No to insomnia. A lot of my work is based in the US which is seven hours behind, so I work late by UK standards. I should be working now, but slot cars are more interesting late on a Saturday evening...
Re: pictures. I was dragged round UK racing circuits every weekend during the 60s and early 70s while my dad raced cars. I saw a lot of these cars race and although my childhood memories are vague, when helped by Google I can usually find the right pictures. I'm still kicking myself that I didn't check the details of Scalextric's proposed model thoroughly before pre-ordering. I should have known better than to trust their website.
The Escorts are a particular favourite of mine. Dad raced a Mini Cooper S, a Lotus Cortina (I think), a couple of AC Cobras including the famous GPG 4C, then cut up a Diva GT and built a Clubmans car. Our neighbour had a big arched Escort and I was always so envious of him when I saw it in his garage, wishing my dad would race one of those instead!
I recently came across these photos at home:
Brands Hatch, exiting the club circuit to join the Grand Prix loop.
I don't remember what or when the event was, but I do remember needing to keep well out of the way that afternoon because tempers were a bit frayed after this crash. These cars weren't cheap then, but are worth a heck of a lot more now.
Me (in the middle), my brother and sister at Lydden with dad's Clubmans car (the one I wished he'd get rid of and replace with a big arched Escort!).
Commercial sponsorship wasn't yet widespread, he was sponsored by Castrol and my friends were forever scrounging Castrol stickers and stripes. To look at this picture now, it all looks so amateurish and muddy, yet this car won an award for "Best Presented Car" or some such and was displayed in a Park Lane, London hotel at an awards ceremony. Its body was thin gauge aluminium and I can still remember my dad moaning after it was returned from display with a few minor panel dents that they were the fault of "all the bloody dolly birds climbing all over it for photos." Different times, eh?!