£400! - TO THE PUB (for testing of course)!

Tuesday 16th

I don't mean to brag, BUT..............

Thanks to you lovely, wonderful people I've (we've) raised FOUR HUNDRED POUNDS.  That is ASTONISHING.  Thank you.  AND, I'm not saying it's a competition, however I'm also 1st place fundraiser on the Gaydon drive and 10th in the whole UK! 

Keen to stress-test my trusty tin box to ensure it's fully up to the job, especially with the stakes so high I've opted for "confidence miles" rather than "park while it works". The first endurance run was to the pub (because I can't think of a better place to break down).  Bar a very strange and loud, weirdly electrical sparking noise and all (or if you're the Police reading this "some") of the lights giving up on the way home. It was a total success!

I'll need to do some investigating into the above and put some oil back into, well, everything, as it all runs out the bottom.  Ultimately these a just niggles and overall I'd say confidence, like the level of donations, is HIGH!

With great donations comes great responsibility!

Thursday 11th

Firstly, I have to say the most heartfelt and huge thank you to everyone who has donated.  "I'm blown away" is what I would have said having reached the dizzying stretched goal of £150. But to have been able to move the goal post twice and, as I type, be at £317 has genuinely blown my mind.  The donations will go on to do wonderful things for people and I'm lucky to have such generous, thoughtful and wonderful friends and family.  THANK YOU <3

To business: With great donations comes great responsibility; The Land Rover must finish!

To this end I've been working on it quite a bit to ensure failure is not an option. The engine and mechanicals are in top shape now, though no amount of staring at the wiring diagram or fitting new bits can get the coolant temperature gauge to work.  It's nice to have a bit of mystery in life though.  I'll work on the basis that "steam" is too hot and not worry otherwise.  I've even polished it; one must keep up the "Distinguished" end of things as is appropriate. 

So now, do I use it and put some confidence miles on? Or park it, maintaining it's current state, ready for action?   I'm going to the pub on Friday, it'd be a shame not to use it...wouldn't it....let's risk it, what's the worst that could happen [touches wood].

Thank you all again, hugely.

Tweed out: Scramble the Land Rover!

Monday 8th

Hello, I'm Rob a life-long obsessed car tragic.  I'll be driving my 1982 Land Rover Series 3 on the DGD; a British institution and a total liability given it was dragged out of a poly-tunnel where it was laid up for over 5 years. I've given it  thick-gloss-coat of new parts to get it in running condition over only a couple of weeks and it's been put straight into active service.  It's slow, agricultural, stinks  and remains always about 10% broken, but it's been an invaluable tool and garners the same sort of love as a old family hound.

DGD covers both the brain and the prostate both of which, being about as mechanically sound as my Land Rover, I've had trouble with, so I'm keen to give some back to charity.  The bonus is I don't have to do any running, swimming or get in a bath of beans to do so.  I will however probably end up broken down in the rain soaking my tweed, so there is still a risk and endurance element, which I hope in some small way justifies my bucket rattling.

See you at Gaydon and thank you in advance.

Getting behind the wheel for The Distinguished Gentleman's Drive

Thursday 3rd On Sunday, September 28th 2025, I'll be taking part in The Distinguished Gentleman's Drive. Together with thousands of classic car enthusiasts around the world, I will be raising funds and awareness for prostate cancer and men's mental health for the charity, Movember.

Before the dapper day, I'll be looking to raise as much as possible for the cause, to help men around the world live happier and healthier lives. With men's chances of developing prostate cancer later in life increasing, and one man dying every minute by suicide, we must do all we can to prevent more men from suffering.

This is something that affects us all and together, we can make a change. Please give what you can.