It was Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman who wrote the song ‘Wheels’ – best known for the version on Emmylou Harris’ superb Elite Hotel album. “We’ve all got wheels, to take ourselves away/ We’ve got the telephone to say what we can’t say,” Emmylou sang. And anyone who had ever sat behind the wheel of a car knew what she meant. Cars have always provided a way of escaping, occasionally even from ourselves.

The mythology of cars is stitched into the very heart of rock’n’roll. The Beach Boys introduced us to the glamour of hot girls in even hotter T-Birds. Chuck Berry regaled us with lascivious tales of “Riding along in my automobile/ My baby beside me at the wheel...” The Rolling Stones invited us into their Black Limousine. Prince sang about his Little Red Corvette. And Bruce Springsteen evoked a world of 69 Chevvies and beat-up Fords, with the protagonists settling their differences by going head to head, racing in the streets.
Against that background of sex and cars and rock 'n' roll, we thought it was time to look at the motors that turn-on some of the best known people in the Irish media, entertainment and music business – and to discuss their love of the four-wheeled friends that mean we can go almost anywhere at the drop of a hat...

ANTON'S MOTORING LIFE

A highly experienced broadcaster, Anton Savage is currently the presenter of Savage Sunday (Today FM) and works with Ireland AM (TV3). A columnist with the Evening Herald, he is also the Managing Director of The Communications Clinic.

"I’ve always been into cars, since I was six or seven. That was when I could actually reach the foot pedals. As a birthday present I was given a gift of a day at a race school, in a place called Sebring in Florida which was really cool. It was an old airfield and people like Paul Newman and Steve McQueen would have raced there.
“It made me think that motorsport was possible. Then, of course, I discovered that it wasn’t – because it’s so expensive – until you got a job. So I got a job and got into Formula “V” which was developed here in the 1970s by a guy called David Sheane.
Back then, motor racing was a rich man’s game – but he wanted to look at doing it cheaper. It involved taking old VW Beetles and stripping them down to the chassis and making them into a race cars. So suddenly ordinary, average, working guys could take part.
I started racing Formula V in my early 20s and it was a great buzz. Then, in about 2004, David Sheane created a brand new class from scratch – Formula Sheane – making his own cars with a combination of established parts. That’s what I currently drive. You can actually buy one of these cars for less than the price of a Ford Focus and it goes around Mondello faster than any road Ferrari. It’s extremely egalitarian in that having a bigger wallet won’t give you a faster race. It’s all down to the driver: if you lose it’s because the other guy is better than you. In terms of speed, at the Phoenix Park in the single-seaters, we’d do around 150-something. I’ve driven across Germany, where they don’t have any speed limits – but doing 150mph on an autobahn is a bit dull. If you’re in the Phoenix Park in a pack of 20 cars doing 140mph coming into a tight right-hander, the excitement is more 'do you get through it in one piece' as opposed to what’s the absolute speed. And yes, I've had loads of crashes. I rent a car for racing – doing a Sunday radio show means that I can’t race as much as I want. For road cars, I want a sitting room on wheels – and so I have 25-year-old Mercedes S Class. It's really comfortable and reliable – which is all I need. There’s vintage, and there’s classic and there’s old – which is what my car is..."

EASYTRIP

Whether you’re driving to festivals around the country, or simply taking in all that Ireland has to offer, your journey can be made that much smoother with easytrip. With an easytrip toll tag, you won’t be fumbling with change and queueing at toll plazas, but rather breezing through and continuing on your way. A tag can also be used to access more than 10,000 car parking spaces, in 22 city centre car parks nationwide – so even when you’re off the road, easytrip can make your life that much, well, easier! With QuickPark savings available on parking at Dublin Airport, those headed for foreign soil can also get a little help on their way. To find out more, call 1890 676768 or visit www.easytrip.ie.

Campion Insurance
Campion Insurance are one of Ireland’s biggest insurance brokers. Their team of 150 staff serves the needs of 70,000 clients nationwide. The 100% Irish-owned business has been in operation for 30 years, and has 11 offices, spread across the country, from Midleton to Mullingar. Campion Insurance has been named winner of the Deloitte Best Managed Companies for four years running, and achieved the Gold Standard in 2014. As well as great deals on your home, business and life insurance needs, the company is also a one stop shop for all motor insurance needs, specialising in motor trade, bus and coach, farm and vintage car insurance. Whether it’s a Testarossa or a tractor, Campion can sort your needs. For more information, and to find their nearest office to you,
visit www.campionins.com.