This weekend saw me swap the special stages for the race track, as we launched SSTV, a new motor racing series put together by the team behind Special Stage rally TV.

Our first show would see us arrive at Castle Combe to film the 50th anniversary race weekend for the Historic Sports Car Club (HSCC). You can read my thoughts on the racing, and the HSCC on my blog over at Classics Driven, HERE.

Former Top Gear, and current Fifth Gear presenter, Tiff Needell was reunited with his original Formula Ford Lotus for the HSCC’s 50th anniversary, and given that Tiff is one of the inspirations for both my motorsport, and broadcasting ambitions, you can imagine how excited I was about filming with him.

On the race track, the highlight of the weekend’s programme was a chance to relive the very same track, and weekend fifty years ago, when historic sports car racing was first conceived at the Griffith Formula race. The grid from 1966 was recreated, as closely as possible, featuring some of the cars and drivers from the original race.

It turns out that the highlight of the race weekend would also end up being one of the highlights of my motoring TV career so far, as I lined up in the lead D-Type Jaguar to take part in the demonstration race.

While the crew filmed for the TV show, which you can see in a few weeks’ time on Sky Channel Motors TV and in HD online, I produced a live grid walk broadcast, as well as a live onboard film as I enjoyed a staggering historic racing experience in one of my all-time favourite cars.

As you can see above, one of our crew photographed me filming for the TV show, while broadcasting live on social media. A photo which, as my wife says, sums me up perfectly.

With edited footage produced through the live broadcast app Periscope, this is what it was like for our fans to follow the action with me as it unfolded…

As a founding member of the Special Stage team, I’m incredibly proud of what Wayne Goldring, Luke Harvey and myself came up with following our first meeting in Radnor Forest.

As fans of the show know, we live and breathe rallying. I started by competing in rallies, some of the team started as photographers, some as journalists, but we all started as motorsport fans.

Rallying remains my biggest passion – it’s where my motorsport story starts and ends, but racing also occupies a bit part of my heart. I – along with Special Stage – have been given an opportunity to produce a TV series from the pitlane. So Special Stage is going racing.

We’re launching SSTV with the 50th Anniversary of the Historic Sports Car Club (HSCC) race weekend at Castle Comb, with a range of historic series, including single seaters and touring cars.

We’ve got some great ideas for the series, and for how we can take what has given us a following in rallying, to the race paddock.

You’ll be able to watch the latest chapter in the Special Stage story unfold by following SSTV Race on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Follow me on Periscope to catch up with the latest live race and rally content, HERE.

I thought you might like to see my new promo film, produced for social media. You have such a short space of time to engage with, and get across a message to people.

So I challenged myself to get across what my films are all about, in under a minute.

I had a bit of help, too – our eight year old wanted to help with this project, so he filmed the opening shot, and the Special Stage TV Producer, Wayne Goldring got our drone up in the air to add another dimension.

I hope you enjoy it…

#CarFilms

The interest in classic cars across social media has never been greater. More people than ever are producing content, talking about classics, and sharing their experiences online.

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’ve seen one or two of the classic car films I’ve produced in association with Great Escape Cars.

In a moment of madness, sat in the office at the leading UK classic car hire company, I decided to set up a makeshift studio and do some live classic car chat, driven by interaction on Twitter.

Great Escape Cars MD, Graham Eason joined me for the broadcast, which was delivered via Periscope. We had some great questions posed by Twitter followers, ranging from what classic car we’d choose in the event of a zombie apocalypse, to what classic hire car has proved most troublesome (clue: 88mph!).

We’ve uploaded the broadcast to YouTube so you can check out what we chatted about. I’d really appreciate your feedback, either through this site, or Tweeted, so I can ensure we continue to make content YOU want to watch.

#CarFilms

My latest motoring column for lifestyle magazine, LOCO is out, and wow did I have a lot of choice for what to talk about this month.

From the Geneva Motorshow to filming an Ashes to Ashes Quattro, this month has had plenty of highlights. But Top Gear still rules the roost when it comes to media motoring noise, so I thought I’d join in.

It might look like name dropping, but I’ve called on my experiences of meeting two of the stars of the rebooted Top Gear series to give you alternative view of the hit BBC TV show.

Find out why, to me personally it’s important that the new Top Gear is a success, and why I think the more bad news, the better by reading the latest issue HERE.

I promise that quote didn’t make it into the script for my new film, but I feel better for using it in the title for my blog.

As you may have by now gathered (you certainly will if you follow me on Twitter), I have spent some time this week with an Audi UR Quattro, just like the one DCI Gene Hunt “fired up” in the hit BBC TV series, Ashes to Ashes.

Aside from the car’s more recently found fame, The Quattro has for almost 40 years been the star of its own show. Needless to say my new film features a healthy mix of road, and rally car action, thanks to the Special Stage TV Producer.

I’m delighted with the interest in the film already, and the reaction I’ve received to the advance previews I sent out (including Audi, whose PR Team got in touch asking to see the film!). You don’t have long to wait, but I hope this trailer gives you a taste of what you can expect…

One thing I’ve always tried to do while out on the stages, either when I’ve been competing, or presenting is show appreciation for the marshals. And now I’m part of a way to do that in a big way, thanks to Special Stage.

We realise that without the unsung heroes of our sport; the heroes who stand out in all conditions for the love of rallying, we wouldn’t have a TV show to shoot. We also realise that with our reach and profile, we’re perfectly placed to support the MSA and Go Motorsport in their efforts to recruit, train and maintain an army of willing marshals.

We’ve launched an initiative over at Special Stage, which will see a series of competitions involving people who have marshaled out on the stages during the year. The more times people marshal, the more times they can enter. It’s as simple as that.

We’ve already got a fantastic bundle of prizes, from rally DVDs to merchandise and clothing, and within minutes of announcing the initiative on Twitter, we were being sent offers of other prizes, including a ride on a feature rally stage in an ex works Subaru Impreza.

Great support, for a great initiative. I hope you’ll agree. Here’s the intro…

It’s not often – without the help of a certain BBC show – that motoring makes the national headlines, but this week it did, and my Capri film was on hand to help with the story.

Classic car investments are big money, and big news so it seems. Particularly when you step away from the high-end Ferraris and Lamborghinis and take a look at some of the more ‘humble’ cars smashing their reserve prices.

Take for example a Ford Capri for £54,000. Yes, you read that right. And if you can see dreams of heading down your favourite B-road in Ford’s oh-so-’80s wannabe grand tourer slipping away before your eyes, don’t look at what the Escort Cosworth went for. *Sigh*

Anyway, I was contacted by the Mail Online to ask if they could use my Ford Capri film in the feature. As it’s the very same model that sold for E-Type Jag money at auction, it fits perfectly.

I’m delighted to be playing my part in raising the profile of classic motoring to a National audience. Though as you can see, the cars are quite capable of doing that themselves these days.

You can read the article HERE.

In my latest motoring column for Yorkshire lifestyle magazine, LOCO I’ve been revisiting my Mk2 Jaguar film and talking about the inspiration behind my ’60s movie villain theme.

I’m delighted to share this issue with local music star Calum Scott; a talented musician from my local town who is really hitting the highlights at the moment. I first met Calum when I was introducing him on stage for a Superleague Rugby roadshow in Hull with KCFM, and we’ve both come a fair way since then.

In addition, the latest issue of LOCO Magazine sees me reunited with the star of one of my local food films, which combines artisan food with muscle cars, and features the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray from my film with Great Escape Cars. Tony Patrick’s ‘Macaron’ business is showcased in the mag.

You can read the latest copy of the magazine online, HERE.

It would normally terrify me, how quickly this year has gone so far. But what it does mean is the Footman James Manchester Classic Car Show will be upon us before we know it.

As I revealed on my blog recently, my deal with the show’s organisers will see me host elements of the event across the weekend, as well as producing content for social media, You Tube and television, too.

“Look out for Paul filming all weekend at the show, talking cars with owners and clubs and helping us with various presenting and hosting duties, including the awards for Clubs, Private Entries and The CodeClean Concours.”

Here’s the show’s official announcement about my involvement – CLICK HERE.

If you’re going to the show, I’d love to hear from you – Tweet me HERE.

Also, if you’ve got photos from previous years, I’d love to see those on Twitter too. Ticket, venue and all other details can be found on the Manchester Classic Car Show website.