Trusty Barnstaple Triumph took on Storm Amy and 2,600 miles in charity challenge

A Barnstaple Triumph owner drove the entire length of the UK and into the teeth of Storm Amy as he and his classic car took part in an iconic motoring endurance event for the 24th time.

Tim Hunt, his co-driver Mike Hockaday and Tim’s trusty 1966 Triumph TR4A were taking part in the Club Triumph Round Britain Reliability Run, which sees the cars and their crews cover almost 2,000 miles in just 48 hours.

The charity event for Triumph cars only is held every other year and this year has so far raised more than £100,000 for Parkinson’s UK. It has already raised some £900,000 for good causes since the charity element was introduced for the 1990 run. 

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A total of 87 Triumphs set off from Knebworth Park in Hertfordshire at 6pm on October 3, travelling to the northernmost point of the UK mainland at John o’ Groats before turning around and driving to Land’s End in Cornwall and then finishing back at Knebworth.

Above: Tim, Mike and the TR4A at a very windy John o’ Groats. Credit: Tim Hunt

This year, Storm Amy decided to join the party and drivers were faced with fallen trees, diversions, heavy rain and gale force winds in places, but 75 out of the 87 entrants all completed the route.

Above: Triumphs and their crews at the Round Britain Reliability Run start at Knebworth Park in Hertfordshire. Credit: Tim Hunt

Tim, who is also chairman of Club Triumph, has taken part in 24 of the 29 Round Britain Reliability Runs to date and has completed it on 22 occasions.

He said ‘Amy’ had certainly added an extra challenge to this year’s run: “It was blowing a gale at John o’ Groats and I dared not open the bonnet to check the oil there for fear it would be wrenched from its hinges!

“The organisers set up a WhatsApp group and sent regular helpful messages to crews advising us of road conditions, fallen trees and diversions ahead.

“The planned return route from Inverness to Stirling became impossible when electrical cables were brought down on the A82 between Invergarry and Spean Bridge so we had to take the A9 as the only alternative.”

Above: Storm Amy did her best to disrupt proceedings, with run participants facing fallen trees, such as this one pictured near Glasgow. Credit: Tim Hunt

Ironically, two years ago during the event they encountered Storm Babet too.

Below: Heavy rain batters the Triumph TR4A crew on the A9 in the Scottish Highlands. Credit: Tim Hunt

Club Triumph is a volunteer-run club for any owners and enthusiasts interested in the running, restoration and preservation of all Triumph cars. It is recognised by Motorsport UK.

The RBRR event started in 1966 and in early days saw the Triumph factory enter new models to take part, as a stern test of their reliability.

The oldest car taking part in the 2025 instalment was a 1936 Triumph Southern Cross, crewed by two men from Belgium, whose 90-year-old vehicle completed the rally in fine style. The ‘youngest’ cars were two 42-year-old Triumph Acclaims.

Above: The 1936 Triumph Southern Cross, pictured here on the A39 in Cornwall, was the oldest vehicle to take part in the RBRR 2025. Credit: Julian Stephens

Tim added: “My Triumph TR4A was built on October 17, 1966, so has just had its 59th birthday. It was bought by my father in September 1970 as a retirement present to himself.

“This year was my 22nd successful completion of the RBRR in the same car, more than any other in the club. It never missed a beat all weekend, despite the appalling weather and developed no squeaks or rattles.

“It returned 35.1mpg over four days and 2,610 miles door to door from my Barnstaple home. It just gets better with age, like a fine Bordeaux.”

Above: Crews stop at a service station control point on the run. Credit: Tim Hunt

Tim’s TR4A has been around the clock twice and he says is approaching 200,000 miles, although the engine has been rebuilt in the past and most of the mileage these days is for club events.

He said: “All being well it will be our 30th run in October 2027 and as things stand I hope to take part again.

“The marshals are all volunteers and club members and they turn out at such unsociable hours to greet us, they are the real stars of the show.”

If you would like to donate to Parkinson’s UK in recognition of Tim and Mike completing this year’s challenge, please go to https://www.justgiving.com/page/tim-hunt-6

Anyone who wants to find out more about Club Triumph can do so at https://www.clubtriumph.co.uk