Charity Heroes - Craig Cheetham on festive fundraising efforts

There’s a good chance you’re reading this issue of PC during the festive season and, while the temptation may be to snuggle down in front of the fire with a mince pie and a glass of eggnog, there’s also plenty to be getting on with where your classics are concerned. As the year draws to a close there’s the ‘Almost New Year’ classic car meet at the Great British Car Journey for example, or the annual New Year’s Gathering at Brooklands – both well worth a visit if they’re in striking distance of home.

But on a smaller scale, there are also loads of more local events, many of which will be raising funds for good causes. I’ll be spending New Year’s Day this year in Stony Stratford for the annual Vintage Stony event, which is a fabulous spectacle if you’re not a million miles away. The centre of the village is taken over by veteran and vintage cars from pre-1940, marking a truly bygone age, but there are classics of all ages in abundance as fans of retro machinery gather together to appreciate the golden years and see in the New Year.

Even more important, though, is that Vintage Stony raises funds for Willen Hospice, which provides palliative care and support to families across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Northants and Buckinghamshire. It costs 4.7 million a year to run the hospice, and the January 2023 gathering put an almost £14,250 sized dent in that – small fry on a wholesale level, but every single penny makes a difference. It’s also a fabulous spectacle. Indeed, if you wish to turn up in a classic but not vintage car you can pay £5 and park on the periphery of the market square for a ringside seat. I’m not sure what I’ll be going there in this year, but I know I’ll be chucking a fiver in the bucket so I can enjoy a hot chocolate from the comfort of my own car for when the veterans arrive. I’m rather looking forward to it.

If you, your car club or your friends have got anything planned to raise money for charity, we absolutely want to hear about it and talk about it in these pages. Please drop us a line at practicalclassics@bauermedia.co.uk and we’ll help you in any way we can.

Drive ‘n’ Dine 4 Cancer

Petrolheads amass to support cancer charities

Cambridgeshire -based Drive ‘n’ Dine 4 Cancer was set up by Siobhan Devine in 2021, after her dad Paul was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. Siobhan’s wish all along has been to raise funds for MacMillan Cancer Support. The first outing saw Siobhan get her friends and family to meet in a car park, drive to the beach, get some fish and chips and drive home, encouraging people to donate money into a bucket in return for a car sticker.

The following year, she wanted to go bigger and approached her friend Mike Dunstan, who agreed to help her make it into something that could raise a lot more money. Mike lost his stepdad in June 2019 and dad in November 2020 to cancer, both of which had a huge impact on his life, so he shares Siobhan’s desire to raise as much money as possible for MacMillan.

Last year, Michael and Siobhan got together and discussed options, meeting with the owner of Sharnbrook Hotel in Bedford, Ciro Ciampi who offered the grounds of the hotel for a static car display. Around 30 cars attended the first event and Drive ‘n’ Dine raised around £2500. Earlier this year, plans were laid to make the event – or events – even bigger.

‘We met with the owners of the Pike and Eel pub at Needingworth, Cambridgeshire, and agreed a date of July 2 to host static car show for all makes and models of vehicles, motorbikes, classics and modified,’ said Mike. ‘We had over 40 prizes and even held an auction at the end for some of the higher value things such as a two-litre bottle of vodka, a brand-new BBQ and two fire pits.’

The event was a massive success: ‘In total we raised just over £5000 that day,’ added Mike.

So, what’s in store for 2024? Siobhan and Mike want to go even bigger, with a new venue and more sponsors and vendors, all locally based and all raising funds for MacMillan.

Follow the event and keep an eye on 2024 events here.

DRIVE ‘N’ DINE 4 CANCER IN 4 PICTURES

Going from strength to strength!

Mike Dunstan and Siobhan Devine – proud founders of Drive ‘n’ Dine 4 Cancer. Both have big plans for events in 2024, too.

Mike’s eye-catching Honda Civic Coupé is a regular at DnD events, along with Siobhan’s Volkswagen Polo Coupé.

There was huge variety at the July event, including a selection of Group B rally car replicas, with this fabulous Lancia Delta Integrale among them.

Clubs formed a large part of the attendance, including this fantastic display from Fenland Ford Fanatics.

We can help…

‘Those who put in a shift for charity don’t seek recognition. All the more reason they should receive it. That’s why Lancaster is very proud to support these pages.’

Help to weld a Spitty

Experienced metalworkers required for TSSC charity project

Members of the Triumph Sports Six Club Shropshire Area Group are seeking welders to help restore a Spitfire for The Severn Hospice. Known as the ‘Shropshire Spitfire Project’, The TSSC Shropshire Area has received a donation of panels from specialist TD Fitchett to complete the car, which will be auctioned off with all proceeds going to the hospice, which cared for the owner, Karen Miller’s late father, Bob Dyke.

David Embery, TSSC Shropshire joint area group organiser, said: ‘We’re looking for a welder or welders who can support us with bringing the panel work up to the required standard. This might mean as much as 80 to 90 hours before the car body is then ready for the next stage of restoration.’

Karen said: ‘It was my father’s dream to restore the car to its former glory; I can’t thank the TSSC and the Shropshire Area Group enough for their hard work and commitment to getting the car fit for auction.’

Anyone who would like to offer welding support can contact David at the TSSC Shropshire Area Group by emailing d.embery@talktalk.net or calling 07701 049881.

JODY’S MIDGET

Auto-Lass’s Help for Heroes resto

A specialist has raised over £6500 for Help for Heroes after restoring an MG Midget known as

Marshall, which was raffled off following her restoration of the car on the Auto-Lass YouTube channel.

Jody Bevan, who runs MNJ Autocare in Woodend Mills, Oldham, restored Marshall between jobs, often getting into work at 5am to weld and repair the MG before starting her day job as a garage owner and MOT tester. She also got help from friends in the trade and fellow mechanics, all of whom gave their time for free.

‘It was ace; we loved every second of it,’ Jody said. ‘Thank you to everybody who bought a ticket and donated, all the companies that donated parts and obviously my team.'

NEWS IN BRIEF…

BEN launches suicide prevention campaign

BEN, the automotive industry charity, has released a short film to raise awareness around the topic of suicide. The short film, called Alright Mate, is designed to encourage young men in the motor industry to talk more.

View it on their website here.

Dorset rally raises £3k for Children’s Air Ambulance

The Sherborne Classic Car Show has donated £3000 to support the Children’s Air Ambulance (TCAA), as the charity marks 10 years of service.

Dream Rides top 37k at NEC

The Sporting Bears Motor Club raised £37,145 from 10-mile passenger rides carried out at the Lancaster Insurance NEC Classic Motor Show, with the ‘Dream Rides’ feature sold out all weekend.

Hospice benefits from classic social

The Gartcosh Works Social Club in North Lanarkshire played host to a classic car gathering with over 75 cars in attendance – all proceeds from the day were donated to St Andrew’s Hospice in Airdrie.