SKODA TO PRAGUE a classic car adventure

This is a short account on the event, based on the experiences of Bryan Halladay & Trevor Byne, scripted by Trevor.

We raised £27,100 & still rising

Monday 12th September

All 10 crews & the service van meet up at Eastwell Manor near Ashford in Kent. 

This the first chance for everyone to meet each other as crews have come from the Midlands, North Wales & Devon.

After a photo shoot we all departed for Dover to catch the ferry to Calais.

From Calais we travel to Ypres in Belgium for the first night's stop. At 8.00 pm we attend the `last post` at the Menin Gate - `A very moving experience`.

Tuesday 13th September

Before departing, we are alerted by Neil, a prankster from Wales, to a leak at the back of our car. Bryan checks everything & all seems `ok`.

We drive into Germany with Nurburgring as our destination. The old German Grand Prix or `Nordschleife` circuit is open for public use in the evening & Bryan lets me drive it. This was a truly memorable experience, even though top speed was only 75 mph as we were preserving the car for the long journey ahead of us. My main memory, & concern, was the speed at which motorbikes & cars were approaching from behind – I spent most of my time driving on the right, watching the rear view mirror!

Before leaving, Bryan opens the engine lid to check the fluid levels - and discovers the leak!

As we are traveling in convey from the circuit to our hotel, the leading car belonging to Tony Moy grinds to a halt with an overheated engine. Dan & `Nibs`, the service crew, tow the stricken car to the hotel where they then set about replacing the cylinder head & gasket.

Wednesday 14th September

A day spent driving through Germany via a mixture of motorways & scenic country roads.

Tony arrives late into the evening with the engine overheated again. This time it`s diagnosed as `not repairable` so it`s abandoned at the hotel in the hope that it will be recovered to England. Tony & David `hitch a ride` with other crews.

At 14.30 Bryan speaks on the mobile phone to Bob Brolly at BBC radio Coventry & Warks & goes `on air` to report on the event so far.

Thursday 15th September

Destination for the day was Mlada Boleslav in the Czech Republic, home to the Skoda factory. The group have a choice of visiting either Colditz or Zwickau. We are the only crew to decide on the latter to visit the August Horch Motor Museum. From there we encountered the Czech border controls & proceeded via Czech country roads to Mlada Boleslav, near Prague. Here we meet John Shelley, an Englishman with a passion for all things Skoda, now living in Czech.

Friday 16th September

We visit the Skoda Museum in the morning & then travel to Mohelnice in eastern Czech, where the Hella factory is sited.

At 14.30, on route to Mohelnice, Bryan speaks again on the mobile phone to Bob Brolly at BBC radio Coventry & Warks & goes `on air` to update on the event.

We are given a tour of the Hella factory & then stay the night at a Hella CZ colleague’s home. Thanks to Milos, Vera & family.

Saturday 17th September

After an early rise, we visit the Tatra Museum at Koprvnice. 

This was by far the best of the four motor museums visited during the trip. 

Whilst at the museum, we hold a `Macmillan Coffee Morning`.

We then returned to Prague for a group dinner – party time in traditional Czech style.

Sunday 18th September

A day spent sightseeing in Prague, partly by coach & partly by foot – a fabulous cultural experience. Prague must surely be Eastern Europe’s most entrancing capital.

Monday 19th September

Before departing from the Hotel, the whole group holds a `Macmillan Coffee Morning` to raise awareness of the charity.

We were not aware of the need to have purchased a `motorway pass` until advised by a fellow crew member, so we stopped at the first garage on our way out of Prague & purchased one. Just as well, as within one kilometre of leaving the garage we were pulled over by the police – we hadn’t done anything wrong – it was a routine check.

Our destination for the day was Ulm in Germany – a distance of 285 miles. Again, a mixture of motorways & scenic country roads were used.

For the first time on the trip the car started to `play up`, a misfire at low speeds. We pressed on, hoping that the service crew would be able to fix it when we arrived at the hotel in Ulm. They `tweak` the carburettor & all seems well.

Tuesday 20th September

Destination Mulhouse in France with a visit to the Schlumph museum planned for the afternoon. We travel through beautiful countryside.

The car soon starts misfiring again at low speeds, but we `struggle on` undaunted. On arrival at the Schlumph museum the local press are waiting to do a report on the event & a photo shoot of those cars that have arrived by 2.00 pm (ours included).

At 14.30 Bryan again speaks to Bob Brolly at BBC radio Coventry & Warks & goes `on air` to update on the event.

Whilst we are looking at the exotic vehicle collection, Dan & `Nibs`, the service crew, change the carburetor & reset the points. 

All is now fine. Thank you lads!

Wednesday 21st September

Destination Reims – centre of Champagne country. Leaving Mulhouse we head off into the hills over the `Grand Ballon` - breathtaking scenery & some challenging bends for Bryan – I think he enjoyed it.

This was not a good day for me , navigationally, as we wrong-slotted several times. On one occasion we ended up in a forestry picnic area!

A relatively early arrival in Reims provided an opportunity to do a bit of shopping.

Thursday 22nd September

Through a link between one of the event’s corporate sponsor’s, Mundy Cruising, & champagne company Taittinger, the group had been invited to visit the Taittinger cellars, taste vintage champagne & lunch as their guests. What a treat ! The cellars were truly amazing & the lunch exquisite.

This was a really memorable & unrepeatable experience that I will never forget - I have two bottles courtesy of Taittinger to remind me. Thank you , Taittinger for your hospitality.

We reluctantly departed at 2.30 pm , destination Chateau Tilques near St Omer (Calais) for the final night & `presentation banquet`.

Tony Moy was our `MC` for the evening, assisted by Bryan, who had organised the awards.

After presenting awards to all entrants for various reasons (it was our intention that everyone should receive a memento of the event), the highlight of the evening was the presentation of the cheque to Bernadette Halton of Macmillan Cancer Relief, who travelled over specially to receive it. Considering that our mission was to raise £25,000 from 20 entrants & corporate sponsorship, & the fact that we only had 10 entrants, everyone was amazed when the cheque was presented for £27,100. It is anticipated that this figure will be even higher as fundraising events are continuing.

Friday 23rd September

After `farewells` to everyone, we made our way to the ferry at Calais, calling in at `The Wine Shop` in Ardres, run by acquaintances of Bryan. The shop was adorned with coloured balloons bearing the letters `M-A-C-M-I-L-L-A-N C-A-N-C-E-R R-E-L-I-E-F `, with food & wine laid on as well.

A journalist interviewed us & took a photo for the local press. We were also given some money for the charity, donated by the shop & one of its passing customers.

Depart Calais for Dover at 2.30 .

As we are boarding the ferry its time again for Bryan to speak to Bob Brolly at BBC radio Coventry & Warks. & goes `on air` for the last `foreign` report on the event.

We’d estimated our arrival at Banbury to be about 6.30 pm, but we hadn’t accounted for the Friday night traffic on the M25. Having progressed very slowly for some 20 miles or so, the engine finally overheats near Heathrow. After refilling the system with water & bleeding the air out, we’re on our way again, arriving at Banbury at 8.00 pm. Bryan continues on to Warwick.

Friday 30th September

A `Skittles` night at Hatton Village Hall, organised by Bryan’s better half , Mary, is attended by nearly 100 people. A great time is had by all with £1000 plus being made for Macmillan Cancer Relief. Two bottles of champagne, generously donated by Taittinger, were auctioned, raising £105. To my surprise, I was presented with a plaque recognising my record `slow lap` at the `Nordschleife` circuit. Thank you, Paul.

In the future

Since Tony’s car had been donated by The Pershore Women’s Guild for the event, it had been his intention to auction the car after the event at H&H & donate the proceeds to Macmillan Cancer Relief. After much deliberation & negotiation, the car will be repatriated for repair by Dan at PGS, Warwick & then auctioned with the profits going to MCR.

Summary

Twenty-four people from varying walks of life, ranging from the age of 7 to 70, soon got to know each other. Chat inevitably centred on cars but with six ladies & two lads the topics were often varied, funny & stimulating.

After 12 days & 2,500 miles, sharing life with friends, old & new, for a common cause, I feel as though my life has been enriched. I have met some great people, experienced places & events that I hadn’t thought possible & have many unforgettable memories.

We would like to thank all those who have supported Bryan & I, enabling us to contribute approx.£ 3,000 towards the total, which is as yet not finalised, but may even reach £30,000.

Bryan Halladay, Trevor Byne & `Stella Arcar`

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