Classic car rally in Bristol scrapped

Organisers of a classic car rally launched in Bristol in the 1980s have scrapped plans for a 25th anniversary event in the city.

Roger Deeley wanted the final Claret and Classics rally to start in Bordeaux and end in its twin city Bristol in June 2009, as it did for three years when the event started in 1984.

But the rally's founder Mr Deeley, who lives in Weston-super-Mare, says he gave up on the idea because of what he believed was a lack of interest by the city council in hosting the event.

He wanted the council or Lord Mayor's office to put on a civic reception to welcome those taking part when they returned to Bristol from the 750-mile journey.

But after failing to win any support, Mr Deeley has instead chosen to hold the rally between Bordeaux and Loire Valley, where he says there is far more interest.

The 64-year-old says Bristol has missed an opportunity to say farewell to a popular event and strengthen ties with its twin city.

He said: "They seem to see us as toffs with gas-guzzling cars. They weren't remotely interested.

"Bearing in mind the logistics of getting the cars to England, it would have been nice to have had a bit of a bash laid on when we arrived in Bristol. Some of the places in France were falling over themselves to receive the rally.

"We were told that a new Lord Mayor would come in during the summer and nothing is put in the diary for June.

"If you go to France, if you finish the rally in a town, the mayor comes out and it's a big junket and do. You would have thought someone would have shown some interest here.

"I wanted to finish it in Bristol because I wanted to go out at the top."

The wine-themed rally began in 1984, when 30 cars took part on the trip from Bordeaux to Bristol. The end of the rally coincided with start of the Bristol World Wine Fair.

Following three successful years using the Bordeaux to Bristol route, the annual event moved around to the Continent and has been held in France, Spain and Germany, attracting as many as 60 cars a year.

It costs £2,500 per car to enter and normally each car is occupied by a driver and one passenger.

Mr Deeley says there has already been a lot of interest in the 2009 event.

He said: "The day I announced it on the internet, I had 11 entries in five hours. Now we have 20 and the oldest car taking part is 1924 Sunbeam."

A spokeswoman for the City Council said: "In October, the council facilitated the Marlborough Run, a classic car rally from Bristol to Marlborough in Wiltshire, so it's not as if we don't support this type of event."