The Vintage Car Owners’ Club (VCOC) -formerly the Veteran Car Club of Ceylon which was the pioneer Vintage Motoring Club in South Asia - marked the Club’s 30th Anniversary with a drive to Jaffna in the Oldest of the Old Vintage cars, with most of the vehicles bordering a century of manufacture.
This is an event that would go down in the motoring history of the country and it is with great honor that we ‘salute’ it.
It was a challenge for the VCOC members who took it up successfully. Sixteen Vintage cars and two motor bikes took part in this historic event that started at Independence Square on March 1, at 7.30 am.
IGP Pujith Jayasundera, the chief guest, flagged off the drive that proceeded along Bauddhaloka Mawatha via Kanatte Junction to Borella, with the convoy heading to Dematagoda junction reaching Peliyagoda and out of Colombo to Wattala for breakfast alongside the Toyota Showroom.
The drive proceeded through Kandana to Ja-Ela, turning towards Ekala, and proceeding to Kotugoda bridge, to Minuwangoda, passing Divulapitiya and reaching Kotadeniyawa. At this point an Austin Light 12/4 – H 1110 driven by Hasantha Thilakeratne joined the Drive, and passing Giriulla entered the Kurunegala Disrict.
The Vintages arrived at Wariyapola for the lunch stop hosted by fellow member Ushan Jayawardena. The drive continued passing Padeniya, Maho, Thambuththegama and Thalawa, and finally reaching Anuradhapura by 4.45pm.
DAY 2 - March 2 - Anuradhapura to Jaffna
The drive was flagged off by SP Division Anuradhapura, Superintendent of Police Thilina Hewapathirana, by 10 am, with a full tank of petrol from the Jayawardena Filling Station.The drive paraded through the town of Anuradhapura and proceeded to Rambewa via the Jaffna Road Junction and proceeded to the Vanni District. The ‘oldies’ chugged along the A9 passing through Irattaperiyakulum, Vavuniya, Thandikulum, Karnagarayankulum to reach Kilinochchi for lunch at the Light Infantry Camp. The Drive proceeded passing Paranthan and the ‘Hasalaka Gamini’ monument near Elephant Pass and with great enthusiasm entering the district of Jaffna. The convoy continued through Mirusvil, Kaithadi, Chavakachchari and arrived at the destination Jaffna around 6.pm. with ‘Cheers and Handshakes’ as the enthusiasm of reaching Jaffna was at its peak. The convoy settled at Green Grass Hotel Jaffna, which was abuzz with the car park that filled up in no time, motoring enthusiasts of the North swarming the hotel.
DAY 3 - March 3- Jaffna Parade and return to Anuradhapura
On the morning of March 3 the locals swarmed in to feast their eyes on the Vintages. Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Northern Range Roshan Fernando flagged off the parade around 9.30 am, after inspecting the vehicles. The convoy proceeded towards the Jaffna ramparts through Hospital Street. The roads were filled with crowds that waved and cheered as the Vintages paraded the streets of Jaffna city and settled at the Tiko Hotel for refreshments. The Drive proceeded to Elephant Pass and then to the Kilinochchi Army camp for lunch and left around 2.30 pm. After stopping at the Irattaperiyakulam Police Rest the group went towards Rambewa.
DAY 4 - March 4 - Anuradhapura to Colombo
The party left Anuradhapura in three groups by 9.30am, one group left via Puttalam, the other two via Giriulla, one set off from the left via Pasyala to reach Kaduwela Highway entrance to proceed to Ambalangoda and Matara, and the other thru’ Minuwangoda, Ja-Ela to Peliyagoda.
All single letter vehicles, Peugeot 203 and the MG TD reached Jaffna, driving 424 km without any major breakdown.
The entire event covered approximately 828 km, but for some it was more. A 3609, the Austin Seven Chummy of S Senadeera came from Matara and he clocked around 1,260 kms which in all probability would have broken any long distance record that any Austin 7 has done in the recent past around the globe.
Another great achievement was S Piyananda’s Hilman 12 – Z 6923 that began from Ambalangoda having clocked around 1,162 kms. Dr. Kalinga Ginige’s majestic Woleseley 12/48, Z6926 slotted in 3rd place at the long distance record having begun his journey from Panadura clocking 996 kms. This was without doubt a show of ‘might’ to the Vintage Cars of Sri Lanka which proved their metal, demonstrating the reliability of our vehicles. So, three hearty cheers to the kind owners who took up the challenge on this enduring event that was a resounding success.
It was a pleasure to note the modern day BMWs and Mercedes travellers that stopped and saluted the parade and were amazed to witness the 80,90 year oldies going at an average speed of 40 to 50 km per hour.
Some recalled, their parents or grandparents driving these cars, how they visited distant relatives, in the attires of the foregoing days, how they were dropped and picked from school, and how at times the engine cranked instead of power start, and their drivers attended to wayside repairs.
Yet another group regretted selling them, while a few were motivated to restore the cars available and were keen to gain Club membership.
- Dr. K G