A LIFE-LONG interest in cars and motor racing has led to the production of a Mynytho author’s second novel.

Duncan Smith, whose previous publication Fairway Tales and Rough Lies gave a fictional account of the often hilarious side of life on and off the fairways of a British golf club, has turned his attention to the open roads of the Llyn Peninsula and northern France for 24 Heures Du Abersoch.

“Gareth and Bryn share a common passion for fast cars,” Duncan explains. “They also share a dream, which, after quite a few pints one night in their local pub, The Bardsey in Abersoch, they very foolishly share with their mates that, perhaps, one day they might own and race their own sports car at that very famous 24-hour race at Le Mans.

“In pursuit of that dream, they part company with a wife and her budgerigar, at least one girlfriend and quite a lot of hard-earned cash.

“Neither of them could decide which constituted the greatest sacrifice.”

Duncan, who hails from Wrexham, has lived near Abersoch for 15 years and felt the location was right for this book.

“I thought that combining the famous 24-Hour Race at Le Mans with a local setting/story would appeal, at least, to some readers!” he said.

Gareth and Bryn have never ventured further than Cardiff before, so their dream of racing at Le Mans amuses the locals of The Bardsey pub.

“Work, whether taxi driving, window cleaning or driving a bakery van erratically around north Wales, was regarded as just an annoying intrusion,” said Duncan.

“Their ‘passage’ to realising their dream was never going to be smooth, whether it was dealing with the cynical ‘comedians’ at their local pub, The Bardsey or trying to extract sponsorship support from some of the more ‘tight-fisted’ local employers for whom parting with money seemed to be on a par with giving blood."

At the age of 73, Duncan is enjoying being able to write.

“It’s my main hobby,” Duncan, a former teacher and a retired MD of a publishing company said.

The author of several non-fiction titles in education management, he has also returned to his first novel Fairway Tales and Rough Lies.

“I’m currently working on an adaptation of the novel for a six-episode TV sitcom and a stage production,” he explained.

24 Heures Du Abersoch is available from all local bookshops in the area (Abersoch/Pwllheli/Porthmadog/Caernarfon) or alternatively direct from the author at [email protected]

Read the full story in the latest north editions of the Cambrian News