The Motorsport Nut is a blog about a self-confessed motorsport nut: me! My name is James and I live and work in the UK. I’ve started this blog to share my motorsport photography, the model kits of racing cars that I build, my experiences at races, memorabilia, and my occasional thoughts on the world of motor racing today.

How to create a motorsport nut

I’ve been interested in motorsport and racing cars (and bikes) for as long as I can remember. Brought up with all kinds of racing on the telly at weekends (the benefit of FTA broadcasting), I’d spend hours playing with little toy cars, running imaginary races. I’d make up Formula 1 grids with any cars I had – I remember Pedro Lamy in his Minardi was a green Land Rover Defender 90.

As soon as I was old enough, I started going to races. My Dad took six-year-old me in the car to a couple of races in 1997 – the BTCC at Silverstone, and the World Superbikes at Donington Park. Then, once my feet could reach the foot pegs, I was on the back of the motorcycle. We’d go to British and World Superbike rounds in Britain and the British MotoGP too.

I went to my first Formula 1 race in 2010, the British Grand Prix. Since then, I’ve managed another four F1 races – a further three British GPs, and the Belgian Grand Prix in 2017. I try and get to a variety of events and venues each year to keep it interesting. The list of attended events further down gives an idea of what I’ve been to see. When I’m at the races I like to get photos of the track action, and I’ve gradually got more into this over the years and now use a Canon 100D camera.

Sticking bits of plastic together

Airfix de Havilland Mosquito model kit box art
That’s the one… There were a few lost tempers over this kit! (Image pinched from mossie.org)

I’ve been building plastic model kits on and off since the late 1990s as a young boy. It started out with me, aged 8 or 9, trying and largely failing to put together a 1:72 Airfix de Havilland Mosquito on a tea tray in the front room, with my Dad trying to help.

In those early years I stuck to 1:72 plane kits which were cheap and readily available from the local toy shop. I also got into Warhammer, though was always more interested in building and painting than fighting battles.

I joined a local model club in my teenage years, IPMS Middleton Cheney. During this time I gradually lost interest in the Warhammer as the prices went through the roof. I also felt it lacked recognition in the wider modelling community, though that is changing. It was while I was at university with plenty of time to kill, that I thought about re-entering the hobby. Only this time, I discovered I could do it building F1 and other motorsport-themed model kits.

I hope you enjoy what I have to share – my stories and latest exploits – whether it’s finishing another Tamiya 1/20 F1 kit, attending a race meeting, sharing an opinion, or digging out a piece of memorabilia with a story. I’m always up for a chat, and I’d love to hear your own stories and thoughts. Feel free to leave comments, questions, or email me using the form below. Thanks for stopping by!

My race meetings:

  • 1997: BTCC at Silverstone, WSBK at Donington Park
  • 1999: BSB at Silverstone, Rally GB
  • 2000: Santa Pod, BSB at Cadwell Park & Mallory Park
  • 2001: BSB at Oulton Park, WSBK at Donington Park & Brands Hatch, British MotoGP
  • 2002: WSBK at Brands Hatch, BSB at Mallory Park & Donington Park
  • 2003: WSBK at Silverstone, British MotoGP, BSB at Cadwell Park
  • 2004: BSB at Silverstone, WSBK at Silverstone & Brands Hatch, British MotoGP
  • 2006: British MotoGP, BSB at Silverstone
  • 2007: British MotoGP
  • 2008: British MotoGP
  • 2010: F1 British GP
  • 2011: F1 British GP, Isle of Man Southern 100
  • 2012: BTCC at Donington Park, Silverstone 6 Hours
  • 2013: F1 British GP, British MotoGP
  • 2014: BTCC at Thruxton, F1 British GP
  • 2015: Silverstone 6 Hours, BTCC at Oulton Park, Formula E Testing
  • 2016: Isle of Man TT, Goodwood Festival of Speed, BTCC at Brands Hatch
  • 2017: F1 Belgian GP
  • 2018: Brands Hatch Masters Historic Festival, BSB at Silverstone, BTCC at Silverstone, Wales Rally GB
  • 2019: BSB at Donington Park & Oulton Park, BTCC at Thruxton, Wales Rally GB
  • 2020: Donington Park Masters Historic
  • 2021: Neil Howard Stages, F1 British GP (Fri only)
  • 2022: Donington Park Masters Historic, WSBK UK Round, BSB at Cadwell Park, BTCC at Brands Hatch
  • 2023: Brands Hatch Masters Historic Festival, BTCC at Thruxton, BSB at Brands Hatch

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