Two brothers from Melton Mowbray have embarked on an extraordinary journey to honour their father’s memory by locating the racing car that first ignited their passion for motorsport.
Henry and Will Sharpe successfully tracked down their late father Andy’s 1956 Austin A35, a vehicle the family had not laid eyes upon since the 1980s.
Andy Sharpe, who continued racing until the age of 74, passed away in January due to complications arising from Parkinson’s disease.
“That was the first time we had petrol going through our veins,” Henry told the BBC. “That’s what kicked it all off.”
The Sharpe brothers recall with vivid clarity the day their father took to the track at Snetterton Circuit in Norfolk in 1988.
That maiden outing proved fateful when Andy rolled the racing green saloon before reaching the chequered flag.
Lacking both the technical knowledge and financial resources to restore the damaged vehicle, he made the difficult decision to part with it.
Will, then a 16-year-old, remembers the occasion fondly.
Henry and Will Sharpe successfully tracked down their late father Andy’s 1956 Austin A35
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“It was a proud moment because you’re seeing your dad after talking about something he wanted to do, actually putting it into action,” he said.
“Being there with my younger brother and girlfriend at the time, it was amazing to see. I was very proud of him.”
Following their father’s death earlier this year, the brothers channelled their grief into a determined quest to recover the cherished vehicle.
“As part of the grieving process, we took it upon ourselves to try and find this car again,” Will explained.
Henry described the profound emotional impact of their discovery.
“Any kind of attachment you’ve got with your dad not being here, you try and get everything back as best as you can,” he said. “When we found it, I rang Will straight away and I cried.”
The previous owner, who had possessed the Austin for a quarter of a century, agreed to sell once his own racing days concluded.
Working alongside local race engineer Mark Wright, the brothers meticulously restored the classic saloon to its former glory.
Henry expressed amazement that the vehicle had endured through the decades, likely retaining its original body panels.
“Dad’s spirit will be in there somewhere,” he reflected.
Next month, the brothers will compete in the Classic Sports Car Club event at Mallory Park on 18 April, each completing 20 laps around the Leicestershire circuit where their father’s ashes have been scattered.
Their mother Lesley, who herself lives with Parkinson’s, will attend alongside four other brothers to gather donations for Parkinson’s UK.
Will confirmed the occasion would become an annual family tradition.
“That’ll be our meeting place and another memory to have,” he said.