VIDEO: Motors & Me: Des McGahan with his Opel Insignia
Opel Insignia OPC – I just bought it a couple of weeks ago.
Well that’s an interesting question – as it was not exactly love at first sight. I have had a lot of superb cars and my most recent was a BMW 630. I usually change my so called second car every two years. I had identified a BMW M3 or Mercedes C63 as the next car. I had been looking out for for months for either – sorta of understated saloon muscle car. Anyway Kevin of Kevin O’Leary Motors in Cork called me to say he had something that he felt was very “interesting”. So in I go to see Kevin and he shows me this Opel OPC – and it blew me away. Its understated, it’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing, has all the bells and whistles – with a fantastic interior, Recaro seats - but its basically what’s under the bonnet that has you purring. The only thing I am not mad on is the colour – so I have it booked in with the great guys at Ace Signs in Cork – who are wrapping it in a Satin Grey with black trims to change the look completely.
2.8 litre V6 Turbo, 6 speed 4 x 4 , 325 BHP, top speed 168 MPH – 0-60pmh – 5.6 secs
Very much a car fanatic – prior to returning to Ireland I was involved in the Motor Racing for 15 years. I worked in Japan in Formula 1, F3000, Macau Grand Prix and Hong Kong – Beijing Rally etc. A very good friend of mine from that time is ex Formula 1 Racing and Le Man winner David Brabham who I was with recently in Sitges near Barcelona – who is also the son of 3-time World Champion Jack Brabham. I am still keeping my hand in helping David with this year’s 50th anniversary celebrations of Jack’s historic 1966 World Championship win in his own designed car.
I grew up in Northern Ireland during The Troubles and it was a bit of a war zone at that time. So we had to make our own fun – albeit not exactly by the book. I saved up money working at Dungannon Golf Club caddying and my brother acquired a white Morris Minor Van from the UK for 20 quid – I was 13…… and used to have so much fun driving around the quiet country roads as a kid when the authorities weren’t about – wouldn’t happen now.
Since returning to Ireland I have had a Porsche 911, Jaguar XJS V12, Golf GTI and BMW 630.
I did drive with my wife Lisa from Silverstone in the UK – to Monaco in a convertible (pre kids) – many years ago. As I live in Kinsale and it’s the start of the Wild Atlantic Way – it would seem remiss not to give that a blast – so its on my TO-DO List.
Well I’m lucky as my wife Lisa also loves cars and driving – so she is the first but my racing driver pal David Brabham – would have to be in the passenger side of course.
I could think of quite a few.
Ha Ha – I surprise my kids that I keep up with the latest stuff. At the moment I am doing a DJ set this weekend for my daughter Scarly’s 18th – so its great reviewing the playlist in the car as it’s the best place to listen to music. We are having her birthday here at Ballinacurra House and I am performing the warm up set as DJ Dezzy Rascal (my stage name). Most teenage kids think their dad is embarrassing – at least my daughter sees fit to let me loose in front of her teenage friends – should be fun and hopefully they don’t pull the plug on me. If they do – I’m off for a spin in the OPC.
