My duty there was never done
I worked until the passing sun

Then one day the years have passed
But memories would last and last

No corner of my mind is safe
I am haunted by that foreign place

I try to run
I try to hide
My demons always by my side

Did I serve my country true
Would I really die for you

Did I do my very best
Did I need my bomb-proof vest