Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason is well-known for his automotive enthusiasm. The rock star owns an impressive collection of priceless cars and even race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans five times during his band’s heyday in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Mason passed the racing torch on to his daughter, Holly Mason-Franchitti, who runs like hell in a vintage Austin A35 in England at races that include the Goodwood Revival. Here, she gives a quick walkaround of her pink Austin that is named, of course, Floyd.
The car’s restoration mechanic, Ben de Chair, explains in the video that the car was restored from a worn-out, rusty road car and told Mason-Franchitti it could painted any colour you like. It was painted pink at Mason-Franchitti’s request, though de Chair came up with the car’s name. Aside from the paint, racing stripes, roll cage, racing seat, and a few relocated gauges, it’s an original Austin. And if Mason’s hyphenated last name sounds familiar, that’s because she’s married to Ford GT factory driver Marino Franchitti, who is also usually hanging around Goodwood with his brother Dario.
Holly is certainly no hanger-on who meddles in racing, though; she’s clearly very quick in her own right, tossing the Austin around Goodwood with real fervor.
Shine on, you crazy diamond….
I bet this little gem isn’t powered by an asthmatic 803 cc A series motor!
More like a full race 1340 cc version with maybe a huge Weber sidedraught and a straight cut racing gearbox. Holly’s hubbie appears to be the great Dario
Franchitti who no doubt gave her valuable tips on how to carve up the bigger opposition and she’ll do a great job I’m sure! We call these little gems Peanuts and I’ve seen a couple that were turned into mini-gassers complete with blown V8s – I’d like to see Holly blast one of those down the strip..
Geordie, read the article brother .shes married to Dario’s brother