Postcard from Silverstone

As usual the most celebrated guests were the drivers, although the need for an early night ensured that they made only a lightning appearance.

Present this year were Eddie Irvine, David Coulthard, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Jarno Trulli and Pedro Diniz, while Jenson Button was a last minute cancellation.

The drivers usually get roped into a charitable activity of some sort, and this year the game was darts. A giant target had been set up, divided into segments of £750 and £500, with a £1000 bullseye. Each driver had three darts, and whatever figure they hit would be donated to the children's cancer charity. CLIC.

Standing just a couple of metres away from this huge circle, our heroes could hardly fail to rack up some serious dosh, but there was one small problem - they had to wear blindfolds.

No problem; to help them with the task, each driver was assigned a fully-sighted model who could give him directions. Star of the event was undoubtedly Coulthard, who somehow managed to get two bulls with his first
two arrows, although he slipped to £500 on his third. Still his total of £2500 beat the rest, with Eddie and H-H on £2250, Pedro on £2000 and Jarno on £1750. With Button missing, Cracker TV actor Liam Cunningham was brought in as a 'ringer', and scored a miserable £1500.

The drivers then headed off, and the paying guests stayed on to enjoy a classy meal and a full evening's entertainment, hosted by It's a Knockout star and former racer Stuart Hall. The musical part of the evening was
kicked off by Luciano Pavarotti, or rather a Londoner who makes a living impersonating him. Then came 'the original' T-Rex. Yes, Marc Bolan may have been gone for 23 years, but some of his former band mates are still going, with a somewhat younger singer. Ringers were again employed, with Eddie Jordan settling down behind a second drum kit, and his old pal Damon Hill joining to play a few guitar licks. Kid Creole and his Coconuts took over for the second part of the show.

An auction raised a little more cash for charity; someone bought a Harley Davidson for £26,000, more than double its true value, while Johnny Herbert's Jaguar overalls - the first on the market probably - went for a reasonable £2,200. But the most interesting lot was five days on Eddie Irvine's yacht, with access to all his toys, for £17,500. As someone said, had the deal included the Jaguar star's presence on board, the bidding might not have gone that high...