2008 ABRR-PA Recap: A Wet Weekend |
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The 2008 America’s British Reliability Run (Pennsylvania edition), a two day, 750 mile drive for charity, is now history and while poor weather dampened the proceedings, it didn’t dampen our spirits and things certainly could have been worse. All 14 teams completed the course under their own power and with no breakdowns more serious than a flat tire and a leaky oil sender. Can old British Cars be relied on? One would have to say yes, given the right circumstances. Before I go any further, I need to thank the people who helped our team meet and exceed our fund raising goals. Please take a moment to visit our Sponsors Page for a listing of contributors. These folks helped us raise a total of $700 for the Run’s partner charity. You folks are great!
On
the evening of Friday, Sept 26th, fourteen teams gathered at the
Spinnerstown Inn for a kickoff banquet during which we got to know each
other and received our rally placards and route instructions, but also made
note of the fact that this was indeed a charity event. We were joined by Amy
Nadell, founder and chief officer of the Gia Nicole Angel Fund, the partner
charity for the PA ABRR. Amy told us how some years ago she met and
befriended a young girl named Gia, born with severe spina bifida, and was so
inspired by her courage and positive attitude she was moved to create a
charitable foundation to help Gia and others like her. The teams presented
the Fund with donations totaling over $8000, which was sorely needed and
greatly appreciated. |
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Early the next
morning before the sun rose, we gathered at the Wawa (why is it always a Wawa?) in Quakertown to
fuel up, split into smaller groups and receive final instructions. At 7:00
AM, just as the sun was rising behind the dark clouds, we were off. I was
driving my Inca Yellow 1980 Triumph TR7 with my brother-in-law Jim as
navigator and co-driver. The rest of the field was an eclectic mix of 3
TR6s, a TR4, a Spitfire, no less than three MGB-GTs in 4, 6 and 8 cylinder
varieties, a turbocharged MGB roadster, an XK-E Coupe, a Jag sedan, another
TR7 and finally, Aaron Couper and his E-Type powered Austin Healey Sprite.
With daughter Breanna
(left, seated in car), Aaron (right, standing) had come all the way from Vermont to
participate in the Run. Their car was featured in Classic Motorsports some
time ago and it looked even better in person than on glossy magazine paper.
Aaron owns a Jag restoration shop and the workmanship in his car was
outstanding. So how did he fit that big engine in that little engine bay?
Well, they don’t call themselves “Team Shoehorn” for nothing. On the road,
the car was a beast; able to pass anything but a gas station, the Sprite’s
tiny stock fuel tank unable to quench the twin cam six’s thirst for much
more than 100 miles.
The
plan for Saturday was to leave early, take state and county roads through
the Delaware Water Gap, cross the Hudson and arrive at Lime Rock Park in
Lakeville, CT by 12:30 for parade laps between features. It was a good plan
and we had good roads, but the misty rain that would fall on and off
throughout the day and our frequent need for fuel stops and bathroom breaks
(above left, a consequence of the “graying” of the British Car hobby) conspired to put
us behind schedule.