Google PodcastsApple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon AlexaiHeartRadioPodcast AddictPodchaserDeezerListen NotesStitcher

If you’ve ever wanted to road test exotic cars for a living, this is the show for you. Freelance Writer and Presenter Henry Catchpole describes his journey, from loving car magazines in his teens, to presenting road tests on YouTube channel Carfection, which regularly get over 1 million views per episode.

Henry Catchpole is one of those people who you instantly like. He’s a renowned Automotive Journalist who has written for Evo magazine for 15 years, this is how they describe him: –

If there’s a twisting piece of road in a spectacular location, then you can be pretty sure Henry’s sideburns have either driven there or are plotting to do so. When he’s not halfway up the Atlas Mountains or in the depths of southern Brazil, lofty Catchpole (he’s 6ft 5in) also writes first drives, group tests and interviews. He has a particular soft spot for rally cars and anything lightweight – he once ran a long-term Caterham through winter with no roof. At weekends you’ll probably find him racing a bicycle.

It’s obvious Henry’s real passion is rallying, having driven in the British Rally Championship. He has also experienced the absolute limit while sat next to the likes of Sebastian Loeb and Kris Meeke in World Rally Cars.

He owns a 2-litre pinto MK 2 Escort and competes on National gravel rallies in the UK.

In this show, Henry offers some fantastic advice to anyone who wants to follow in his footsteps, a great template for anyone who loves cars and wants to live their dream.

Enjoy the show.

Learning and action points

Thanks to Michael for all his insights and advice which I hope you found useful. Here are some things you can try: –

• To advance in your career, be prepared to take risks
• Come up with creative ways to get opportunities to further your career – Henry was a passenger in some supercars in his early teens, that’s how he first met the founder of Evo magazine where Henry dreamed of working.
• Be bold enough to ask for those opportunities – if you don’t ask, you don’t get, but ask nicely and remember to thank everyone who helps you.
• Learn how to make connections and build great relationships
• Look for work experience at your dream company and find a way to make
• You have to be prepared to be selfish and take the opportunities when they arise which inevitably will lead to some sort of sacrifice
• Use your smart phone to practice presenting to camera without posting anything – practice makes perfect.
• Likewise, when writing, the hardest part is getting started, write something – anything and then you can start the process of improving it. Just get something down
• If you aspire to become a great road tester, be realistic, they take an awfully long time to master. Plan to learn your trade before attempting them.
• Be a great team player, you will need plenty of help from your teams along the way.
• Be realistic, Henry’s job is a lot more than just writing and presenting, you will need to put in the graft and the hours, but it will be well worth it.
• And finally, along the way show genuine interest in the people you meet, you will create a great impression

You can find Henry on Twitter and Instagram: – @henrycatchpole and on the Carfection YouTube channel.

If you’d like to get in touch, our email is info@stagebystage.com  and you can find us on all the usual social media channels.

All of this information is in the show notes which you can find on my blog at www.stagebystage.com/blog

There are plenty of people in the world right now who need a pick me up. So if you find any benefit from the show, perhaps others might too, so please share it and spread a little positivity. It might be just the boost your friends and family need in these strange times.

That’s it for now, thanks very much for listening, until the next time, take care and stay safe.