MUSEUM RUN MARKS SEVEN’S CENTENARY
More than 100 Austins have taken part in a run from the Great British Car Journey to mark the Seven’s centenary.
The Pre-war Austin Seven Club joined forces with the Derbyshire museum to organise a 35-mile run through the Peak District, visiting the classic collection and 1930s cinema organ of collector, Dave Thorp, along the route.
Richard Usher, museum founder, said: ‘The Austin Seven is so much a part of our story here – it is the original dad’s car, and it’s a car that I’m incredibly fond of. It was lovely to see so many Sevens come from so far to do this run in this beautiful part of Derbyshire.
‘All of the cars stand out in their own special way – it doesn’t matter if it’s a really expensive Sports 65 or a little box saloon, they’re all loveable in their own way, and still affordable. It’s hard to have more fun on four wheels.’
Nick Turley, chairman of the Austin Seven Association, said that the run is part of a build-up to an even bigger celebration of Longbridge’s pioneer – a gathering of more than 1000 Sevens at Moreton-in-marsh, Gloucestershire, at a now sold-out centenary rally.
He said: ‘Our ambition when we started planning this three years ago was to have 1000 Sevens, and we now have 1025 registered to take part. People will be coming from Scotland, from Cornwall, and shipping cars in from as far afield as the States and Australia.
‘This run is a bit of a warm-up. We wanted to invite all Austins out for the day, not just Sevens, and they’ve come from all over. This was a one-day event that was a bit of fun to mark the Seven’s centenary, but the big event will be a full-on family holiday. It’s bigger than any event we’ve done before.’
❚ greatbritishcarjourney.com