Features

Limo Bob, on the other hand, is American. Really American. He looks like he's been dressed by a drunk pimp - glittering gold shirt, wraparound shades, enough chains hanging from his neck to anchor a small yacht.

But the head of Limo King Enterprises and creator of outrageous cars is a man moulded in the limo ethos, born for this kind of world, even if the Chicago mafia had other ideas and sent his first limo empire up in flames. But more on that later.

Presently, Limo Bob is enjoying his status as the guest of honour and focal point for the event at Sandown Park, here to show us uptight Brits what it's all about.

It's his first time outside any environment that didn't hear the distant flutter of a star-spangled banner and he's using the opportunity to do a bit of hustling, handing out his dollar-shaped business card to anyone who happens to brush past him.

People hold out their hands, bemused and amused, while Bob, all good-time Yankee exuberance, shouts "How you doing?" at them like he's just run into his old buddies from Senior High.

It's a performance that both characterises and distorts a life that's been hung out to dry more than once. Bob has won and lost a fortune, then won and lost it again, before arriving here in his late forties, back on top.

"It all goes to show that no matter what, even though I lost everything twice, with enough perseverance, hard work and the grace of God, I'm back again, making these crazy, 50ft cars with jacuzzis and putting greens on them."

In terms of extravagance, Bob is being modest here. His collection of limos includes the world's longest at 100ft. It features an engine at the front and the back, a swimming pool with diving board and a helicopter landing pad.

Alas, it isn't street legal, so there's no chance of practising your reverse tuck while your chauffeur schelps up the M1.