Oulton Park - 14th April 2007 - Round 1

Like father like son is a phrase often used to describe various traits passed on through generations.

For the Terry clan it's a phrase which might well have been penned on their behalf.

Dad Mark is a former champion karter who only last weekend made a cracking debut in Formula 3. Sons Ryan (13) and Rhys (11 this Sunday) have taken up the kart cudgel from the old feller. And have shown they have ability on four wheels too.

Rhys claimed three second places and wound up second in the Buckmore Park Cadet Championship final last weekend. Big brother Ryan contested the junior championship and was second in the C final.

Mark, meanwhile, was having his first taste of F3 racing in the first round of the Enterprise Championship at Oulton Park.

He didn't have especially good vibes about the venue - in three previous meetings there he'd never finished - but he had an OK practice on Friday and with new tyres on was sixth in qualifying.

The 45-year old, from Walderslade, was still sixth when two other cars crashed and the race was red-flagged about halfway through.

Back to the start then, and he was this time fifth on the grid.

By the time the races had reached the first corner, Terry was second. He had squeezed past Keith Baldwin (who started on pole) and tucked in behind leader John Gray.

Unfortunately, he made a couple of minor mistakes and dropped back to fourth. Which is where he finished.

"I was definitely satisfied," he said. "I was looking to the top five and knew that if I finished higher all the better. I know I can cut out the little mistakes in gear changing and I reckon I will have learned a lot for the next race."

"And I'm delighted to have ended the Oulton jinx".

"The first time I raced there I wound up in hospital, I crashed the second time and on the third occasion the engine cut out. To actually finish was an achievement. Not a bad debut, that."

Terry is still racing for Reon Motorsport and has received a good deal of backing from Aone Scanning Bureau.

He had to find a fair bit of money to compete in the championship for cars which are at least two years old, but on the evidence of this first outing the gamble has every chance of paying off.

Next up is a double header at Pembrey, South Wales, in a month's time. A similar set of results will do him fine.

In between, it's up to Buckmore Park to give his sons the benefit of his advice.

If they have as much success as he did he's gonna be one happy dad.