History
The
idea behind the Cape-to-Cape Tour to organize a difficult, but fun,
driving experience between the only two British named Capes came to
Dennis Greenslade, the current ‘Director’, whilst he was enjoying a
relaxing time on a beach in France.
As usual, these plans frequently burst in when the mind is on
other things.
Dennis has a long history in motor sport, as a
rally navigator, to International level, and a trials driver and team
manager. With this
background it was probably inevitable that the Grand Tour was going to
have some form of competitive element, but also to be adventurous and
fun; a test of driver, navigator and car.
As all entrants will agree, the roads are not car breakers and
there is no timing element to force crews to drive outside normal road
speed limits. But the roads
are sometimes difficult to find and are usually minor and there are
‘secret’ controls along the way where failure to receive a ‘chop’
results in a monetary penalty, another way of making money for the
charity being supported, Macmillan Cancer Support.
The original Tour started from Cape Cornwall and finished in
North West Scotland, Cape Wrath.
Since that inaugural Tour, further capes have been added: Cape
Clear in SE Ireland, now visited three times; Cape Ferret, visited once
in 2008 as the first foray onto the continent and last year, Cape
Finisterre in NW Spain.
THE
CHARITY:
There
had to be something more focused than only a drive from A to B in a
classic car so Dennis and his wife Tricia decided to encourage entrants
to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.
This choice became more poignant when Tricia was diagnosed with
cancer and, in 2005, unfortunately, died of the condition.
Entrants still ‘compete’ for the ‘Tricia Greenslade Memorial
Trophy’, won by the crew that raises the most funding for Macmillan
Cancer Support in the course of preparing and taking part in the Tour.
It should be emphasised that a number of entrants participate
whilst knowing that they themselves have cancer, four of whom have
subsequently died from the condition.
Since the first Grand Tour entrants have raised, over six
years, the grand total of over £430,000.
CARS
AND CREWS:
The
idea was to limit the ages of participating cars to classics produced
before December 1981, although some slightly more modern examples do
sneak in for various reasons.
For the first six Tours, the oldest classic was the 1932 Austin 7
Ulster crewed by a couple of former ‘bobbies’, Roger Gould, whose car it
was, and Terry Davies. This
car has the record of finishing every Cape-to-Cape Tour, but did not appear on the seventh Tour – anno domini has taken its toll
- however, they are back in 2012, having missed 2011 owing to the sad
demise of Roger's wife Jeanne.
The seventh Tour had as its oldest classic a 1927 Lancia Lambda
crewed by Tim and Ann Riley of Somerset.
The Tour has also included an Austin A30 Pick-up, believed to be
the only one still in existence, the occasional Rolls Royce as well as
the usual mix of Porsches, Triumphs, Jaguars and MGBs.
Crews are a mixed bunch consisting of husband and wife crews,
ladies crews, friends together.
Some are experienced rally and trials drivers and navigators and
some have never even considered attempting such an event in their own
cars. But as the aim is
enjoyment whilst raising funds for charity, all enjoy themselves, and
usually come back for more.
A number have entered every Tour and have built up a community spirit
that encompasses all newcomers.