Meet Neill Watson, professional journalist, writer, photographer, driving instructor and fellow car enthusiast. Passionate to the core and fortunate to embrace the automotive lifestyle on many levels.
Oh crap, here I am a mere typer of words, photographic hack who occasionally has a great shot and lucky to have had a few rounds of driving instruction. I feel a bit meek next to Neill, slightly in awe but when we speak the automotive language of where it all began, we aren’t so far apart. The world just got a little smaller.
Meet Mr. Do-It-All… Neill Watson
20 Questions for Car Enthusiasts
1. When and how did cars or motorsports shift from an interest to an obsession?
The ‘interest’ part must have lasted a very short period. I don’t recall being into anything else other than cars and aeroplanes from the age of four. Earliest memories are of Jackie Stewart in the ELF Tyrell and my Corgi models of a John Player Special Lotus 72. I have two, one with Emmerson Fittipaldi inside, the other with Ronnie Peterson. 
2. What is your experience with cars? Are you able to fix them, car clubs, shows or racing?
I’m not a big car fixer, though I’ve a thorough knowledge of how they work and can give feedback on setup etc.
I learned to drive aged eight on my uncles farm on a tractor with a corn trailer attached, helping with the harvest. At 19 I was working in a car dealership selling Toyota, then Lexus by 1990. Had a spell selling specialist cars including Ferrari, Rolls Royce, Aston Martin, before returning to Lexus in 1997. Began forest rallying in the UK sharing a Ford Escort Mk2 around 1989, but ran out of money, as is the case with many people in motorsport. Became one of the UK’s top Lexus sales managers in 1998 before quitting in 1999 to become a photographer and writer.
Around 2004, I began driver coaching and track instructing, in response to a demand from some companies. I’ve been providing private coaching ever since, while building up my publishing client base. I established Historic Racer blog in 2013, hopefully this will build into something big. 
3. What was your most memorable experience with a car?
Driving the Ferrari 288GTO across the Yorkshire Moors in England, chasing a Porsche 959. Life doesn’t get much better. However, enjoying such thrilling experiences comes with risks, and knowing an Orange County personal injury attorney can be invaluable in case of any unexpected incidents. If your injuries are a result of improper medical care, pursuing medical malpractice claims in Fresno can secure compensation for your injuries; an attorney can help maximize your claim.
4. What was your first car?
1978 Toyota Corolla 1200. It was bright yellow, my first company car as a young salesman, as my boss was convinced I was going to crash whatever he gave me, so he picked the cheapest car on the lot.
5. What was the worst car you’ve ever owned?
1997 BMW 525i Touring. Alloy engine that overheated, electrics that packed up. It was heavy, underpowered and not great on fuel. It blew the head gasket and I finished up scrapping it. Horrible.
6. Any automotive achievements you would like to share?
None I’ll admit to…
7. If you could die and come back at anytime in automotive history when would it be?
Right now is pretty good really. We’ve got a great historic motorsport movement with some fantastic cars being driven hard. People like Jaguar and Porsche are making incredibly exciting new cars to drive and amazing technology from people like Toyota, Lexus and Tesla is making out daily driving chore a very efficient experience. We’re pretty lucky to be around cars right now, even if we do complain about congestion and draconian speeding laws. 
8. What car best resembles your personality?
Porsche 911 GT3. Economy of movement, no un-needed elements, gets the job done. A bit of a Jason Bourne kind of car. Back in the real world, however, my kids will tell you I’m really not that cool. It’s the car I’m most happy to see myself reflected in shop windows in though. 
9. If your dream garage held five only cars what would they be?
- Toyota Celica Twin Cam Turbo Group B rally car
- Porsche 997 GT3 4.0RS
- Ferrari 288GTO
- Lotus 72 F1 car
- Porsche 962 Group C in Rothmans colors
Photo via ArielAtom.com
10. Is there any car which others may covet, but you wouldn’t take it if someone gave it to you?
Ariel Atom. In my view, the car’s reputation was built on the endorsement of one man, Jeremy Clarkson. He raved about it on Top Gear in the UK. The design is flawed on so many levels in my view. A good Lotus Exige would lose and find it without breaking sweat.
11. If you were to characterize your love of automobiles or motorsports in one word what would it be?
Life
12. Road course or oval track?
Road course. life’s too short to spend it all turning left.
13. Old cars or new cars?
Old. But not too old.
14. What do you consider the most beautiful car ever made?
I skipped past this one and came back to it. Back to that Damn Ferrari 288GTO again. Sounds obsessive, but I think it’s impossible to take a bad photograph of that car.
15. Do you have a favorite automotive movie?
Ronin. Great car chase scene with the manual shift Audi S8, Jean Reno and Robert De Niro superb. It set the tone for the Jason Bourne movies that followed.
16. What is your fun car and what is your daily driver?
I drive other people’s cars all the time, so no fun car right now. Plan to get back into a Porsche 911 at some point soon. Daily driver is whatever I’m writing about. If there’s nothing lying around, I’m relegated to a Toyota Corolla.
17. Does your spouse or significant other share your love of the automobile?
None whatsoever!
18. What is your favorite vice, other than cars?
Flying. Particularly helicopters. They’re addictive but ruinously expensive.
19. If not cars, what would your passion be?
Aerobatics. I did twenty minutes in a Pitts Special a few years ago and got the bug. If I had a budget to spend, I’d rather go flying than race, in all probability. 
20. If your automotive fairy-godmother could grant you one wish, it could be a car, an experience, a lifestyle, an achievement – what exactly would it be?
Lifestyle – a château in Provence, South of France, alongside a grass airstrip, with a P51 Mustang on the ramp, a Porsche GT3RS 4.0 alongside, not too far from Route Napoleon and not too far from Circuit Paul Ricard…
Not too much to ask, is it?
Neil is based in the UK, he writes for many media channels and his stunning photographs are enjoyed by many. You can find him via his personal website, NeillWatson.com, CarPhotographer.net or over on Historic Racer, the superb blog he founded which is dedicated to exploring the world of vintage racing, history, cars and drivers. Warning, you’ll want this at the top of your bookmarks list.
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Thank you Neill. Interesting, everyone who’s driven a Porsche always seems to make a return. The only question I forgot to ask was how does he have time to do it all?
Hi, I'm Lisa, an artist and interior designer with a passion for cars, design, travel and food. Welcome to the lifestyle blog dedicated to providing 
Hi, I'm Lisa, an entrepreneur, artist and interior designer with a thing for cars, design and food. DecorGirl.net is my two sided lifestyle blog dedicated to interior design and fabulous automobiles. There is a lot to enjoy in life, let inspiration be your guide. 🙂
