The challenge:

Two drivers, in one classic Triumph sports car built in 1979, driving 2,000 miles around Britain in 48 hours, non-stop. Starting from Knebworth House to John O Groats, to Lands End via Wales and then back to Knebworth. Testing the reliability and stamina of both the car and drivers! 

The car:

A 1979 Triumph TR8, two - seater convertible (the roof will be down most of the time), no power steering, ABS or any modern creature comforts, sporting a 4 litre engine and a Grinnall built customised body shell. This car successfully completed the event back in 2012. 

Come and watch:

FRIDAY

18.00 - Knebworth House, SG1 2AX 
21.13 - Wetherby Services LS22 5GT
23.58 - Carter Bar lay-by (Scottish Border, A68) 

SATURDAY

01.44 - Knockhill Circuit KY12 9TF 
05.03 - Skiach Services IV16 9XH
07.42 - Seaview Hotel, John O Groats KW1 4YR
12.47 - Skiach Services (2) IV16 9XH
17.12 - Moto Service Area, Pirnhall Rd, Stirling FK7 8EU
20.08 - Tebay Services CA10 3SB
23.10 - Gledrid Services SY11 3EN

SUNDAY

02.14 - Monmouth North Services NP25 4BR
05.04 - Okehampton Services EX20 1QJ
07.29 - Lands End Hotel TR19 7AA
10.49 - Bude Castle EX23 8LG
12.21 - Badgers Holt, Dartmoor PL20 6SG
14.43 - Pimperne Village Hall, Dorset 
17.27 - Turweston Aerodrome, Brackley
18.55 - Knebworth SG1 2AX

Follow progress:

We will endeavour to keep you up to date via Facebook throughout: https://www.facebook.com/djwayne.s 

and Twitter:
https://twitter.com/prwayne 

The route in detail:

The route for the 2018 event as ever will be slightly different as it is year on year but the modern route is as true in its aim as the original was back in 1966. 
That aim being to get over 100 teams of classic Triumph cars around Britain within 48 hours, covering a distance of approximately 2,000 miles raising money for charity along the way. 

The modern day start /finish location is Knebworth House (well since 2016 anyway!)

Crews stay on the A68 following it to Edinburgh and then onwards to the race circuit at Knockhill. Once over the Forth road bridge, it’s a 180 mile slog to the next control located at the Skiach 24hr truck stop north of the Highland capital of Inverness.

Skiach provides fuel, a stretch of the legs, a driver swap and no need to hang about as John O Groats and breakfast lay in wait 2.5 hrs up the road, again it’s the relentless A9 for the first section hugging the coast allowing sunrise filled views of shimmering oil rigs, eventually leaving  the A9 the route joins the A99 -rugged terrain takes over, roadside signage warns of potential ice reminding you how far North you are. Remnants of “old roads” are seen ducking in land, these old sections would have carried the 1966 crews around costal coves.

The route takes the A836 to join the single track B871 which runs parallel with Loch Naver. This is one of the many event highlights, then onto B873 to re-join the A836 and link up with the scenic B9176.

Crews pass Skiach services for a second time and head for the A862 junction off the A9- this leads to the Conon Bridge Hotel control via Dingwall. The route follows the A862 to Muir of Ord, then A833 joining the A82 alongside Loch Ness. It heads for Fort Augustus and Fort William reaching Onich before turning inland along the banks of Loch Leven into Glencoe’s highland gate and onwards towards Callander, eventually reaching the last of the Scottish control locations at Stirling. Famous Scotch pies await the brave to celebrate the nearly half way point with 980 miles now completed.

After pies at Stirling, it’s Motorway sections to Tebay services off the M6 –it’s a good time for passengers to catch up with sleep as it will be a long night needing many driver swaps. M6, M56, A35 A483 are traversed getting to the Gledrid control off the A5/A483 roundabout on the Welsh border. Mileage is up to 1,250 by the time the control is reached at 23:00hrs. The half hour halt allows tanks to be brimmed in preparation for the ‘dead of night’ run through the twisty A and B-roads of Wales to the next passage control in Monmouth. 

Crews head back onto the A483, A40, A466 and the M48 to cross the Severn using the “old bridge” before tired crews park up at Okehampton services for a much-needed break before plunging into Devon and Cornwall.

Post breakfast the route takes the A39 to Bude –a great drive to start the final day. The Bude stop sets the tone for the final day – lots of onlooker’s, lots of tea and cake and a great atmosphere.

The route heads out of Bude for a scenic drive over Dartmoor and a control stop at “Badgers Holt”. The A38 is joined and it’s onto to Exeter, Honiton and the A35 crews are now mixed in with Sunday day trippers as they make their way to Pimperne Village Hall for the best tea and cake fest laid on by the W.I.

Nearly 1,900 miles completed and only one more control to make before the finish back at Knebworth, with a further control at Turweston Aerodrome in Brackley. Crews head off to cover the last few miles to the finish – some 48hrs and just over 2,000 miles since they started.