About Me

Who are you?

Dominic Coleman, and I live in North Dorset, England, with my wife and son.

… and your job?

I’m an interactive graphic designer working in a government department.

What is the earliest automotive memory?

Being driven home in the back of a purple Mk1 Ford Capri with a black vinyl roof and rear window slats! I was about 5 years old then and the car belonged to a neighbour.

How did the interest in cars begin?

I used to draw cars and vans, giving them mural and graphic paint jobs, but it evolved more from my first purchase of Custom Car magazine in April 1983 and then Street Machine (RIP) and Chrome and Flames (excellent for bedroom wallpaper). Street Machine was the only mag I bought continuously for 20 years until its demise in 2004.

… and drag racing?

I remember reading the drag racing reports in Custom Car, and being fascinated by the US stuff and colour pictures. Then a flyer in the local newspaper advertised drag racing at Blackbushe airport so I badgered Dad to take me along, this being May 1983. I went twice more and Dragfest September 1984 was my last visit to Blackbushe and the drags for a while.

Did any one help nurture this interest?

None of my family was interested, except that I had a grandfather who was an engineer but he passed away early on in my interest. John Hunt, who worked at a transmission shop in Aldershot, gave encouragement after we talked at a show in Guildford where he was displaying his ‘Gold Digger’ dragster. I even had Dave Wilson’s (Krypton TAD or lately American Imports TMD) phone number at one time, but he was never in. I moved from the Frimley/Camberley area in 1985 and all links were lost, even Custom Car magazine went off track (around 86-87) so I stopped buying that.

What about other car interests?

I became a member of Capri Club International from 1989 to ‘98, the most memorable Capri shows being Brean ‘89, CC Summer Camp ‘94/’95/’96 and Capri Mania ‘96. For the next 4-5 years it was Ford Fair, Capri Club and classic car shows that I attended as a member of various Capri Clubs (Dorset, Hampshire, Thames Valley, South Dorset and Avalon). I had some of my best moments in life with the Avalon Capri Club, but that’s another story. I also watched British Touring Car and historic car racing at Thruxton a few times but circuit racing didn’t really appeal to me. Surrey Street Rodders’ Wheels Day has been on my agenda yearly since 1994.

So, what are your favourite cars?

I like 60s/70s UK Fords and American muscle cars. I love the look of the Zakspeed Capri Gp5 racer from the late ‘70s to early ‘80s and the Sierra RS500. Something more modern would be a Dodge Viper GTS or TVR Chimera.

Are there any memorable automotive moments?

Witnessing John Sleath’s Audi hit 180mph on the quarter mile at the UK Nationals (Oct 2004) in Street Eliminator (treads, mufflers etc...) and Tommy Möller’s 308mph at Santa Pod, May 2005. Prior to that, writing off my MkII Capri @ 50mph without incurring an injury.

What lies ahead as from 2009?

The Beetle has made it on to the to do list yet with some tentative work started back in April 2008 and resumed again in April 2009. However, despite the 'little one' having had very good experiences at the Summer Nationals (Santa Pod) and Open Sport Nats (Shakespeare County Raceway) last year, it's likely that finances will dictate that we're unable to go to many drag races this year.