Carol's parents were both involved in racing and collecting cars. Bea's Tigers were often driven by Carol, with this very appropriate license plate.

Carol's father Tom also is a racer and collector, here seen with his Maserati 450S, s/n 4510. His favorite car, however, is his 512F, s/n 1048.

Carol's father Tom co-founded a company in 1980 which designs and manufactures test equipment for the telecommunications industry. Tom and Bea were on the crest of a wave, and they put everything they had into the promising new business. Except the Sunbeams. Tom still maintained the Tigers and Alpines, and found that his youngest daughter was eager to help. She was always doing things with Tom in the garage, following her about. "It was hard to get in the way because I was so small for my age," said Carol. "I remember the first time I heard my father swear. I was still only about nine years old, and trying to help remove a transmission. I let go of the rope holding it in place, it bounced off Dad's foot, and then all hell broke loose."

It was about the same time when, walking with her mother through a pasture, Carol caught sight of her first horse. She was totally fascinated by the animal, and was also totally fearless. "I was never, ever, afraid of anything," said Carol. Horses became the focus of her young life, and she started taking riding lessons when she was ten. I learned to ride at Bea's family cattle ranch in Mexico, and later got involved in English style events, concentrating on jumping, and catching a ride on someone else's horse during a team event. Her ability to get the most out of a strange horse was noted by local teams, and ribbons started coming her way. "My goal was to be part of an Olympic Team and then perhaps go on as a trainer. I was seventeen by the time I owned my own horse. Dad was supportive yet cautious. Horses are a big expense, and he was putting a lot of money into the business. He wanted to be sure that this was what I wanted. Owning a horse is one big commitment." Early training on horseback is known to develop an acute sense of balance. Both Pat and Stirling Moss were equestrians before they moved on to motorsports. This came as a surprise to Carol. "I never knew that Stirling had any interest in horses. I've only known about him being an extremely aggressive racer."