Hearse takes to the race track for fan's last lap
HEARSE: The coffin of West Kingsdown man and motor racing fan Michael Owen is driven around Brands Hatch. Picture by Matthew Leppard
Michael Owen, of London Road, died of cancer, aged 60, on March 1.
On Friday his hearse was driven around the racing circuit's Grand Prix lap before going on to his funeral at Bluebell Hill Crematorium.
His daughter Sharna Peyto had written to MotorSport Vision's chief executive Jonathan Palmer, asking if his hearse could complete a lap of the circuit as a fitting farewell to her motorsport fanatic father. She said: "He would have loved it. The fact he insisted on spending every spare moment at Brands Hatch with a stopwatch in his pocket caused many a family argument.
"He was also a huge Formula One fan and would always watch the Grand Prix live on TV, no matter what time of day or what family occasion. Even his mobile phone ring tone was the sound of an engine revving."
To complete the motor theme, a red Ferrari also followed the hearse on to the crematorium.
Mr Palmer, chief executive of Brands Hatch owner MotorSport Vision, said: "Michael's lap of honour is a wonderful way to pay tribute to a man who gained so much pleasure from visiting Brands Hatch.
"It is certainly one of the more unusual requests I have received, but we were more than happy to offer Sharna and her family the opportunity to give their father a unique and memorable send-off."
Mr Owen is survived by his wife Wendy, son Simon, daughters Carys and Sharna and grandsons Sunny and Corey.
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