Faithless frontman Maxi Jazz, a singer-songwriter, rapper, DJ, self confessed car nut and wannabe race driver, reflected on his life-long love of cars in the just released Fuelling Around podcast.
Fuelling Around, hosted by touring car championship driver Jason Plato and radio personality Dave Vitty, is powered by Adrian Flux and features a different petrolhead guest each week.
And there are not many petrolheads more fanatical than Maxi Jazz. His car collection, which was featured on Sky One’s Vroom Vroom motoring show, features, among others, a Ford Escort Mk2 RS2000, a Ford Fiesta Zetec S, a Ford Sierra Cosworth, a Marcos LM500 R, a Nissan 350Z and Ferrari 456.
Maxi Jazz Racing hits the road
He founded Maxi Jazz Racing in 2000, in 2005 he raced a Ginetta, and in 2006 and 2007 a Porsche 997 GT3 in the Porsche Carrera Cup.
Jazz likened racing cars to performing live: “Gigging is a bit like racing, you can only enjoy it when it’s over,” he said.
When he was racing he was usually “scared stiff” and acutely aware of how dangerous the sport is. He said that being “on the limit” was a very uncomfortable experience. He added that he was frequently moved to tears when he saw the chequered flag being thankful to have made it home safely.
Maxi Jazz confessed he had nothing but admiration for racing drivers but he felt that motorbike racers and rally drivers were even more unique in their courage and bravery.
‘Once I buy a car it’s mine, it’s not going anywhere’
Jazz told Plato and Vitty he had only ever sold one car that he had bought, and that was a Subaru, and he always regretted letting it go.
He explained: “Once I’ve formed a relationship with a motorcar that’s it, it’s mine and it’s not going anywhere.”
But, pushed on which car Maxi Jazz would keep if he could only own one, he opted, reluctantly, for his Ferrari 456, even though he’s “not really a Ferrari fan”.
He said: “It’s an impossible question but I would probably keep the 456. It can do everything and it still gives you a thrill. It’s a bit like asking which of your daughters do you want to throw into a pitiful of snakes, but, much as it pains me to say, the 456 is the car I would keep.”
Tune in to Maxi Jazz on Fuelling Around and find out about the process that spawned his biggest hit, Insomnia, and why he won’t be going electric any day soon.
You can also listen and subscribe to the podcast on Spotify and Apple podcasts.