I’VE DONE IT

DAVID SIMISTER 1972 MGB GT

‘I’ve driven around much of continental Europe in my classics before, but the most enjoyable adventure of the lot was right here in Blighty – taking my ‘B GT up to the Scottish Highlands, an itch I’d been meaning to scratch ever since I’d bought the car six years earlier. I gave the car a full service and a couple of gentler runs the week before, and it did more than 1000 miles over one long weekend without any issues. Take a couple of mates and their classics with you – help each other out!

MIKE LE CAPLAIN 2001 MGF 1.8i

‘I took my MGF to the Le Mans Classic back in 2012 with the CCW team, and while it performed pretty much perfectly throughout, I would certainly get it checked over earlier than I did – I only discovered that that two of its coolant pipes had rotted out 24 hours before I was due to leave. Packing such a small car with a tent, food/cooking gear/cameras and clothing for three days took forensic planning; fitting a 12v socket to charge phones and sat navs is also a shrewd move.’

CHARLIE CALDERWOOD 1999 BMW 318Ti

‘You might think a 20-year old BMW is a pretty safe bet – but

I felt the need to inject some extra pressure in that it was my wedding I was heading to the Pyrenees for. I’d only bought the car a few months before the journey, so I sorted all the issues I had identified in that time first, including worn ball joints and a set of new tyres. The car performed faultlessly, but I did make a mistake in booking a Channel Tunnel crossing right before the Le Mans 24 Hours – the terminal was absolutely rammed.’