10 minutes | Tuesday, 20 October 2026
Send us Fan MailWhat do you do when you're trying to fix a racing car and the part you need isn't available? If you're Sam Lovegrove, apparently you start looking at a cow's milking equipment!Mechanic and television presenter Sam Lovegrove joined me on the latest episode of The MarshyCast to talk about his new television series, Sam Lovegrove: Race Mechanic, which premiered on Quest on Monday 19th October.The series follows Sam as he helps owners prepare their racing cars and motorcycles for competition, tackling mechanical problems, tight deadlines and the pressure of getting everything ready for race day.But as we discovered, the real challenge doesn't necessarily end when the vehicle leaves the workshop.A Lotus Elise with a differenceThe first episode features a heavily modified Lotus Elise, with owner Steve Butts hoping to achieve a hill climb time of under 34 seconds.We talked about the challenges involved in preparing the car and one decision that might surprise motorsport enthusiasts.Sam decided to add traction control.Now, if you're trying to make a car faster around a track, you might expect the opposite. Removing electronic assistance is often seen as a way of giving drivers more direct control.So why would Sam want to put it back in?It's one of the technical decisions we explored, and a reminder that making a racing car quicker isn't always as straightforward as removing parts and adding more power.What has Alice the cow got to do with racing?One of my favourite parts of our conversation involved the rather unexpected appearance of a cow called Alice.As Sam explained, being a mechanic sometimes means finding a solution using whatever materials and parts are available.And apparently, that can include a tube from Alice's milking equipment!It's certainly not the sort of thing you'd expect to find on the parts list for a racing machine.But it perfectly illustrates the resourcefulness that mechanics sometimes need when faced with an unexpected problem.After all, when you're working against the clock, finding a practical solution can matter more than where the part originally came from.The real test begins at the racetrackWe also talked about the difference between working in a fully equipped garage and trying to fix something when you're actually at a race meeting.In the workshop, you've got your tools, equipment and a familiar environment.At the racetrack, you've got time pressure, unpredictable conditions and a driver who's desperate to get back out and compete.So I asked Sam whether that's where a mechanic truly earns his reputation.Is it one thing to build and prepare a brilliant machine, but something else entirely to keep it running when everything starts going wrong?It's a question that gets right to the heart of the new series.Is finishing more important than winning?I finished our conversation with a question about pride.For a racing driver, the ultimate goal is often obvious: cross the finish line first.But does a mechanic see things differently?Would Sam rather watch a car he's worked on win the race, or see it complete the event without a single mechanical problem?It's an interesting distinction between the satisfaction of engineering a reliable machine and the thrill of achieving the best possible result.And it's exactly the kind of challenge viewers can expect to see throughout Sam Lovegrove: Race Mechanic.Sam Lovegrove: Race Mechanic began on Monday 19th October at 9pm on Quest.🎧 Hear my full conversation with Sam Lovegrove now on The MarshyCast, available on Apple, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.📱 Social Post Find me on all social media @paulswampymarsh