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The Lighthouse Club is the construction industry charity and the Benevolent Fund provides assistance to individuals and families affected by ilness or accident.

This years Lighthouse Club Run from John O'Groats to Land's End wil be extra special to mark the 50th Anniversary of the foundation of the Benevolent Fund.

There will be a photo opportunity at the Club's adopted St Mary's Lighthouse near Whitley Bay and interviews with local press and televison.

The drive will be challenging considering we have to travel from Ashford in Kent to the start at John O'Groats and then keep up with the time schedule to arrive in Land's End with all the other vehicles, many of which are more moden than ours!  So really we are driving up, down and accross the whole of the UK, over 2,000 miles in 4 days!

The Spyder 550 is a replica of a 1957 Porsche and has no mod-cons, there is a small roof if it rains but that is about it! No spare wheel and the petrol tank only holds about 4 gallons so a real risk of running out in the more remote parts of the British Isles!

This year there is a change to the team and Sam Scoble, (my brother-in-law), has been foolish enough to offer his services as co-driver. I think Gideon had a better offer of a holiday on a beach with some sun!

Sam is making the special trip back from Canada where he now lives and so the complications of driving on a different side of the road with the steering wheel on the right and a manual gear box may make for some interesing events!  In reality, Sam is a very competent driver and demonstrates great control of his Lotus Evora so the Spyder should be an easy day!

There are a lot of very generorus people supporting myself and Sam in our efforts to raise funds for the Lighthouse Club and the independant Porsche specialist 911 Box provide unstinting encouragement, they have the story from the 2010 run and will again have a link for 2012 at http://www.911box.co.uk/911Box%20Used%20Porsche%20-%20%20Eventspage50.html

Monday 24 September

Had a busy weekend checking the Spyder over to ensure we make it this year without too many mishaps!

Picked up a few spares from Martin Williams at MEW Supplies, and replaced the fuel hose, starter cable clamps, fitted a new two speed fan switch for the heater and repaired the windscreen wipers that decided to clean the bonnet rather than the screen!

Tonight I have to replace the fire extiguisher that we emptied in Exeter on the last run and change the oil and filter, also the alternator belt is loose and will have to adjust this to keep the battery charge topped up.

Tomorrow night will mean replacing the neaside track rod end boot as this was an advisory on the recent MOT.

Sam has arrived from Canada and will get his first drive in the Spyder tonight or tomorrow, the weather has changed dramatically and we have torrential rain forcast for the next three days, so the roof will probably stay on for the drive to Tynemouth!

You will also be able to track our progress on the run with regualr Facebook updates!