24 Hours

It’s count down to the start at 4.00pm Sarthe time. 35 sinuous kilomètres of French country roads to Le Mans, one last chance to shake down the Aston Martin - giddy speed on public roads all above board in 1959.
I’ve just had a grand noir and croissant at the table occupied by Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori on the dawn of les Vingt Quatre Heures those 59 years ago. They were not to know that a day later oil smudged faces they’d be triumphant - instant heros to that young schoolboy - indelible giants for ever engrained in his hall of fame.