Edzell hotelier Gordon Craik and his friend Allan Jess are getting ready to ‘fire up the Quattro’ and head for Barcelona to raise money for the RNLI stations in Arbroath and Montrose.
After their success in last year’s Barcelona Bangers a non-competitive 920-mile mass road trip from Calais to the Catalan capital the pair have again fulfilled the criterion of obtaining a roadworthy vehicle worth less than £200.
Gordon said, “We had a choice of three an Audi A6 Quattro, a Mitsubishi Carisma and a Vauxhall Frontera but after much consideration the Quattro won hands down.
“It actually cost £230 but to keep within the rules I’ve flogged off the stereo and traded in the spare tyre, which was like new, for a part-worn one so I’ve got £40 back.”
He added, “When we did this last year we had a Jeep Cherokee and, thanks to Whittons, we had it covered in deep-pile carpet courtesy of our good friends Charlie Cameron and Jim Thomson and the art and design students at Angus College.
“This year our theme is Homer and Bart Simpson so I can’t wait to see what the college guys come up with.”
Gordon said, “One thing everyone involved is really looking forward to is driving through Nice during Monaco Grand Prix weekend. Our motley assortment of old bangers should fit right in with the Ferraris and Maseratis!”
Last year, the friends raised money for Cash For Kids, but this year they have decided to help out their two local RNLI stations.
Gordon said, “Having been down to the Arbroath Seafest for the last few years and learning a bit about how the RNLI operates I was surprised to find out that it completely relies on fund-raising to continue saving lives.
“I also met Tommy Yule, the Arbroath lifeboat coxswain, on Easter Sunday and got talking to him firstly about buying lobsters for the hotel. He assures me these are collected from his full-time job and not while he’s out on the lifeboat, but then about the lifeboats.”
He added, “I remembered seeing a TV documentary, in which Tommy and many of the other Arbroath crew members featured, and finding out about those who have given their lives saving others and families which have for generations produced people still willing to risk their lives.”
Gordon and Allan’s adventures can be followed at homerbartsroadtrip.blogspot.com, where donations can also be made.