Intrepid classic motorist Joy Rainey will next year embark on her biggest challenge to date – driving nearly 3000 miles across the USA on a 108-year-old Curved Dash Oldsmobile.
An accomplished single-seater hillclimber, Rainey (a person of restricted growth) is also no stranger to great classic motoring adventures having previously competed in the London to Sydney Marathon in a Morris Minor (see C&SC, July 2004).
Her coast to coast US epic has been on the cards for years, but was postponed after the death of her co-driver and partner Trevor Hulks in 2010.
She said: "A few months after Trevor’s untimely death I was contacted by Gary Hoonsbeen of the CDO Club in the USA who gently suggested that at some time in the future I might consider undertaking the trip myself as a tribute to Trevor.
"My reply was something like, ‘I never say never’, but in my heart then, I did not think that I could take on such a challenging trip without my soul mate.
"Now, after considerable soul-searching and encouragement from old and new friends, I have decided that this challenge feels like unfinished business.
"Therefore on 14 April next year I will start my coast-to-coast USA trip from Los Angeles and drive to Daytona Beach arriving on the 15th May in my 109-year-old Curved Dash Oldsmobile. And I would like to raise £20,000 for Cancer Research."
Those who want to see Rainey in action in the UK will get a chance in November when she runs the Olds in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.
