Before bikes it was Porsches, Lamborghinis, and Lotuses (Loti?) that dominated my wheel lust. Without a fat stack to satisfy my urge for European exotica, Road & Track magazine scratched the itch. After I pored over articles and tests I read the columns in the front pages, and Peter Egan’s Side Glances was my favourite.

One of his pieces has strangely stuck with me after all these years. Peter was recalling an enthusiast who had a litany of reasons why he hadn't gone racing; it was too expensive, the track was too far away, he didn’t have a worthy car… They all sounded pretty legit to me, but Peter wasn't having it and he held the trump card that was tough to argue with; if your desire to race is strong enough you’ll figure it out.