The 750 Motor Club Birkett 6 Hours Relay Race. - 25th October 2014
My daughter, Natalie, joined the Smart Team and brought along my new grandson Jack for an induction.
We eventually finished 28th out of 72 teams. A very enjoyable race.
Watford Observer - 30th October 2014
Sarratt's David Butler achieves ambition of competing alongside
daughter at Silverstone
Article - Sarratt's David Butler achieved a long-held ambition on Saturday after competing alongside daughter Natalie Harris at the Silverstone Birkett six-hour relay race.
Butler, who is 70, started off the race for the Smarts4youracing team before Harris took over after the first hour. She completed just under an hour before stopping, after the safety car was released, to help feed four month-old-son Jack.
The four other Smart car drivers helped the team finish 28th out of 69 at the race.
Harris returned to racing after a five-year break to have two children, Grace and Jack. Her racing highlight came when she won the Nations Cup for England at Rockingham Motor Speedway in 2005.
“To be in the same team and race as my daughter was a thrilling experience and definitely ticked a box,” said Butler. “We both thoroughly enjoyed the experience and, if we have the opportunity, would love to do it again some time.”
Butler, who lost both legs aged 11 when he found an unexploded bomb, has competed in more than 600 events, including 115 races. He has been the chairman of the British Motorsport Association for the Disabled for more than 20 years.
Butler has also been a Motorsport Association committee member on the medical advisory panel for 26 years, carrying out more than 300 safety assessments for disabled drivers wishing to take part in the sport.
Butler said: “It’s very exciting for disabled people and there are very few sports that when you put on a helmet and get in the car you are on a level playing field. It gives them an equal footing on the race track and also provides real excitement.”
My first race at Castle Combe Circuit was organised by the Classic Sports Car Club and the Smart cars were in the Modern Classics Series with our own race within a race. In practice, first time out, I was fourth on the Smart grid with only one spin at the tight chicane! I didn’t make the best of starts when the lights went out (must now practice starts!) After a lurid 75 mph four rotational spin on lap 7 trying to grab third place at Camp Corner just before the finish line, I went off onto the in-field but straight into gear and back on track to finish fourth in class.
Quite hairy at 110 mph into Quarry Corner in a Smart car but great fun.
P.S. I have to be honest, the Porsche was lapping me.
Rockingham Speedway
Donnington Circuit
