Ringmer man crashes car at Brighton Speed Trials

Jim Tiller lost control of his 1950 J2 Allard almost as soon as he left the starting line on Brighton’s Madeira Drive.

One of the wheels flew off and the car was wrecked.

Jim walked away from the crash without a scratch

Jim, who has been racing for more than 60 years, said: “I am absolutely fine considering what happened but my car has been totalled.

“The emergency services rushed to check me over but they couldn’t find a thing wrong so they had to release me. I’m a miracle man.

“I left the start line with a new engine with loads of power and the rear tyres were unable to hold it and were spinning.

“The car was going from side to side. I fought it for a while but it got out of control and I went straight into a Victorian cast iron lamp post.”

One of the car's wheels came off

Jim, who lives in Ringmer, has been taking part in the Speed Trials for decades and has won the “fastest car of the day” three times over the years.

The retired art teacher has been obsessed with racing cars nearly all his life.

He said: “My wife Sheila and I have owned the Allard for 64 years and I have raced it for 64 years. This was the biggest crash I have had but it won’t put me off. And we will rebuild the car.

“It’s been taken away on a breakdown because it only had three wheels left.

“Everything will have to be rebuilt, but it will be done.”

The Allard was totalled

Sheila, who is also a racing driver, missed the drama, arriving shortly after the car had been removed.

Jim said: “I told her it was her fault – she’s my lucky token and if she had been here earlier it wouldn’t have happened.

“We’re going to watch the rest of the experts now – it’s great weather for racing.”