Regis Classic Tour No 11 beats
all previous fundraising totals!
The funds just kept rolling in after the 11th
Regis Classic Tour, generously sponsored by Frosts
www.frosts4cars.co.uk, finished in Cornwall this
March and having just closed the account for 2008,
the ladies are more than thrilled to announce
the total raised has smashed all previous total
to reach £30,802.01.
The previous highest figure raised in a single
year was £26,192, so despite the recession,
rising fuel costs and the general down-turn in
the economy the result is just staggering!
The 11 year total raised by this annual event
organised by the ladies of Bognor Regis Motor
Club has now reached £224,290.99. Every
year the funds are donated to Cancer charities
and this year the two lucky recipients were Against
Breast Cancer & Orchid – Fighting Male
Cancer – both receiving cheques for £15,401.00.
PREVIOUS STORY
Fantastic Fundraiser looks likely to
smash previous annual totals by miles!
The Ladies of Bognor Regis Motor Club are more
than delighted with their latest Classic Tour
– “Kernow Coast to Coast “ based
in Cornwall. This being the eleventh running of
this very popular Classic Tour but for the first
time this year sponsored by Frosts www.frosts4cars.co.uk.
They have just returned from a fabulous, if a
little damp, weekend in the West Country. Based
at the luxurious 4 star Carlyon Bay Hotel, St
Austell the event got off to a cracking start
on Friday night with a welcome buffet after registration.
Early Saturday morning the cars lined up in the
rain to be flagged away by the Town Cryer of St
Austell. The route headed off to Penhallow to
visit the Cornish Cyder Farm, where they were
met by Bic Healey, Chairman of the Austin Healey
Club and son of Donald Healey designer of the
Austin Healey. The Cyder Farm being owned by David
Healey one of Donald’s grandsons and Bic’s
nephew. 13 models of this marque featured on the
event, hardly suprising as Donald was a Cornishman!
Leaving the Cyder Farm after coffee, the crews
headed off along the north coast arriving at St
Ives, here heavy cloud replaced the rain and everyone
enjoyed a visit to Tate St Ives having lunch in
the roof top café. Thanks must go to Penwith
District Council for use of their car park facilities.
The afternoon route took crews back towards the
south coast, low cloud and fog shrouding the views
of St Michael’s Mount. However nothing was
going to dampen the spirits of the 56 crews taking
part. An afternoon Cornish Cream Tea was enjoyed
at Falmouth visiting the National Maritime Museum
with the honour of being allowed to park in the
event square where shoppers could browse the cars
as close quarters.
The final Saturday leg took crews over the famous
King Harry Ferry and back to the hotel. Everyone
then donned their glad rags for the Black Tie
Sparkling Gala Dinner. After a tombola, auction
and live music the funds were rolling in.
Sunday morning started damp but soon brightened
up, improving on the projected weather forecast.
Everyone set off with a run up the famous Tregrehan
Hillclimb course and then onto Prideaux Place
at Padstow, where hosts Mr & Mrs Prideaux-Brune
welcomed everyone into their beautiful home and
grounds, this being a highlight for many.
The sun decided to show its face and the sky
brightened up. Sadly, all too soon, it was time
to depart for the final leg of the tour heading
back south to Boconnoc. This delightful house
is undergoing a full restoration having been empty
for almost half a century. Luckily Anthony and
Elizabeth Fortescue have taken on guardianship
and are rapidly returning the house to its former
glory. Here everyone enjoyed the wonderful hospitality
with a hot Pheasant lunch, followed by the most
amazing sticky toffee pudding with cornish clotted
cream. Waistlines now expanded there was a brief
gathering for farewell speeches and presentation
of awards.
 The
winner of the most sponsorship raised award was
Lis Law from East Sussex. The Taskmaster Trophy
was presented to “The Mavericks” from
Devon and The Bling Award was given to Team Gribble
from Oving, Nr Chichester, West Sussex. Well in
excess of £25,000 has already been pledged
for this latest event bringing the eleven year
total to just under £220,000.
Each competitor enjoyed a souvenier gift as a
memory of the event, St Kew Products at Wadebridge
provided beautiful baskets containing Cornish
produce – a lovely reminder of a great weekend.
For those not rushing back home an optional Coach
trip to the Bodmin & Wenford Railway was arranged
with a trip on the steam railway, buffet supper
and entertainment on board with a live Jazz Band.
This was a fabulous way to round off a really
amazing weekend of fun and fundraising.
Tour organiser, Ali Green was delighted to see
the money rolling in for the two chosen charities
for 2008 – Against Breast Cancer & Orchid
– Fighting Male Cancer. “We never
thought we could continue to raise such large
sums of money each year, however, as so many families
have been touched by Cancer the causes are always
very well supported. The 140 people who took part
must all be exhausted having driven 180 miles
over the weekend in their classic cars and partied
so hard in the bargain.
The welcome received from our host hotel and
chosen venues over the weekend was very warm,
despite the slightly damp conditions. Cornwall
in the Spring is a delight, the countryside is
stunning and the roads are challenging without
the disadvantage of summer traffic! For more information
on the event log onto www.theregisclassictour.co.uk
. Where you will find an entry list and more details
of the venues.
For more information call Ali Green 01243 542674
or e.mail theregisclassictour@btinternet.com
Photos are available from Nigel & Julie Eddleston
(info@edpphoto.com)
If you are interested in entering the Twelfth
Regis Classic Tour, again sponsored by Frost Cars
over the weekend of 3,4 & 5 April 2009, contact
us via email to receive a flyer. Details will
be posted on the website by Easter for next year’s
Tour location.
Thank you to www.edpphoto.com
for use of photographs on this page
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