An Interview with National Banger driver Bam Bam 96 Amber Daniel
(interview published September 3 2014 in the lead up to the all Granada Banger meeting at Mildenhall on September 13)

Age: 27
Home Town: Boston
Occupation: Receptionist
Family: Married to Bobby with two children
Racing career: Started racing aged 17 in Rookie Bangers at Skegness

You were one of the first drivers to book in for this year’s all Granada banger meeting at Mildenhall, is this a meeting you have been looking forward to?
Yes, very much. I suppose it helps because I have had the car since last year (laughs). We had some problems with the steering arm last year, which apparently is a common problem on Mk2 Granadas, and so the car didn’t get wrecked last year and we brought it home to fix it for another meeting. The plan at the time wasn’t to keep it for a whole year, we did intend on racing in somewhere sooner but for whatever reason there was never a suitable meeting and so the Granada meeting just got closer and closer and in the end we decided we might as well keep it for this one and do the Granada meeting again which is great because this is a meeting I really enjoy. There was a brilliant buzz at last year’s meeting, although to be fair I find that the unlimited meetings and rear wheel drive ones at Mildenhall always have a great atmosphere at them which is always fantastic and makes those meetings even more special and something to look forward to.

You’ve had some success at this event winning the final back at the second staging of the meeting in 2011, does this rank as a career highlight for you?
Absolutely, it is without doubt my greatest achievement in racing winning that final. For me just finishing a race is an achievement, especially in an unlimited or rear wheel drive car and anytime I finish the race I’m really pleased with myself so that night I was already on a high because I had qualified for the final which was something I never expected to do and was really chuffed about and then I went and won the final, it was just amazing. I remember taking the flag and I knew I had won because I’d led pretty much the whole race so I knew I’d won but when I stopped I just couldn’t believe it, it was the most amazing feeling.

Back in 2011 the Ford Ultima (Frog Eye/Scorpio) was permitted at this meeting, the last two years it has been an all Mk1 and Mk2 affair but this year sees the Mk3 and Mk4 models allowed, do you like the changes?
Yes, I think it is really good for the meeting to be honest. Having it all Mk1 and Mk2s is great but at the end of the day there aren’t too many of those cars around now and the ones that are left are usually quite expensive so there are drivers that can’t get them and ones who aren’t too eager to wreck them. Opening it up to the Mk3s and Mk4s means there are more cars which can be used and they are a little easier to find which helps a lot but at the same time they were never the strongest of cars so I think they will be quite even against the older cars, unlike the Scorpios which are obviously a lot stronger than any Granada these days so as well as including the Mk3s and Mk4s I think not having the Scorpios is good because a Granada wouldn’t have much of a chance against one.

Last year’s meeting was the first time you had raced a Mk2 Granada, was that a highlight for you?
It really was. I think for most people, myself included, the Mk2 Granada is the ultimate banger so to finally race one was a great feeling, I think most banger drivers who haven’t raced one will say they would like to and it was every bit as good as I hoped it would be. A lot of people had said they were great to race and handle really well and it was, it so much fun to race one and I loved it even though I had the problems I did with it. Changing the meeting to an all Mk1 and Mk2 meeting helped me really because (husband) Bobby is very fond of his Granadas and I never thought he would let me have one but when the Ultimas were outlawed he said I could have one (laughs).

You come from a very racing orientated family with your father, husband and sister all banger drivers, your dad is also booked in for this year’s Granada meeting, do you enjoy racing against him?
I do, I really do, in fact I find it quite strange when he’s not at a meeting that I’m racing at. He is the one who is always revving everyone and getting everyone excited for the next race and when he’s not there it just isn’t the same and I don’t like watching him race because I always worry about him but when we are out there together, that is just fantastic although he usually does better than me (laughs) but on the odd occasion where me and (sister) Jade do well we are always there to remind him.

When we interviewed your dad (90 Joe Harboard) earlier this year he mentioned the pile-up at the 2013 pre 70 meeting where you, him and your sister were all a part of, do you have similar memories?
Not exactly because I was a bit further round the bend than they were and I had no idea they were in the same pile-up that I was until I got out and straight away I saw dad laughing at the pair of us which was a pretty cool moment and something I still remember.

The pre 70 meeting is another you have regularly supported at Mildenhall, is that another meeting you enjoy?
Yes it is. Again there is always a brilliant atmosphere at the pre 70 meeting and that makes it so much fun to be a part of, even this year when the weather was terrible, everyone was still enjoying themselves and having a great time. It’s always extra special at the pre 70 meeting because you have to deal with old cars that break and have unusual problems. I had a good night in my BMW. The engine started knocking in my second race but it kept on going and it was a great night. Unfortunately we’ll probably miss next year’s meeting because we are on holiday which wasn’t well planned but we should be back again the following year.

With that in mind have you any plans for the immediate future?
Not especially. I’ve been doing some Rookie Banger meetings at Skegness which has been fun and gets me out on track a bit more often and I’m hoping to do the His and Her meeting at Mildenhall in November. I didn’t do very well last year so it would be good to have a better meeting this time.

Is there anyone else you would like to thank or mention?
Bobby especially for all he does to build and fix my cars, my father-in-law Ben who helps Bobby, my dad for all his help and Jade, especially when she babysits when I race and Pullens Garage in Skegness.