Brothers track down dad's long-lost racing car

Two brothers have tracked down their late father's first racing car, which the family had not seen since he sold it following a crash in the 1980s.

Andy Sharpe, who died in January, raced cars until he was 74 but it was his first car, an Austin A35, that inspired a love of racing in his sons.

His son Henry Sharpe said: "That was the first time we had petrol going through our veins. That's what kicked it all off."

Next month they will race the car at Mallory Park, Leicestershire, to raise funds for Parkinson's UK.

The Sharpe brothers, from Melton Mowbray, said they would never forget the day their father raced his first classic car at Snetterton Circuit in Norfolk in 1988.

Unfortunately, Andy never made the finishing line after he rolled the 1956 Austin 35 racing green saloon.

The brothers said he realised he did not have the expertise or money to repair it, and sold it.

Will Sharpe, who was 16 at the time, said: "It was a proud moment because you're seeing your dad after talking about something he wanted to do actually putting it into action.

"And being there with my younger brother and girlfriend at the time it was amazing to see. I was very proud of him."

The brothers said they began their search for the racing car after their father died from complications due to Parkinson's earlier this year.

Will said: "As part of the grieving process we took it upon ourselves to try and find this car again."

Henry said: "Any kind of attachment you've got with your dad not being here you try and get everything back as best as you can.

"When we found it, I rang Will straight away and I cried."

The owner had kept it for 25 years, and with his racing days behind him agreed to sell the Austin to the brothers.

The brothers along with race engineer, Mark Wright, from Melton Mowbray, restored the car and will race it at Mallory Park, where Andy's ashes are scattered.

Henry said: "It's absolutely unbelievable that it's survived all these years probably with the same body panels because it looks like the original ones, and dad's spirit will be in there somewhere."

The brothers will each race 20 laps in the Classic Sports Car Club event on 18 April where they will be joined by their mother Lesley Sharpe, and their four other brothers.

Lesley, who also has Parkinson's disease, will be collecting donations for Parkinson's UK alongside her family.

Will added: "We will all be going to Mallory Park with friends, with family and it will become an annual thing.

"That'll be our meeting place and another memory to have."

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