THE PAINT SHOP PART 4

After a few more minor mistakes since mistiming his handbrake slide in my customer’s 1960s Mini and simultaneously wrecking the phone booth and the front of the Mini, nephew Pete Duxfield – by this time it was 1982 and Pete was 15 – had become an entirely proficient little driver. He got his driving licence when all it took was 10 bucks and a drive around the block, and now there was no stopping the budding lunatic. Anytime my back was turned, it was the ongoing ‘Excellent Adventures of Rod and Pete’, including them having drag races up and down Hinau Street in customers’ cars, instead of Rod and Tony.

Late one weeknight, Pete and then brother-in-law/staff-member/protege/friend Rodney Holland were hooning up the road together trying out a customer’s car, going way