HISTORY
1966- Whilst
watching the Le-mans 24 hour race Club
Triumph stalwarts Derek Pollock and Les Mills discussed the “joys of modern
motoring” and if indeed it would be possible to drive around Britain in a weekend taking in
John O’Groats (JoG) and Lands End and
still enjoy it!
Little did they know they had set the ball rolling in
creating one of the most iconic driving events still in existence.
Now held every two years by Club Triumph and called the Round Britain Reliability Run -2016 will be the fiftieth anniversary of the event
Now held every two years by Club Triumph and called the Round Britain Reliability Run -2016 will be the fiftieth anniversary of the event
The “Club” back in those days was very much a North London
affair thus the Triumph dealership of Broadfields Garage in
Cockfosters was chosen as the start finish venue.
Dealerships up and down the country were contacted and
enlisted to provide re-fuelling and “rest stops” Les got to work on the route –this was
divided into 53 sections, each one having a different average speed requirement
according to the conditions, and a maximum and minimum arrival time, if crews
kept within these limits they knew they were “on time”
Soon six crews had signed up to the event – each one
representing a different model from the then current Triumph range, Broadfields provided a 1300 and Standard Triumph at the last minute providing a 2000
7th
October 1966-The group assembled at the Broadfields premises waved off at 7pm
by fellow club members, friends and family, below are quotes from club member’s
reports of that now historic1966 event-
Club Reports-as they appeared
in 1966
"There was a
good crowd of members and friends to give us a rousing send off, and we had an
uneventful run up the M1 being on time at F.Mitchell’s Triumph Distributors in
Nottingham.
However,
there was a great deal of patchy fog for most of the night and we were lucky to
be on time crossing the Forth Bridge.
We pressed
on northwards in the early hours of Saturday and found a lot of rain in the
extreme highlands approaching John O’Groats where we partook of an excellent
breakfast at the Seaview Hotel. This had been laid on in advance and we
only stayed for half an hour before setting off.
Darkness on
Saturday found us refuelling in Lanark and getting more reports of fog expected
to the south. We were over Shap on time at around 10 p.m. and stopped for
a quick meal at the first service area on the M6.
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| Who can remember this sign? |
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| Forton (Lancaster) services opened in 1965 |
"It did not
take long to complete the 100 miles of this motorway, meet the Midland S.O.C.
boys and join the M5 where the fog began to reappear. It was at its worst
on the A38 approaching Bristol.
We watched
the dawn rise amidst the mists of Bodmin Moor and this was voted by most of us
as the most impressive sight of the whole drive.
We were well
within schedule at Lands End and set off for Exeter in high spirits after two
nights on the road. The Spitfire had to have a change of dynamo at Exeter
and was twenty minutes behind at this stage."
"John Graham,
known north of the Border as “the interpreter” was the only driver to wear a
collar and tie. Inside the garage he was given a glass of champagne by
someone who enquired “Don’t you wish you had been on the run?” He has
been muttering about this ever since!"
"Perhaps the
least useful fact discovered by most crews was that it is not advisable to open
cans of coca-cola in a moving car! "
"The honorary
secretary, who shared the Triumph 2000, was unable to use the only reclining
seat available because the back of the car was full of food, and the press
secretary accused by his co-driver in the Triumph 1300 of doing nothing but ear
bananas for 48 hours……..!"
The Chairman
and Committee of the North London Branch as well as the drivers themselves are
well-pleased with their small achievement which, although it required
determination, certainly gives the lie to the often expressed theme that it is
impossible to enjoy motoring in this country today. It was also a most
stimulating experience which most of us are ready to repeat in some form.
We would
like to take this opportunity of expressing our warmest possible thanks to some
of those who assisted us. In particular, Arnold Bolton, S.T.A.A. General
Secretary, who not only organised assistance at many points but who popped up
twice during that memorable week-end to encourage us.
Also our
thanks to the following garages some of whom opened specially during the wee
small hours to provide both cars and drivers with the necessary liquids:- F.
Mitchell, Nottingham; Bishops Garage, Corbridge-on-Tyne; J.Ferries & Co.,
Inverness; Mansefield Service Station, Lanark; College Motors and the Bristol
Motor Co., Bristol; Whitfields Garage, Redruth; Motor Macs, Exeter; and last
but not least the Broadfilds Garage and Engineering Co., Cockfosters, who
filled us up with petrol at the start and champagne at the finish!
Perhaps the
most impressive welcome on route was that of the Midland Spitfire Owners’ Club
whose line of cars greeted us at the southern end of the M6 and led us
unerringly to the M5.
Three
o’clock in the morning is not the brightest of hours, but the South West
Spitfire Owners’ Club were out in force to see us in and out of Bristol and the
East Lothian Spitfire Owners’ Club’s help in foggy Edinburgh, also at around 3
a.m., was most welcome, as was that of the Devon Branch, S.T.A.A., in crowded
Exeter. We hope to be able to return the compliment one day!
“1,900 miles
in just under 48 hours despite fog and waterlogged conditions in many parts of
England and Scotland! That was the marathon completed by members of the
North London Branch of the S.T.A.A. early in October. With six normal
production cars representing the Standard Triumph range, these amateur drivers
spent 46 hours at the wheel and travelled from London via John O’Groats and
Lands End back to London at an average speed of 41.3n.p.h. To the
unshaven, tired but successful, team who returned to their starting point one October
Sunday evening, we say “Well done indeed!”-Derek Pollock 1966
The above makes interesting reading and
gives an sepia tinted insight into
motoring in the 60s –only 100miles of the M6,finding the M5,driving through
major Towns and cities it’s amazing they maintained the 41mph average.
Roll on R.B.R.R 2021!
