PAUL EASTER: BELIEVING IN LUCK
Paul Easter recently talked to MiniWorld about his career and, in particular, how he rose to be one of the most celebrated rally co-drivers of all time. “I am a great believer in luck,” reflects Paul, rather modestly. “In the beginning I climbed the tree entering local club rallies and racing and this very quickly led to my becoming a member of the hugely successful BMC Competitions Team.
“I was surrounded by great drivers such as Timo Mäkinen, Rauno Aaltonen and Paddy Hopkirk, legendary co-drivers like Henry Liddon and Tony Ambrose, and incomparable mechanics, all managed by Stuart Turner.” Better yet, it was supported by a substantial budget. In 1967 it amounted to some £200,000!
Paul was born in a snow storm (significantly) in January 1939 in Tottenham, North London. “During WWII my father was a civil engineer. Then, in 1954, he bought a garage business in Old Stratford near what is now Milton Keynes. Walking in to the workshops for the first time I can remember thinking: ‘this looks interesting’.” It was where Paul prepared the cars in which he honed his competitive racing and rally driving skills.
“During my formative years in London I became a keen cyclist and joined the Southgate Cycling Club. In 1954 and 1955 I began taking things more seriously, entering time trials covering 10, 25 and 30 miles. Recently, I found my old cyclist diary from 1955 in which I’d logged each ride. I’d cover around 6,000 miles annually, the previous year totalling some 5,704 miles.”
By his mid teens Paul was taking a keen interest in his father’s business and began driving long before his 17th birthday.
