• Skip to main content

Neill Watson

Writer, Photographer, Self Publisher, Digital Strategist

  • Start Here!
  • About Neill
    • Licensing
  • Work With Neill
  • Blog
    • Neill’s Journal
    • Drive
    • Stories
    • Neill on Writing
    • Photography
    • Digital Marketing
    • Travel
    • Historic Racer
    • #Porsche
  • Stories
  • Shop
  • Contact
You are here » Drive

Drive - Automotive Thoughts and The Process of Driving

I've worked in the automotive and motorsport industries for several decades, from selling specialist cars to working as a freelance writer and, for more than a decade, as a professional track driver coach.
Today, automotive work forms a smaller part of my life. However, the driving element of my life still forms a strong creative outlet for me.

While for many, driving is an evil to be endured, to get to and from work. For me, on the right roads, in the right car, on the right day, it forms a vital part of my creative output.

It's also one of the places in my life where I achieve 'flow', a subject I will be writing much more about.

Driving Tips – Why Learning to Drive a Porsche 911 Takes a Little Time

By Neill Watson 1 Comment

Some people look at me in a very strange manner when the subject of Porsche 911 driving techniques are mentioned. There’s actually a very large slice of people out there who just don’t ‘get it’. I … [Read more...] about Driving Tips – Why Learning to Drive a Porsche 911 Takes a Little Time

Filed Under: Drive

Three Porsche Drive Videos non-Porsche Owners Must Watch

By Neill Watson 2 Comments

If you are one of those drivers who doesn’t really ‘get’ the whole Porsche thing, then you must watch these three videos. People who are addicted to the Porsche 911 feel will know exactly what Richard … [Read more...] about Three Porsche Drive Videos non-Porsche Owners Must Watch

Filed Under: #Porsche, Drive, Track Driving and Driver Coaching Tagged With: #Porsche

Those California Backroads and Air Cooled Porsches

By Neill Watson Leave a Comment

I have to admit, when I visited Los Angeles a while ago, I was rather puzzled. I'd often read of the California air cooled Porsche scene, but driving around the streets of downtown LA, I couldn't … [Read more...] about Those California Backroads and Air Cooled Porsches

Filed Under: Drive Tagged With: #Porsche

Driving the Elva Mk7

By Neill Watson Leave a Comment

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]For many, the definitive 1960’s sports racing car was the Lotus 23 and 23B. The elegant lines represented everything that was desirable at the time of booming … [Read more...] about Driving the Elva Mk7

Filed Under: Drive, Historic Racer

Le Mans to Tours via that Mulsanne Straight

By Neill Watson Leave a Comment

Anyone who has visited the Le Mans Museum right alongside the circuit entrance will be left with a burning desire to go and investigate the Mulsanne Straight. The desire to own a grey Porsche 911, … [Read more...] about Le Mans to Tours via that Mulsanne Straight

Filed Under: Drive, Travel Tagged With: France

The New Porsche 911R – There’s Life in The Heel Toe Gearshift Yet.

By Neill Watson Leave a Comment

Just when I thought that the 997 GT3 4.0RS was quite probably the last definitive, cerebral Porsche 911, Andreas Peuninger’s team introduce the 911R. In an interview with Evo’s Henry Catchpole, … [Read more...] about The New Porsche 911R – There’s Life in The Heel Toe Gearshift Yet.

Filed Under: #Porsche, Drive Tagged With: #Porsche

On Track in The Charente – Circuite de Haute Saintonge in France

By Neill Watson 1 Comment

France has a rich history of motor racing and while the country did not have the huge number of redundant post war military airfields that started motorsport in the UK, if you're enjoying a driving … [Read more...] about On Track in The Charente – Circuite de Haute Saintonge in France

Filed Under: Drive Tagged With: France

Porsche Cayman GT4 Road Trip

By Neill Watson 2 Comments

We know several Porsche Cayman GT4 owners. Without exception,, they are of the traditional Porsche owning breed. While they have an eye for investment and they care for their cars, they are first and … [Read more...] about Porsche Cayman GT4 Road Trip

Filed Under: #Porsche, Drive Tagged With: #Porsche

Autodromo De Terramar – The Sleeping Legend

By Neill Watson Leave a Comment

It’s early, before 9:00am, but even in late September, the heat of the day is making itself felt in Catalonia. I’m in Sitges, just south of Barcelona in Spain, tracking down a circuit I’d heard … [Read more...] about Autodromo De Terramar – The Sleeping Legend

Filed Under: Drive, Stories, Travel

Jaguar F Type S Convertible

By Neill Watson Leave a Comment

The Dynamic Mode including Active Exhaust of the Jaguar F Type S stays set when you switch off the engine. Unlike many other cars with these options, your settings remain as you left them when you … [Read more...] about Jaguar F Type S Convertible

Filed Under: Drive

Brumos Porsche B59 – The Full Story of the Exclusive Porsche 911

By Neill Watson 2 Comments

Brumos have been in the Porsche business since 1959, both as certified dealers and one time South Eastern USA Porsche distributor in Jacksonville, Florida and also in motorsport as Brumos Racing. … [Read more...] about Brumos Porsche B59 – The Full Story of the Exclusive Porsche 911

Filed Under: #Porsche, Drive Tagged With: #Porsche

Racing in The Street

By Neill Watson Leave a Comment

It's been a while. A while since I drove an early, well sorted, lightweight 911. I seem to have spent to much of my time recently in 996 and 997 Turbos. Brutal power of course, with the thrill of the … [Read more...] about Racing in The Street

Filed Under: Drive Tagged With: #Porsche

Is This The World’s Rarest Porsche 959?

By Neill Watson 4 Comments

I first saw this car towards the end of 2011. I was visiting Specialist Cars of Malton, based in Yorkshire, UK, on the pretext of another car photo shoot. Owner John Hawkins gestures, "Here, let me … [Read more...] about Is This The World’s Rarest Porsche 959?

Filed Under: #Porsche, Drive Tagged With: #Porsche

Stealth Fighter – Driving the Jaguar XF Sportbrake

By Neill Watson Leave a Comment

OK here’s some interesting numbers. 2,000 rpm, 8th gear (yes, 8th), 95 mph, 41mpg.That’s the complete recipe for pan-European progress in the Jaguar XF Sportbrake 3.0 turbo diesel. I’m impressed and … [Read more...] about Stealth Fighter – Driving the Jaguar XF Sportbrake

Filed Under: Drive

Mr Blue Sky – Jaguar XKR-S Driven

By Neill Watson Leave a Comment

As the bright blue car burbled it's way into the distance, the exhaust was still set as I left it, popping and crackling in Dynamic Mode, the carbon blade rear wing slowly getting smaller, my driving … [Read more...] about Mr Blue Sky – Jaguar XKR-S Driven

Filed Under: Drive

Lexus RX450h Review – We take the F Sport to the historic motorsport town of Angouleme

By Neill Watson Leave a Comment

As I mentioned in the first part of our Lexus RX450h review, Twenty Minutes In post, I'd forgotten the unique feel of Lexus build quality. Even today, with the intense competition chasing the quality … [Read more...] about Lexus RX450h Review – We take the F Sport to the historic motorsport town of Angouleme

Filed Under: Drive

Lexus RX450h Review, Twenty Minutes In….

By Neill Watson Leave a Comment

I've been fortunate enough to be trusted with the keys to many different cars over the years. From Ferrari 288 GTO to Porsche 959, but I've never driven a hybrid. So the next ten days will be … [Read more...] about Lexus RX450h Review, Twenty Minutes In….

Filed Under: Drive

Driving in France? Better Be Ready To Blow

By Neill Watson Leave a Comment

This rather nifty and cost effective packet landed through the mail yesterday. There is an awful lot of smoke and mirrors right now about the latest legal requirements for carrying breathalysers when … [Read more...] about Driving in France? Better Be Ready To Blow

Filed Under: Drive Tagged With: France

Lucky Number Seven – 1968 Lola T140 F5000 On Track

By Neill Watson Leave a Comment

Remember when you were at school, bored, bored, bored? Gazing out of the window at that blue sky of 1976, your mind daydreaming away about racing cars until you're brought back into the room by the … [Read more...] about Lucky Number Seven – 1968 Lola T140 F5000 On Track

Filed Under: Drive

Ferrari 288GTO Driven

By Neill Watson Leave a Comment

The ignition key is tiny, with a black grip worn by the passage of time. The door key plain metal and even smaller. I scoop them up and walk towards it, bright red paint shining in the sunlight as … [Read more...] about Ferrari 288GTO Driven

Filed Under: Drive

1963 TVR Grantura Racer – All The Way From Australia

By Neill Watson Leave a Comment

Sitting in the sunshine at Lincolnshire's Blyton Park Circuit, the pretty TVR Grantura before us probably has more racing experience that all of the people here combined. One of only 90 Mk 3 cars … [Read more...] about 1963 TVR Grantura Racer – All The Way From Australia

Filed Under: Drive

Next Page »
  • About Neill
  • Licensing
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Copyright © 2021 Neill Watson and respective creators · Log in

Cookies

This site uses cookies More info