Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.

So it’s a good job it’ll be October….

After a twenty year hiatus of marriage, children and grownup cars – Gary and I have entered the Club Triumph Round Britain Reliability Run 2023 – a gruelling, but fun (I’m reliably informed) non-stop 2000 mile classic car run, all for charity, driving a route around Britain starting at Knebworth House in Hertfordshire, to John O’Groats, to Lands End and back to Knebworth.

The Round Britain Reliability Run is one of the world’s longest running single marque events, the inaugural event was way back in 1966 and has continued every two years ever since (disrupted only twice – once due to the 1970’s Suez fuel crisis and COVID in 2020).

There are only 125 places available on the event and so popular that it sells out within a matter of hours.

It is a charitable event with a different cause chosen as the beneficiary each year. The 2023 event will be proudly raising funds for Huntingdon’s Disease Association.

The Challenge

To drive a 47 year old Triumph Spitfire from Knebworth, to John O’Groats, to Land’s End and back to Knebworth, over a distance of 2000 miles, in just 48 hours. No hotels, no comforts, just taking shifts in driving and sleeping.

The Team

Gary and I have known each other for almost thirty years and have a shared passion for classic cars.

My last classic car was sold back in 2006 to support the imminent arrival of my son – who will be old enough to drive when the event takes place – so in September last year I felt it was time to get back into classic ownership and now custodian to a bright yellow 1976 Triumph Spitfire.

Little did I know, however, that Gary – who was now living over a hundred miles away – had just bought a 1969 Triumph Herald Estate!

So here we are – back on the road together (poor Gary). What better way to celebrate than go on a marathon drive round Britain and raise a load of money for charity while we’re at it!

We will be taking the Spitfire this time around because the Herald is still an unknown quantity in the reliability stakes and needs a lot more work to get it ready.

“The Herald won’t make it round the North Circular, let alone Britain”

– Gary Davison, Feb 2023

Thank you to everyone who will be able to support us and donate to a very worthwhile cause.

Looking forward to providing updates on preparations and uploading the results of the adventure to YouTube in due course!