Thanks for your support everyone!!
We made it!!! Not only did we make it but we had a fantastic run and a brilliant adventure in the heroic little Coca Cola TR7 (and I'm still grinning [:D] Both Matt and I have come away from the Round Britain Reliability Run a little bit in love with that car. For an early speke built 4 speed car, totally standard it really flew along, never missing a beat and feeling better to drive as the run went on - a great machine!
Apart from having to make a dipstick tube out of some spare fuel pipe due the original splitting and the replacement being the wrong diameter - the tools were pretty much untouched.
Our strategy was long stints for long sleeps and it paid dividends. The A9 from the Dornoch Firth Bridge to John O Groats was the drive of my life! Gorgeous crisp morning sun and an empty twisty road - the Coke Car just clicked and felt really together. I was quite hyped up over that at Breakfast! Grinning again [:D]
The run to Conan Bridge took us through the stunning highlands where tea, cheese and biscuits off the bootlid of a spitfire just summed up the high spirits. Nice to see Mike Sloan on his hols there showing support.
At Lancaster we were greeted by Yoof group supporters and lots of cofee and cake!
I then had the Welsh stretch to face. The stop at Gledrid near Chirk was like a scene from the Lombard, WRC or even Mille Miglia!! Awesome atmosphere and Cat Tunnadine and Merv Parkes were there to chivvy us on and help with the cars. Next was probably the most gruelling section of the RBRR - dark twisty technical roads and the second night without sleep take their toll here - not helped by trying to use a 'satnag' that thought B roads to cut the corners of the A road I was supposed to be on was a good idea. But again the Coke car let me set relentless pace and power on through ardous twisty lanes to Sugar Loaf stop. Great to see friends here marshalling - Ant and Amanda cheered us both up with a friendly face in the dark!
Had a great blast through the Forest of Dean in some foggy bits following a very tricked up 2.5 PI - car again felt fantastic as we made the most of empty roads and great cars.
After Bristol Matt resumed with another stint and did a sterling job through the hardest section weather wise. The rain was dramatically extreme in places and while I had a wel earned sleep he heroically kept good pace despite the torrential stuff and floodwater on the road. We did spare a quick thought for Rob and Mark in TS2 as we mopped the puddle off the dash board from the leaky webasto roof!!
Lands End was miserable and cold but lovely to meet the supporters who braved the elements to see us - we were now at the front of the pack and got over Dartmoor and off into the downs to be the first car into Pimperne by quite a shout. Good to see Phil Tucker at Badgers Holt - sorry we didn't stick around long but we were "in the groove" !!
Had our cake and tea with the Pringles - great to see you Alec and Dianne (V8 Lady) a warm welcome indeed. Then onto TR Register HQ at Didcot where there was definatley a party atmosphere and felt great to be one fo the first to arrive with the TR Register's battle hardened coke car still running like a bullet train.
Classic Car Weekly's editor was there to record the achivement with TS2 as were a great group of supporters. Andy Canning having kept us going with messages of encouragement throughout. Just a small push from there to the finish where the buzz of the achievement really was special - final control on the road book signed and the 22nd RBRR for 2010 was ours!
We are so grateful to everyone who came to control stops and cheered us on and / or sent text messages and calls throughout I can't say enough how much of a lift that gave us as we trucked round - so very much appreciated. Yes the run was gruelling in places,there were high points, low points and some really difficult sections but that's what makes this an adventure. We can all honestly say that the whole event was so much fun, really enjoyable and the memories of it will live on forever. You might be surprised that I find it sad its all over so soon!
Both myself, Matt, Rob and Mark felt privelaged to fly the flag for the TR Register and prove that it really can be done in the clubs two flagship cars. If ever an example was needed of using your TR no matter what its perceived significance or value was needed, TS2 is it. The Coca Cola TR7? - well lets just say that all those boring old TR7 jokes are over for good. I couldn't think of a car I'd rather be in and it proved itself reliable, strong and capable of keeping up with even the most tricked up saloons and TR's. By the end Matt and I loved that little TR7 and had even greater admiration for the stubborn little TS2 that impressed and earned respect from so many.
Rob and Mark were brilliant team mates to take on the challenge with too and made it a real pleasure to make this bit of history happen.
A full report will be appearing in Classic Car weekly next week, plus an extended version will appear in TR Action of course. The Coca Cola TR7 will be at the Camb Followers local group meet this Wednesday and then of course at MPH featuring Top Gear Live on the first weekend of November at Earls Court.
Thanks again - the donations page is still running until the end of October and its the real purpose of the event to raise as much as we can for MIND -
http://www.justgiving.com/cokecar
Sleep time now for "the kiddies in the Coke Car" [:D] .......
At the Start line.
John O Groats
The Highlands
Cheese and biscuits time at Loch Nagar
M6 in the torrential rain.
Sugar Loaf, Welsh Mountains - 1am.
Lands End
Near Didcot
