Silver Hatch or Brands Hatch

The boys know that Roary the racing car races around Silver Hatch race track. However en route to Brands Hatch this weekend to watch some car racing, the boys remind me that Silver Hatch rhymes with Brands Hatch. Tina was off to he Olympic fencing so me and the boys had a proper "boys" day out for some petrol head car racing!

The day was filled with various races in the Fiesta class, the Caterham's and some beetle racing. Josh and Brandon loved watching the racing and listening to the noise of the cars. They didn't stop smiling pretty much all day - even when we had a little rain shower.

My boys standing in the grand stand with druids bend on the background.

As we arrived the Beetle racing had already started.

I liked the blue and orange beetle, but he wasn't very good. Brandon liked the yellow beetle.

After the beetles the extremely fast Caterhams were out on the track.

The Caterhams provided some very entertaining racing and a few spins as well.

Little B enjoying the motor racing - petrol head in the making.

One of my work colleagues races in the Daniel's League Fiesta Cup and was at the Brands Hatch event this weekend. Joshua and Brandon soon recognised Pete's black and gold Fiesta on the track and were cheering it on each time it came past.

The Nr.12 Fiesta driven by Pete Lloyd zooming down Paddock.

Brandon was cheering for Pete, but he also wanted the yellow Fiesta to win.

Brandon standing at the apex of druids as a Fiesta comes screeching around the corner.

We went into the pit lane to see Pete and he was absolutely excellent with the two boys, He introduced himself and asked both of them their names. Then he got to work explaining to them all about his race car. He was telling them about the roll cage, why it has not seats, what the marks were on the steering wheel, why they have slick tyres etc. He even lifted the bonnet and showed them the engine and then let them sit in the car and try on the 5 point racing harness. 

Brandon getting some expert tuition in getting strapped into a racing bucket seat.

Brandon is a bit confused at the seat belt coming from between his legs and trys to figure out how it goes on.

Joshua climbing in and out of Pete's racing Fiesta.

Joshua and Brandon posing with Pete's Nr.12 Fiesta.

Walking around the paddock area we took a good look at the Caterham's. The boys had lots of questions like "why have they taken the steering wheels off?", "Why are the exhausts on the side?", "how do you get into them?" etc.etc. But once again no surprises that Brandon managed to seek out his favourite - yes a bright yellow one. 

Brandon with his favourite of the Caterham's.

We had a really good lads day out, a nice picnic, good racing and all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Anyway last but not least is a lovely picture of my two little petrol heads with Brands Hatch track behind them. 

On a final thought on the subject of cars: I have been somewhat amazed at Joshua's recent perception of different types of cars. For sometime now he has been able to recognise car shapes and makes and can identify all of the family's cars if he sees a similar model out on the road. However in the last two weeks he seems to have suddenly understood what old cars are and also fast cars. I am mythed by this, how does he understand this. I can slightly understand him being able to identify fast cars by the sleek shape and the noise, but how on earth does he know to recognise old car shapes? For example coming out of the garage the other day we saw an old Rover with the 3.5l V8 and he turned around and said, "That's an old car Dad!".