Cirencester Car Club renamed their Economy Run “Corinium” after the Roman name for their hometown. The event saw a 115-mile route, over all types of roads and up and down all types of hills, starting and finishing at the Highwayman Inn, Elkstone, on the A417. The day started for the 70 starters in the nearby Centurion Garage, where cars were checked for roadworthiness and fuelled to the brim under the watchful eye of MSA Scrutineers Dave Bowlas and Paul Loveridge. On arrival at the Highwayman, the cars were ranged in order and made an impressive sight with vehicles ranging from a 1931 Riley Biarritz to a 2005 Daihatsu Copen.

The Corinium Run welcomes cars of all ages and types and also takes participants over a weighbridge, enabling the relative efficiencies of the cars to be compared by combining fuel used and weight transported (in the way pioneered by the famous Mobilgas Economy Runs of the 1950s, 60s and 70s). The event was included in the HRCR’s Scenic Tour calendar and many new faces were welcomed to Gloucestershire as a result.

At 10 o’clock, Jeremy Wells and Pamela Moore were first away with their Austin Healey 3000. After an early frost, the sun was out and the route north towards Broadway would take crews past glorious views, through pretty villages and give everyone a chance to enjoy them due to the gentle pace of the Economy Run. Soon after the start, there was a photo point at Withington – everyone was to receive a photo-certificate of their achievements at the end of the day and the weighbridge at Naunton revealed the lightest car to be the Renault 4CV of Warren Marsh / Bill Price at 820kg with the heaviest being the Maserati Quattroporte ofAl and Jackie Clarke (who were, sadly, not able to complete the route due to their infant daughter becoming unwell in the back of the super limousine that weighed no less than 2260kg). The full majesty of the Cotswold Hills was visible from the high ground above Winchcombe and a second photo point at Cowley allowed the photographers a chance to try to snap the cars with the impressive Cowley Manor in the background. Three pubs around Birdlip were highlighted in the impressive roadbook shortly before the lunch halt for the benefit of participants who preferred a fuller meal than was to be available at Prinknash Abbey, where the Corinium Run took its rest break.

Prinknash Abbey offered views over the city of Gloucester and a pleasant café and obligatory souvenir shop where samples of the famous Prinknash porcelain could be bought. Whilst being only two or three miles from the city, and half that from the busy M5 motorway, one could see why the Benedictine Roman Catholic Community are able to appreciate the retreat, so quiet and off the beaten track is the monastery. The café was soon full of participants regaling tales of the morning and comparing notes as to what they had enjoyed most. Some took picnics and the most crowded “restaurant” must have been Lin Hon Baker’s Lancia Ypsilon in which four people were seated and eating!

The skies were clouding over as Simon Marks and Paul Loveridge set off in the opening car, twenty minutes before the field was released. Arrows were being put out to highlight the more difficult “slots” as the route headed via narrow roads over Haresfield Beacon before skirting Stonehouse and Dursley to Wotton-under-Edge, Nailsworth and Minchinhampton. The local Stroud Motor Club hold a classic trial, the Cotswold Clouds, in this area each February, so it was no surprise to find some steep hills to make economical motoring quite a challenge. As the route took in more gentle countryside towards the finish back at the Centurion Garage, the roads became busy with horses and horse-boxes as a local hunt had organised a “fun ride” aimed at their younger members. As luck would have it, the incoming rain largely held off until everyone was back in.

At the Centurion Garage, the cars were refueled. This was carefully monitored to ensure that the cars were topped up to replicate the fuel level at the start of the 115-mile run. Notably parsimonious were Robert and Linda May Horne’s Fiat Seicento Sporting that only needed 9.10 litres of unleaded and Simon Talbot and David Thomas’ Rover 218 that took 9.11 litres of DERV – as near as two gallons to make little difference! At the other end of the scale was radio journalist Zog Ziegler, navigated by wife Jill, who took part in the very Ferrari 612 Scaglietti that Jeremy Clarkson used to beat his “Top Gear” colleagues to the ski slopes in Switzerland earlier in the year. This 2080kg monster needed no less than 53.03 litres to get round, appreciably more than the next thirstiest car, the Austin Healey 3000 Mk2a of Peter and Carol Blake that “only” needed 36.39 litres!

Everyone then returned to the Highwayman where the good food was swiftly dispatched and enjoyed. The photo-certificates were presented by Joint Clerk of the Course, Martin Saunders, who had used his unrvalled knowledge of the area to put together the much-appreciated route. Though a slight delay was encountered whilst the printer had a recalcitrant few minutes, the proceedings were concluded in reasonable time and the second Corinium Run was toasted as a success.

The Horne’s Fiat Seicento Sporting had achieved 57.74 miles per gallon and 6.84 pence per mile fuel cost, the Rover 218 managed 57.67 mpg / 7.14 pence per mile. Last year’s most economical car, the Toyota Avensis of Michael Stevens and Christopher Gregory found themselves third this time around with 55.31mpg / 7.24 pence per mile. These gentlemen take economical driving to the extreme to achieve this figure – the Course Opening Avensis used roughly twice this amount in carrying out its duties. What did the Ferrari achieve? 9.91 mpg and 43.08 pence per mile! Zog was in no way apologetic for this as he said a few words when accepting his certificate, but was heard to say that he will have to come back in something smaller next time! It is worthy of note that Zog had highlighted the event in his preceeding week’s spot on BBC Radio Gloucestershire and at the various halts, he was descended upon by several spectators who had come to view the event, and the Ferrari, as a result of this publicity.

The Cirencester Efficiency Number calculations put the BMW 320d of Malcolm Middleton-Salt and Neil Forrest at the head of the table with a figure of 28.43. Cirencester Car Club members, the Vout family – Ian, Christine, Laura and Michael – guided their Audi A4 Estate in to 28.07 (having helped out at signing-on at the Highwayman) just ahead of the Toyota Avensis, which recorded 28.04. Once again, this revealed just how more efficient modern cars have become. David Smith, Robert Crafar and Kenneth Abrahams’ 1970 Mercedes 220 once again proving to be the best older car on 15.99, with Keith Wilson / Dave Cooper’s 1931 Riley Biarritz achieving 13.11 and the Lancia Appia of Peter Baker and Clive Berry returning13.08. The Ferrari must have something in its favour in that it finished ahead of six other cars with a Cirencester Efficiency Number of 7.25!

A notable highlight of the event for Cirencester Car Club was the excellent turn out from Club members, both on the organizing side and in the competing cars. Looking down the list we have:

In picking up their certificates, a few people said some very kind words about the event and its organization. The marshals and officials came in for very well deserved praise. The Corinium Run has exceeded its expectations as a Cirencester Car Club event. A glance at the list of participants shows this to be a family event with many husband / wife and inter-generation teams taking part. Running to a Touring Assembly permit precludes the presentation of awards, but the event is actually better without it. Every crew gets a certificate listing their achievements, everyone is a winner. The Highwayman Inn makes a superb Start / Finish venue and John Flynn (the Landlord) and his Staff’s contribution to the atmosphere at both ends of the day did not go unnoticed. About 200 people came together to promote, take part in and enjoy a motoring event - what a glorious one it was.

Top of page