In the spotlight: Gary Hand

25^thJune

My name is Gary, from Harlow Town that`s about 17 miles outside London. I am 47 years old, married and one son who both enjoy motorsport as much as I do.

I play the Drums, my musical taste range from The Rolling Stones, The Clash, Sex Pistols, Hanoi Rocks..etc..but really anything goes.

My love for photography started when I was at secondary school, I took this option instead of art, which I also enjoyed but I wanted to put my hand to a different art form. This was around 1978-79.

I have always loved motorsport and cars. As a young child I would sit in the back of our family car to and from our family day trips naming or trying to name the cars that passed in the opposite lane. This would drive my parents mad. My Father also liked his cars, but I seemed to take it to another level.

My first memory of motorsport was when my father took me to Brands Hatch during in the mid 1970`s. I remember James Hunt was racing. Can`t remember much more about that day. But I remember being very excited.

I also remember being given a load of these McLaren stickers from that event of the F1 car that raced on that day, and when I got home I stuck these stickers all over the house. My mother was not pleased. My Father got told off him self for allowing me to have these stickers in the first place. It was alright for him, because at the time my parents had separated and he could leave where as I could not. I did not hear the end of it for the rest of that day and night.

I`m a big fan of MG`s, past and present. I`ve owed a 1970 MGB GT, but my favorite car was my MG ZS180. A very understated motor car. I crashed it it the Dartford Tunnel coming home from Brands Hatch in 2010 after attending the Superleague Formula / Group C event.

I`m also a fan of fast Fords. I own many Fords from Mk2 Escorts, an XR3, XR2, and the lovely but rare RS1800i Fiesta.

I am not sure why automotive/motorsport photography appeals to me. My love for cars and photography, the speed, capturing the memory of the day at events, because as we get old memories get lost but a photograph can last forever. I`m also doing the two things I love most in the world (apart from my family) at the same time, but the ultimate goal must be to make some kind of living from it as well. If not a living to be able to earn some pocket money. To work doing the two things you have a passion for that has got to be everyone’s wish.

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