Gearstick & Clutchbag

tales from the tub & adventures with trailblazers

Journal

From little road trips to big adventures

17
Jun

Electric Dreams with Amanda Stretton

As seen in Frank Magazine June/July 2020 edition From the moment that the second car rolled off the production line, Henry Ford proclaimed, let’s go racing, well that’s how the saying goes at least. More recently, car manufacturers that put their cars into race series said, ‘Race on Sunday sell on Monday’, and this is […]

13
Mar

The Bentley Belle, Katarina Kyvalova

Previously published in the March edition of Frank Magazine about my fearless friend Katarina Kyvalova. I have known Katarina for a few years, we first met at Goodwood Revival where, I was delighted to meet another female racer – and also to see her in the big show stopper races of the Tourist Trophy, with […]

24
Feb

Race Retro 2020

Always a great start to the historic racing year with a visit to Race Retro at Stoneleigh Park where the first stop is the Autojumble. Pick up a bargain, find parts you never knew you needed and bump into friends amongst motorcycle petrol tanks. This year a very large tribute to Group B rally cars […]

29
Jan

What is in my bag

I was asked what I used for my skin as I said I swear by Wild Rose Beauty Balm but did I have any other cruelty free products I liked. Well here is a list of products in order of performance for my skin. These products are currently in use and where possible and if […]

24
Nov

Motorcycle Live 2019

An event as big as Motorcycle Live one needs to concentrate on a few things to write about so here is a sort of diary of my time at the yearly event. I looked at electric bikes, helmets and a bike brand famous for trials now creating bespoke bikes and still looking cool. I also […]

6
Nov

Lorina McLaughlin F1 Racing Driver

As seen in Frank Magazine October edition One of only a handful of Ladies to hold full membership of the prestigious British Racing Drivers’ Club and is currently President of the British Women Racing Drivers Club, Lorina McLaughlin is one of the UK’s most successful Female Racing Drivers. Currently McLaughlin drives the ex- Michael Schumacher […]

15
Oct

Return of the Speed Queens, Maria Costello MBE

Previously seen in Frank Magazine: August Edition I first met Maria Costello MBE about fifteen years ago at Goodwood Revival, in the holding paddock alongside the classic motorbike she was about to race in the Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy, we briefly discussed if there were any other women racing on the grid that weekend. To […]

15
Sep

Seven years, twenty countries, no plan

Previously seen in Frank Magazine: June Edition Mrs Christian Miller, a well-established lady bought a fold up bicycle, a tent and a saddle bag and cycled 4,500 miles across America just after WW2, whilst earlier Mrs Edith Fraser Benn, in 1901, rode side saddle from India to Persia, a 600 mile camel ride with her […]

15
Aug

Top of the Peake

Previously seen in Frank Magazine: May Edition In a world currently celebrating empowerment of the woman, photojournalist Lara Platman wants to remind us that women have been racing and driving fast since the invention of the combustion engine. Fearless women such as Camille de Gast who, in 1903, became the first woman racing driver and […]