Stars Cars - Joe.ie

27th October 2010

From the 3rd October, comes an interview on all things cars.

Behind the wheel with Shane Lynch

Shane Lynch is probably best known as part of Irish boyband turned manband Boyzone. He’s also an enthusiastic poker player and an even more enthusiastic petrolhead. He currently takes part in the highly-technical motor sport of drift racing where he’s sponsored by betting company Ladbrokes.

When he’s not on tour with Boyzone, at the track or at the poker table he drives a monster American truck, the Ford F-150 Harley. He took time out from playing poker at the Ladbrokes Poker Festival in Killarney to share his four wheel-related thoughts with JOE.

What was your first car?

My first car was a Mk1 GTi Golf. I was a car mechanic from the beginning. I was just mad into cars, and that was an affordable car when I was 17. I paid £800 back in the day. A couple of my boys had GTi Golfs at the time, and I blew a gearbox in mine and ended up putting a diesel gearbox into the petrol car, giving it a longer first and second gear which technically made it that little bit faster than the rest of the boys.

What made you chose your current set of wheels?

I love a van. I’m a big fan of the Ford Transit and think every man needs to own a van. I own a clothing company and loaned my van to one of the drivers at the clothing company. Unfortunately he smashed it, so with that gone I decided to move up and by a Ford-F150 Harley Truck. It’s got a four door cab, it’s big and it’s beautiful with loads of space and is effectively my replacement van.

What’s on your stereo?

I mostly listen to funk, reggae or hip hop when I’m driving.

How nifty are you at changing a wheel?

Let’s cut to the chase. I was down at the Renault Formula 1 team garage the other day and they set me a challenge of performing a pit stop. The Formula 1 guys did it in 2.3 seconds. I did it in 2.6 seconds. So I may not be as good as them, but I’m pretty good.

The perfect car with the perfect companion would be...?

I don’t think the perfect car exists. My driveway consists of about ten cars because I can’t find the perfect car. As for the perfect companion, well that could only be the wife.

And your favourite drive?

Recently, the most uplifting and fun drive I had was as part of the Cannonball Run across Ireland. I did that over about three days. It was some buzz – I hadn’t had that much fun in a car driving around legally on the open road since I was a kid.

Obviously you’re a brilliant driver, but what trait in other drivers really grinds your gears?

I hate sneaky drivers. They really wind me up.

Women can’t drive. Discuss.

I think there are a lot of fabulous women drivers out there. I think the majority of women get a hard time, although they can sometimes be a little lackadaisical and not so good at concentrating when they’re behind the wheel.

http://www.joe.ie/motors/stars-cars/behind-the-wheel-with-shane-lynch-005815-1