ON the first day Ray Robb took his bright yellow racing car onto the track he made the front page of The Evening Star - by crashing.But nearly 44 years on the 60-year-old is now hoping that the man following in his footsteps, his friend Alan Kilner, will have better luck.

ON the first day Ray Robb took his bright yellow racing car onto the track he made the front page of The Evening Star - by crashing.

But nearly 44 years on the 60-year-old is now hoping that the man following in his footsteps, his friend Alan Kilner, will have better luck.

Mr Kilner decided he wanted to get his hands on a Hillman Minx car after he saw one at a race meeting, and once he saw pictures of Mr Robb's model he was determined to recreate the old classic.

The joint owner of A & D Motors, Kesgrave, said: “It looked like such an exciting car so I brought an old Hillman Minx from an online auction site.

“It took a lot of work to get it looking like this though.

“We couldn't always get the exact parts so we had to use similar bits from other cars instead.”

But Mr Robb, who lives in Bruisyard, said he was convinced the new model was far superior to the one he had driven.

He said: “I always loved racing and this was the first car I did up, but I must admit it didn't last very long.

“And during my first race I was involved in an accident, though I wasn't hurt and on the same day Stirling Moss had an accident so it can't be all bad!”

But he said he was lucky to have any car at all at the time and added: “Cars were scarce at the time, not many people had them.

“But my Hillman wouldn't have been new and someone probably gave it to me which was absolutely brilliant for a teenager.

“There was a real buzz whenever I raced and it is particularly special to see the first car I ever raced recreated.

“And although I can't be the one behind the wheel on Monday I will be cheering Alan on.”

The new replica of the old car will be raced against other historic cars by Mr Kilner on Monday at Foxhall Stadium.

Mr Kilner said he was really looking forward to the event but had no idea how well the car would do.

He added: “I certainly hope it will be more successful than it was the first time Ray raced.

“It certainly has been built stronger than the original.”

The race of the historic cars is taking place the Foxhall Stadium from 2.30pm on Easter Monday. Tickets cost £11 for adults and £4 for children.

Do you remember seeing Mr Robb crash on April 24, 1962? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail at eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.