Emotional win at Joan Purdie race

Race winner John Campbell (Submitted pic)

Kenny’s good friend John Campbell – of Edinburgh – won the event before tears welled up in his eyes as he realised the significance of what he had just achieved.

“It was a very emotional occasion; John was crying and everything,” said Kenny, owner of Carluke business Photoflash Travel, who finished fourth in the race commemorating his wife’s fantastic legacy.

“It was great that he managed to bring the trophy back to Scotland.

Kenny Purdie and his family at world championships (Submitted pic)

“John – who owns Festival Travel – is a long time pal of mine and was a great supporter of Joan when she was ill.”

Kenny suffered heartache in March when Joan lost her battle with cancer at the age of 53, after battling a rare form of the disease for two years.

But the courageous Carluke man produced a sensational victory in memory of his late wife when he landed the two litre hot rod British title at Lochgelly a fortnight ago in his red Saxo.

Hopes had been high that Kenny could be a serious contender to win again on last Saturday’s first day of the Ipswich meeting, which saw him compete in the two litre hot rod world championship.

He started off ok by finishing ninth out of 30 cars in heat one, before enduring misfortune on the final lap of heat two when another car smashed into his to send Kenny spinning into the wall.

“That happened on the very last of the 35 laps,” Kenny said.

“It was a disaster and I was absolutely gutted.”

The crash meant that Kenny started the final in the 12th row, but he hadn’t ruled out winning from there.

“The other drivers call me the rainmaster because I go well in the rain!” Kenny added.

“I had lapped 18 cars to win last year’s European Championship in the rain and then I won the British this year when it was bucketing down.

“I thought the omens looked good for me again two hours before the world final because it was raining really heavily.

“But, although it was raining then, it had stopped by race time and this adversely affected my chances.”

Although Kenny competed well, he was spun out of the final with six laps remaining.

Kenny is delighted that the weekend raised £1200 for St Andrews Hospice in Joan’s name. Donate at www.justgiving.com/JoanPurdie