VINTAGE VEHICLE RALLY IN BERKSHIRE DRIVES OVER £6,000 IN CHARITY FUNDRAISING

A local vintage and classic vehicle tour of Ascot and Windsor Great Park has driven to success after raising over £6,000 for a local charity, Ben. Over 100 vintage cars took part in the Ben Windsor Great Park Vintage & Classic Vehicle Tour 2017 as well as four classic motorcycles, all pre-65 registrations.

This popular rally event has now been running for almost 50 years and has become a highlight for vintage motorist enthusiasts from across the country including Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey and Middlesex.

The event runs annually and all funds raised go to Ben, the not-for-profit organisation that partners with the automotive industry to provide support for life to its people and their family dependents. Ben also provides care for those in later life at its excellent care centres, including Lynwood Care Centre in Sunninghill, near Ascot.

This year’s event saw entrants set off from Ascot golf club, through Windsor Great Park, finishing back in Ascot for a BBQ, live Jazz music, a raffle and celebrations. As part of the event, vehicles are judged and prizes awarded for those in the best or most original condition.

There were six different categories and winners in each:

• Class 1: veteran / Edwardian / Vintage – cars built up to 1930
  Winner – John Pratt with his 1926 Austin Chummy
• Class 2: post-vintage – cars built between 1931-1939
  Winner – Jim Richardson with his Austin 16 Burnham (overall winner of Class 1 and 2)
• Class 3: Early post-war – cars built between 1946-1960
  Winner – Richard Savin and his 1950 Ford V8
• Class 4: Late post war – cars built between 1960-1970
  Winner – Ian Barclay with his 1963 Aston Martin DB4 (overall winner of Class 3 and 4)
• Class 6 & 7: Vintage motorcycles pre 1940 & classic motorcycles post 1940
  Winner – Ian Palmer with his 1916 Douglas Model V
• The vehicle ‘Most likely to take home’
  Winner – Rob Green with his Triumph Dolomite Fixed head coupe

Kelly Neal, Head of Events at Ben, said: “We’ve been running this special event for almost 50 years now and it’s very popular with vintage motoring enthusiasts from across the country. The vehicles are always truly impressive and have been extremely well cared for over the years.

“We’re absolutely delighted with the fundraising amount this year and we can’t thank our supporters enough as these funds will help us provide life-changing support for colleagues in the automotive industry. We would also like to say a big thank you to all the volunteers that help pull the event together and Valet Pro for providing the winning prizes.”

If you have a Vintage or Classic vehicle pre 65 reg you can register your interest for next year’s Vintage & Classic Vehicle Tour taking place on 30^th June 2018 by emailing [email protected].