Pete Ross

Occupation:

Engineer

Current Residence:

Hassocks, Sussex

DoB:

19th June 1961

Place of birth:

India

Marital Status:

Married, 3 children

Career:

I spent several years in the RAF (1978-84). Following that I spent time as an Engineer - Airframe Technician (1984-1987) and working for an engineering company (1987-93). I then worked for BA as an Airframe Engineer. In 1995 I ran my own businesses exporting dogs and fixing antique clocks, although in July of that year I started working on Thrust SSC on a part-time basis, becoming full time in October 1995.

How did you get involved in the project?

I was doing an HNC (Leigh Remfry was my instructor) and based the second year project on ThrustSSC which was still at Fontwell then. I got hooked!

Responsibilities in the UK:

My main task is concerned with the day-to-day running of the project, logistics and paperwork for the car.

Responsibilities in Jordan:

Responsibilities included logistics, maintaining the spares pipeline from GB to Jordan, car documentation, health and safety, and operations organisation as a back up to Martyn Davidson.

Responsibilities in the US:

They should be the same as Jordan

Previous crazy ventures:

I've broken 23 bones in my hands (not all at the same time!) and spent all night in a hedge after a motorbike accident until I was fished out by the milkman! I've also been caught travelling at speeds well in excess of the legal limits.

Car:

A Rover 214 and a Cavalier

Favourite Music:

Anything from classical to original rock.

What sort of books would you read if you had the time?

Fantasy and horror.

Hobbies:

They include Dogs, antique clocks, cooking, photocopy, walking, reading and music.

What do you want to do when the project is over?

Take a break and lie on a beach. Then get involved with something just as exciting.

What have you learned from this experience?

Sometimes people are best at what they have not been trained for. Working on something like this is a way of discovering what one's absolute limits really are.