Help for Heroes Charity Run

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For more photos, click Help For Heroes Run Gallery

Our April charity run was a particularly memorable one for a variety of reasons. On this run it was not only the cars that turned heads – drivers and passengers were equally eye-catching.

Organiser Bob Livermore had suggested optional fancy dress with a military/war theme and this produced British and American servicemen and women from World War II, naval personnel, intrepid flyers, land girls, Home Guard, a Sky News reporter and even a Viking warrior, not to mention some sinister German officers (and a possible Hitler lookalike, though considerably taller!)

The day began in Monda at the Taberna de Urbaneja where participants signed in and were given roadbooks (as well as getting some very bemused glances from the locals having breakfast). There was lots of friendly banter and comparing of costumes (did you see the wonderful seams on Carol's black stockings?) before getting the classics on to the road.

The first leg was through the Guadalhorce valley up to Alora and out towards Venta los Conejitos - no little rabbits to be seen but plenty of classic cars. From here we took the secondary road over the mountain and through the pine woods to Carratraca. Admittedly it was in "mal estado" in places but quite passable with careful driving and a slower pace, all the better to admire the stunning views.

Then it was on towards Ronda, negotiating (hopefully) temporary traffic lights where an impressive landslip had removed a large section of the relatively newly built road near Teba. Just outside Ronda members were in for a rare treat when they called in for a short visit to the Ascari race resort just outside the town.

Here they drove round the track – for safety reasons behind an official car and at a more sedate pace than usual.

The racetrack is the longest in Spain totalling 5,425 meters so this was an unforgettable experience, though some of the sportier models (and their drivers) looked longingly at the curves and banking, itching to show that advancing age did not necessarily mean less ability. (Reminiscent perhaps of taking an ex-racehorse on to the Derby track and making him walk the whole way!) A further treat was a tour of the garages to drool over the racing models – and where cameras never stopped clicking.

After drinks and nibbles thoughtfully provided by Bob and Carol it was back on the road to Ronda and lunch at the delightful Molino del Puente. The al fresco lunch on the terrace was more than usually delicious (the homemade cheesecake for dessert being particularly memorable!) and the staff friendly and attentive. Tickets for the bumper raffle had been selling well and this was drawn after lunch. Main winners were: "Phil" (Two rounds of golf at Lauro donated by The News), "Derek and Diane" (Luxury hamper of goodies donated by Sol Classic Car Club), "Eleanor Superbowl" (dinner at Monks at Leslie's Bistro), Nick Dorling (lunch at the Nueva Kaskada), Les Duffy (sandblasting from our very own Nick Wadham), Martin Walters (tickets for the Alhambra), "Irene Superbowl" (malt whisky) and Jose Cozar Morales, Eden Bar (Cava).

The staff at Molino del Puente were asked to judge the fancy dress and award a prize for the best male and female participants.

This was no easy task but they finally settled on "Biggles" aka John Campbell the Spitfire Pilot (wearing his father's original headgear) and "Alex Crawford", Sky News War Correpondent aka Jean Joss – both were presented with a bottle of bubbly.

 

 

The grand total raised through run proceeds, raffle ticket sales and donations for Help the Heroes was 1000 euros. A big vote of thanks to Bob and Carol for all their hard work and dedication.

 

 

 

 

For more photos, click Help For Heroes Run Gallery

 

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