RACING driver Dick Sharp told today how he walked away from a 140-mph horror crash.

The veteran drag racer suffered just a broken arm and scratches after his customised car rolled four times during a race.

But Dick, 55, from Netherbury said he wasn't worried when his car veered out of control and barrel-rolled four times during a race at Shakespeare County Raceway, near Stratford-upon-Avon.

He said: "I did get knocked out, but not for long I think and they kept me in hospital overnight.

"I didn't even know I'd broken my arm until they checked me out."

Concern about his safety never crossed his mind, even when his car disintegrated on the race track.

He said: "I feel a lot happier crashing in my racing car at 140mph than in a road car at 30mph.

"You only get frightened when you think you will get hurt, but I wasn't worried about getting hurt."

When his car turned over there was fear that another driver on the track was hit by debris.

He said: "When I went over, there was so much dust and debris flying around the other team couldn't see what happened.

"They thought I'd taken out their driver."

When the wreckage of his car finally came to a halt the fire and safety team (FAST) had to cut him out.

He added: "The FAST team did a marvellous job to get me out with minimal damage to my car and apologised that they had to cut bits away."

His wife Carol, 48, who has been married to Dick for 30 years. said: "It's the third time I have been through it and this was the worst one, but it never entered my head that he would be hurt."

The racing season finishes in October and the next season starts in April but Mr Sharp doubts he will get the car back together in time.

He said: "It's a lot of work mending that body and I think my bone will mend quicker."