EXCITED: Castle Combe Circuit owner Howard Strawford on the grid with the starting flag at Castle Combe circuit which opens for the new season on Easter Monday, March 24, for the Classic Saloon race day

Castle Combe owner Howard Strawford says his anticipation and enthusiasm is the same as when he took over 33 years ago.

The 72-year-old has been in charge of the circuit, with wife Pat, since 1975 and remains as committed as ever.

Just like a schoolboy, his zeal for the sport is obvious, as he gets ready for the season, which starts on Easter Monday, March 24.

"The passion and the feeling for the circuit is still as it was and I think many people share my views because they keep coming to the circuit," he said.

"The buzz of seeing them all turn up before the race and performing at our arena is fantastic.

"The sound of the engines when the drivers are all revving up is brilliant."

With the former bakers' eagerness ahead of the season far from waning he believes he is justified in saying Castle Combe is one of the best circuits in the country.

"I honestly think it is," he said. "It has been proved all over the years because drivers keep coming back.

"Different generations of drivers are also coming for the first time, so we must be doing something right.

"I should be modest about it but we have the mix right. We have 37 entries for every race of our championships and people understand we look after the drivers and they can't beat coming to us."

The Welshman's confidence in the Castle Combe experience' comes from knowing every inch of the circuit and having worked his way up the ladder, after starting as a steward. He said: "I joined the local motor club in Swansea and I was there for ten years.

"Over that time I competed in more and more things.

"Eventually I sold my business and moved over here. I got a job working in Cheltenham and I was then offered a promotion to move to the West Country in the early Sixties.

"I hadn't been here for 24 hours when somebody in the RAC phoned asking me to steward at Castle Combe.

"I had done stewarding in Llandow in Wales so I said yes. It was very short notice but I went and never looked back.

"At the start we didn't know what the future was going to be like and now the future is completely assured and it is superb."

2:44pm Thursday 28th February 2008

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