Club Triumph

Club Triumph Round Britain Reliability Run 2020

Supporting the Motor Neurone Disease Association

Friday 2nd October to Sunday 4th October 2020

The 27th running of one of the oldest events in the Triumph enthusiasts calendar, the Club Triumph Round Britain Reliability Run will be held from Friday 2nd October to Sunday 4th October 2020. We invite entries from Club Triumph members using Triumph or Standard motor cars to participate in what has to be one of the most unique but unknown events in the UK motoring scene.  For 2020 we will support the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) and hope to raise over £50,000.00 to build upon the sum of over £700,000.00 raised by previous RBRRs for UK Charities.

The event first ran in 1966 and is unchanged in its objective to drive around Britain, covering nearly 2000 miles visiting control stops staffed by Club Triumph marshals in 48 hours with no overnight stops: Knebworth to John O’Groats to Lands End to Knebworth. The event is sanctioned by the UK Motor Sports Association and fulfils all the criteria expected of a Touring Assembly.

Entry cost for the 2020 RBRR will be £138.00 per person, therefore the cost for a two man team will be £276, three man at £414.00. Should you wish to take part, please do not hesitate, places for the RBRR go quickly following the announcement. The entry list now opens on Saturday morning, this is different to the information stated within the last edition of Club Torque. Entry will be via the Club Triumph website on the dedicated online entry page. Do note that it is necessary for all prospective RBRR entrants to be registered on the Website, without this registration (you will need your CT membership number), it will not be possible to enter the event. It will also be necessary for the Entrant’s car to be registered, this is part of the same process. Incomplete information will mean that the entry cannot be completed, therefore it is important to have full details in place before attempting to enter. Entrants will be able to revise their entered information to allow for crew or car changes, important as the MSA expects this and we use the listing to produce the Event Souvenirs. Entrant’s places will be automatically acknowledged by Jason Chinn, RBRR Entry Administrator.

Entry will close on 31st August 2020, after that entry places will be let on a discretionary basis by the Organisers. 

Full refunds less £50.00, will be available until 31st August 2020, after that date refunds will be made on a discretionary basis by the Organisers. The £50 charge covers the Club’s costs. Contact Jason via rbrr@club.triumph.org.uk to withdraw.

It should be noted that places 2,3 and 4 will be given to the 3 crews who raised the most money for the RBRR 2018 Charity, Epilepsy Research UK. Entry no.1 has been issued to two Club officials, Dale Barker and Ellis Stokes who are using Derek Pollock’s TR4. As most will know Derek recently passed away and to commemorate Derek’s life and his part as one of the two founders of this event the car is being driven by Dale and Ellis.

An Entry List will be published in the Club Magazine, Club Torque and as part of the Club Triumph website.

For the 27th RBRR the maximum entry will be 125, this is a hard limit due to the logistics. After 125 entries have been received, a ‘Reservists’ list will be held, entrants will be taken from this on a first come first served basis to fill entry withdrawals. A minimum of two people per car and teams should budget on a cost of £450.00 to £550.00 for fuel, oil and the like. The crew that starts the event is to be the crew that completes the event. Although the principal entrant must be a member of Club Triumph, co-drivers do not need to be, therefore you can ask family or friends to take part with you. The entry fee covers the cost of admission into the Drivers Meeting that will preview the event, the start and finish at Knebworth House, the breakfasts at John O’Groats and Lands End, and snacks at many of the stops. Also included are the Drivers Packs, containing the event car stickers, and an event souvenir for each participant. Crews are requested to attend the Club’s Annual Dinner during March 2021 at a hotel in the Home Counties. At that dinner we will present the Charity cheque, the Event Souvenirs to successful crews and make some special awards, such as ‘Spirit of the Event’ and ‘Car of the RBRR’. 

Since the event's 1960s beginnings over 1270 crews have successfully completed the event using Triumph cars of all descriptions, Herald 948 to 2.5 Pi, Spitfire 4 to TR8. The RBRR is run every two years and each time proves to be very popular, reflecting the enthusiasm for an event that provides great value and fun. It attempts to prove that motoring in this country despite speed cameras, traffic jams and legislation can still be fun! The event shows that old cars like Standard Triumph cars are fun and reliable and encourages Club members to use their cars. There is life in internal combustion cars of all ages, despite the clamour to go electric!

Since 1990 the RBRR has been run on a charitable basis

Charitable donations have been as follows:

1990 British Heart Foundation                                 £13,500.00

1992 Imperial Cancer Research Fund                      £8,500.00

1994 Leukaemia Research Fund                            £11,500.00

1996 Alzheimer Research Trust                              £20,700.00

1998 Macmillan Cancer Relief                                £37,500.00

2000 Children with Leukaemia                                £40,500.00

2002 Multiple Sclerosis Society                               £37,000.00

2004 Children with Leukaemia                                £47,000.00

2006 BLISS                                                              £52,000.00

2008 RNLI                                                                £67,000.00

2010 MIND Mental Health Charity                          £51,500.00

2012 Children with Cancer UK                                £65,000.00

2014 Macmillan Cancer Support                            £59,500.00

2016 Guide Dogs for the Blind                               £95,800.00

2018 Epilepsy Research UK                                  £99,500.00

Total                                                                          £706,500.00

As last time, all crews will be asked to raise money for the Charity by using Just Giving. An event home page will be created by MNDA and all crews will be asked to link their page to this home page, this will give a running total for the amount raised. We ask that all crews use Just Giving as their only system of collecting money as the administration for both MNDA and CT staff is simple, therefore saving money for the Charity and time for both bodies. Please note that Just Giving charges nothing for the use of the platform, but does charge 1.9% plus 20p for card processing fees, therefore a £20.00 credit or debit card donation will have 58p taken for JG administration. Most Charities do not have a problem with this as the use of the JG platform saves money on administration and employment costs, MNDA encourage JG use.

The Drivers Meeting will be held on Saturday 19th September 2020 to preview the event. This will be held at a location in the South Midlands. It is felt essential for at least one representative of each crew to attend the Drivers Meeting. MNDA will send along a representative to discuss the Charity with us, and how the collected money will be used. We will also issue the Drivers Packs and discuss the route within the Road Book. Advice will be given to assist crews in their preparation and finally a question and answer session will be held. This meeting is a good opportunity for crews to gain a feel for the event, meet other entrants and pick up tips to assist with completion of the RBRR.

As previously mentioned the start is at Knebworth House, near to Stevenage, Hertfordshire, the atmosphere and anticipation in the car park is surely reason enough to enter the RBRR, it really is a terrific place to be if you like your Triumph cars.  It is fair to say that the whole event has a great feeling of camaraderie and all entrants are made to feel welcome and part of the RBRR by both the organisers and experienced entrants. Spectators at the start are more than welcome.

The event has 3 stages, these being London to John O’Groats, John O’Groats to Lands End and Lands End to London. The start is at 18.00 and heads north on the A1 up to the first stop at a location near to Doncaster. Its then onto the next stop on the border at Carter Bar and into the Scottish Borders. We visit a location in the vicinity of Edinburgh 3.00am on Saturday morning. By now the initial euphoria felt by the crews at the start will have worn off and weariness will start to creep up, but still the mileage must be done. Now we drive along the A9 and A99 viewing the sun rising (it will wake you up) over the North Sea to John O’Groats for a well earned breakfast and a wash and brush up at this very Northern tip of the UK mainland.

Now come possibly the best driving roads of the event as crews cross the top of Scotland via Thurso, and then down to Altnaharra, this is a marvellous single track road that offers challenges to the drivers and fantastic stunning views. The next stop is near Inverness, by now it will be early afternoon on the Saturday. From there the route skirts Loch Ness, crosses Telford’s Caledonian Canal and heads onto Fort William. The next part is a visual highlight as crews pass through the inspiring mountain ranges of Glen Coe. The roads from Inverness are wide fast ‘A’ roads that really offer crews the chance to stretch their cars, in fact it could be said that these roads have been designed for use by Triumph motor cars. Next up is a stop in the vicinity of Stirling, many cars are quickly fettled as the second half of the event starts, cars needing oil top ups and the like. It is weird to think that crews have to get to Lands End for breakfast and onto Knebworth for the finish in 24 hours time, in fact, some crews look totally alarmed by this realisation!

The crews now drive back through the fading light into England taking the A74(M), A6 and the M6 as they head to the border, the next stop is at Tebay for a stop at the best motorway service area in the UK. A bit more motorway action is suffered as we head to Oswestry through the England/Welsh border  for some single carriageway fun! Another great nights driving is now enjoyed right in the middle of Wales. It is bound to be raining, but by now crews will feel at one with their car and be able to exploit the roads that are set out before them. The next stop is just west of Monmouth before we head down to Chepstow passing Tintern Abbey and then onto the old Severn Bridge, this always looks more imposing than the newer one downstream. Then it is onto the M5 and off to the West Country, to end up at Lands End for a rejuvenating breakfast. The Sunday morning can be very fatiguing and it can be a struggle to get to Land’s End, the A30 section through Bodmin Moor being particularly tiring.

The third part, possibly the easiest and definitely the busiest section starts after a superb breakfast at Lands End as one watches the Atlantic beat England’s coastal point. Nice roads are enjoyed as crews set off to Bude for a stop at the town's Museum (and maybe more tea..its a tea run!) and then onto the final stretch of the event, competing with Sunday afternoon traffic. Then we head to Knebworth for the finish, through Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. At Knebworth, there is a chance to purchase some food and maybe have a drink before heading off home following the weekend’s gruelling motoring. There is also the chance for crews to book into the local Novotel Hotel to enable a good rest to be enjoyed before heading home on Monday morning.

All that driving means 2000 miles in 48 hours, to be successful an average speed of 40mph must be maintained throughout the weekend, a difficult task for modern cars let alone cars 40 years old! At present, Nigel Abdullah, our route master is looking over maps to ensure that the Road Book is accurate and as clear as possible. The route is designed to encompass all types of British roads and be completed by the smaller engine Triumph cars such as the Herald and Toledo. We do not encourage driving at illegal speeds or driving whilst tired. To make speeding unnecessary, control stops are only opened at specific times to regulate the speeds of the cars.

The RBRR is all about participation in a unique event and the thrill of driving your Triumph car. The condition of the car is not important, they range from immaculate cars to robust ‘daily drivers’, all types are welcome. All types of Triumph made from the Renown onwards have now taken part in the event, some unusual types have completed the event, we hope to have some special Triumph cars taking part. As with most things in life, the more one puts into something, the better the outcome, so it is recommended that some spanner work  is undertaken before the RBRR, making sure that the car is in mechanically good condition! Remember that most of the cars now undertaking this event are over 40 years old, get fettling! The Club issues advice notes to help with preparation. 

The RBRR is an addictive event, 60% of the crews entered will have done the event before, and once completed owners tend to start to think ahead to the next one and what should be done over the next 2 years to improve the car! You will meet lots of Triumph enthusiasts who love to use their car, maybe forge some enduring friendships and hopefully you will join a group of Triumph owners who have taken part and completed one of the most rewarding old car events in the UK!

Should you require more information please contact the RBRR Organising Team by e-mail: rbrr@club.triumph.org.uk.  They will be pleased to discuss the event and answer any questions. Please visit the Club’s website, www.club.triumph.org.uk where further information in the Blog as well as the list of entered cars and a very active discussion forum can be viewed. 

It really is a bit special to be using a trusted Triumph car for a continual 48 hours and to be able to say at the end that one completed the Club Triumph Round Britain Reliability Run!

The Club Triumph Round Britain Reliability Run, a great driving event, a great way to see the United Kingdom, in fact, GREAT FUN!