Up and over 16 passes

For dedicated enthusiasm and undertaking by Keith and Carol Robinson takes some beating. They took their 1920 Rover 8, which has been in their family for 24 years, over 16 passes of the Alps and the Dolomites to re-enact a similar journey undertaken in 1923 by Ray Abbotts. Although some gradients defeated the little Rover, the 998cc air-cooled flat-twin came to no harm, apart from blown head gaskets, although at the summit of the more severe pa§ses the heat from the cylinders started to blister the paint on the bonnet, and thrice Mrs Robinson had to dismount while the car was still climbing.

The 13bhp vintage light car followed the 1923 route almost in its entirety, and only an obscure carburettor problem eventually put it on an AA recovery vehicle some 186 miles from Boulogne on the return leg of this adventurous marathon. It is nice that owners of rare vintage light cars continue to use and enjoy them.