Freddie Sharvell

I want to make it plain, this is not a driver feature – mainly because I have never had the opportunity to see Freddie drive in person. Instead, this article is about what he has done for drifting in the south of England.

No, Freddie hasn't transformed it or made a colossal impact, but what he has done is very meaningful: he's given people a means to go drifting. Not through opening tracks or anything, but through his no bullshit approach to building cars.

I can't remember ever speaking to him without feeling I need to learn more. That's not a bad thing, he's just really knowledgeable. Every little bit of input he has ever given me has been given with a reason. No word from him has ever been wasted in conversation with me or most of my friends. He knows I have talked a lot of rubbish in the past (I still do, less so, but still). If ever I have been talking rubbish, he's just stopped talking.

It sounds blunt, and a bit rude. But if the conversation isn't benefiting him or me, why partake? This 'take no shit' attitude has impacted a lot of people in the south of the UK. If you need info or parts, message Freddie, and if it's not resolved in six messages then you're either asking the wrong question or it's a stupid idea.

Freddie is one heck of an all-rounder. He can drive, wrench and paint, and if you want a drift car built properly with no frills, he really is the man. He's a massive lover of the S chassis but doesn't discriminate – I’ve seen him mess around with BMWs and Toyotas too.

He isn't exclusively about drifting either. He will build you a track car, paint your daily or advise you on the correct suspension for your needs. But he's not free; if you're good at something, never do it for free. That said, he's not expensive either – for the quality of work you get and the effort he puts in, if anything he's cheap.

This is how he's benefited the south of the UK: by offering sound advice and an affordable route to an amazing car. I really can't recommend his services enough. He's got links with all the big UK players and really has tried everything. He knows what works, not through logic and science, but cold hard facts. He's tried it all, so if he tells you your car is stupid don't get offended, ask why.

There is definitely something to be said for his attitude to cars, because he's made a successful career out of pretty much telling people they're wrong.

So, if you're in the south of England and want to know how to make your car better, ask for his input. You'll probably learn something important.

Thank you for reading. Please stay home, stay safe and stay sporty.

The original potato, Tom.

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