SCHOOLBOY Mark Farrell, 13, is following in his father Peter's tyre-tracks as king of the track at Standlake Arena.

Mark, who is a paper boy and part-time Oxford Mail delivery boy of Ickford Road, Tiddington, near Thame, comes from a family once dubbed 'The Flying Farrells'.

Mark's dad Peter was the South East Grass Track hot rod champion and his uncle Eugene was the Standlake Arena hot rod championship.

Mark is a chip off the old block and races a 1,000cc Mini at South East Grass Track events for juniors. He has been driving since the age of 11 and has won 30 trophies. And keeping it in the family, his 15-year-old sister Lorna has also taken up racing!

Mark's four cars were restored by his dad Peter, an engineer who works for garden manufacturers Countax at Great Haseley. His sponsors include Hawkes Motorsport, Farrell Fabrication and H.R Mead Scrap Metals and Mark is eternally grateful for the efforts of his mechanic Robert Day, known as 'Snowy'. His mother Lynn said: "We're very proud of Mark and Lorna."

Here Mark tells Me and My Motor about his mean machine:

Does your car have a pet name?

Samantha, because that is the name of the car driven by my favourite stock car racing driver Frankie Weynman Jr.

Likes/dislikes about your motor?

Likes: It has a brilliant paint job and a very quick but smooth engine. Dislikes: None.

What has been your best moment?

Seeing my new car when it had been finished, so my sister Lorna could have my old car to race.

Who'd be your ideal driving companion?

Jacques Villeneuve, because he's my favourite Formula One driver and could teach me something.

What has been your worst moment?

Smashing up my second car and crashing my new car for the first time.

If you won the National Lottery, what car would you buy and why?

A Dodge Viper.

What does your car say about you?

I'm stylish, glamorous and a good driver.

Any anecdotes you'd like to share?

When we're racing, we get up to speeds of about 60mph, but I don't feel scared at all. I'm strapped in and my dad has built a roll cage. The engines are specially tuned and you only use first and second gears. When I started, my dad was a passenger in the car, but now I race solo. It's great. My ambition is to be a Formula One driver.

DO you want to tell us about your wheels? There's a free road atlas for every reader taking part. Just call motoring editor Roy Cooper on 01865 425472 and ask for a free Me & My Motor form.

Story date: Friday 19 February

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.