Martyn Chalk on his film about an Oxfordshire motorsport star

I met David Brodie, who lives in Oxfordshire, when he was recovering from leukaemia, and pretty weak, but so full of life. And stories.

He told me that he'd rediscovered Run Baby Run, a 1968 Ford Escort Mk1, in a barn near his home in Whitchurch, which he had driven with great success (he won around 200 races in the car) from 1969-1972. It had there for 40 years.

At a time when he was trying to rebuild and recover his own body, David decided he was going to rebuild and restore the car that was most strongly linked to his glory days. Not only that, but he would race it again.

That seemed like a fantastic idea for a film, and a great story, but at that point, we didn't know the half of it.

I'm a huge fan of motorsport, and cars in general, as is my brother and ChalkStar co-director, Barry.

I offered to film the restoration, and left, intending to find out more about David and his career. What I discovered, through my own and the rest of the ChalkStar team's research is a colourful, at times glamorous, very human story of great spirit and adventure.

David was a feature on the racetracks of the UK from the 60s on, and a regular on the 1970s Saturday television show World of Sport presented by Dickie Davies. Those days were pioneering days in motorsport. Safety was a lot more primitive, and that brought with it an edge of danger - and a hint of glamour. Drivers like Brodie mixed with rock stars and actors.

David started motor racing 35 years ago, winning his first race at Silverstone in an Austin A35. Since then, he has completed over 700 races and driven saloons, sports cars, and Formula Three single seaters. He is said to be the seventh most successful driver ever at Brands Hatch and has held lap records on all the top UK circuits.

We have spoken to some of David's closest friends, including a lovely on-camera interview with Sir Frank Williams, founder of Williams Grand Prix Engineering. "He was very competitive, and skilful," says Sir Frank. "He was good company too." David provided equipment and finance to help keep the Williams team on the racetrack, and also lent Sir Frank's wife Virginia £8 to buy a wedding license (Sir Frank was away racing cars).

We also spoke to 1975 British Saloon Car Champion Roy Pierpoint, who fondly remembers his clashes with David. "There was always this bright kid with Run Baby Run written on his car. He seemed to be winning everything."

The love that David Brodie feels for Run Baby Run is still all too obvious.

"There was never a car of it's kind, a Mark1 Escort, that could get near it."

We are now raising the finance to finish the film - there are more interviews to be done, including Patrick Head, co-founder and former engineering director of Williams Grand Prix Engineering, archive footage research to be sifted through, and lots more people who want to tell us their recollections of The Brode.

Oxfordshire is rightly regarded as the home of motorsport in the UK, and I hope that the Oxford Times readers and motorsport enthusiasts will get behind the campaign and help ChalkStar films, an Oxford film company based in Cave Street, and me, an Oxford resident, tell the story of a remarkable man.

Martyn Chalk is managing director of Oxford firm ChalkStar