Car Torque .... with Viz founder Simon Donald

Alongside his brother and a school friend, Simon turned their playground antics into a massive, and it should be said, controversial, comic success.

Simon’s autobiography, Him Off the Viz is due for a relaunch next month (APRIL), expanded, revised and updated.

To celebrate this, he is touring a number of intimate venues to record live readings.

These shows will be edited together to form part of an audiobook to be released later in the year.

The dates and venues in the North-East are as follows: April 22 Lit and Phil Society, Newcastle; May 9 Westgarth Social Club, Middlesborough; May 10 Blakes Coffee Shop, Newcastle; May 11 Newcastle City Library; May 24 The Waiting Room, Eaglescliffe.

Follow Simon on Twitter @SimonDonald.

What was your first car?

A Mk2 Mini with an Austin 1300GT engine. It was orange and went like a rocket. I fell in love with it the minute I saw it. I'd been saving up from freelance cartoon work and Viz was just taking off. I delivered locally in it to all the shops and pubs that sold the comic. I used to take the passenger seat out to make deliveries easier. It cost me £525 which was a lot in 1985.

How many times did it take to pass your test?

I passed second time. I had my first lesson on my 21st birthday. I'd ridden motorbikes a bit before, but I have to admit that was without a license or insurance. Dear me, the exuberance of youth. My instructor was a chain-smoking sexist compulsive liar, I later turned him into a Viz strip called Fatty Ballatty.

Who would be your ideal fantasy passenger and where would you go?

Stan Laurel. I'd take him to North Shields to see the town he called home.

What is your dream car?

A 1966 Mini Cooper 1275 'S'. I've always loved the Mini. I've never driven anything that gave so much pleasure and feedback. It's a car that means so much to so many people. The late Mk1 model is my favourite.

How would you describe your driving style?

I'm always conscious of safety but I'm also a lover of sports cars so I'm somewhere at the sporty end of careful.

Tell me one driving anecdote from your past?

Only last month I drove a classic Mini from Tuscany to Newcastle. I drive a lot. My autobiography is coming out in paperback in April and it has some great car stories in it. I screen tested for Top Gear in 2002.

What are you listening to?

I find audiobooks are brilliant for driving. I listened to Rob Brydon's autobiography on the way from Italy. Time passes much quicker and your concentration doesn't wander. I do love music too, I have a very eclectic taste.

What do you drive now?

I have a Toyota RAV4. My girlfriend lives in the hills of Tuscany so it's our family car. I have a classic Mini Cooper, because I guess I'm just not me without one, I also have a 1967 Lambretta SX200 because I've always loved Italian scooters. I'm riding it to Italy in July.