 |
Edward
Way |
Edward Way, ‘Le Patron’ Pioneer - of the trip and of Oliver, William and Jeremy - has been designing and rebuilding mainly vintage and Edwardian cars since he was in short trousers (they are still quite short). By his own admission his strength is in obtaining rather than selling interesting automobiles, and the Mors will add to the series of obscure specials, including the most recent acquisition of a 1918 Stanley Steam Limousine. Edward is a man of many talents. When not building and collecting cars and driving across 3 continents he manufactures ‘designer’ Mongolian Yurts www.fordingbridge.co.uk and is a publishing (as opposed to fridge) magnate, being founder director of the publishing empire Twincam Ltd – www.austintwincam.co.uk . After five weeks driving across the Gobi desert looking for a petrol station he is most looking forward to the first pint of English Bitter he can get his hands on in Paris! |
 |
|
|
|
Oliver
Way |
Eldest Brother and chief designer, Oli is by profession a createur d’automobile. Outside work he apparently likes to cook and discuss art and modern design, though not necessarily all at the same time. He says the aspect of the trip most likely to go right is the car, and the most likely thing to go wrong (or perhaps right) is youngest brother Jeremy being kidnapped… He is most looking forward to the parties at the end of the trip, in Paris and England (WATCH THIS SPACE FOR PARTY DETAILS!). Oli will be taking with him his extensive silk tie collection, and will be singing the thoroughly English ‘Down In Albion’ by the popular cockney 4-piece, Babyshambles. |
|
|
|
|
William
Way |
William “Where There’s a Will There’s a Way" – Intrepid middle brother William lists among previous achievements coming 23rd place on the VSCC Measham Night Rally – so with him on board, what can go wrong?!!! William works for Cosworth, www.cosworth.com and as well as his smart overall, will be bringing to the table years of racing engine experience. For the car build he has already formed a strong attachment to his lathe and will be mostly machining into the early hours, honing bits of metal into 1907 works of art. He is most looking forward to starting a hat collection from all the policemen they encounter on the trip, and is most likely to be wearing his pith helmet and humming ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ and ‘God Save The Queen’ and ‘Rule Britannia’ to keep up pioneer team spirits. |
|
|
|
|
Jeremy
Way |
Jeremy Way - the most youthful of the Way family pioneers. He runs Greenpower – the electric racing car series for schools www.greenpower.co.uk. Building the car he will be doing general mecanicien work and like brother William, will spend a lot of time with his lathe. Outside work, Jeremy mostly drinks Youngs bitter and eats salt and vinegar crisps at the White Horse Inn, Sutton, W. Sussex. He is most looking forward to seeing the Great Wall of China (though doesn't know if the route will take it in yet…). On the trip he will be sure to take a gallon of Thatcher’s cider in his kit bag and will be humming tunes by the well known music hall star, Miss Lily Allen. |
|
|
|
|
Ivan
Weightman |
Born approx 1979 in the far North of England, Ivan soon grew far too big to be kept in the family home and was transferred to a barn on his fathers farm. There he practiced the art of mixing G+T's and general drinking. In later years he has become married and settled down. His collection of racing pigeons and hare coursing whippets is considered second to none. Unfortunately for the good people of the south Ivan and Charlotte are promising to bring their specially brash Northern taste down here, where they are to buy a large family home and surround it with ghastly security gates, statues of lions and cctv cameras. |
| |
|
|
IN MISSION CONTROL HEADQUARTERS ... |
 |
Linda
Way |
Rescued by Edward in 1976 from near slavery in a laundry in Epsom; Linda
presides over the merry household of Bigenor. When not cooking vast meals,
she divides her time between recruiting gardeners for the rich and famous
(www.englishcountrygardeners.co.uk) and growing large quantities of
vegetables. To get away from it all she tunes into Radio 3 in the
greenhouse and communes with her plants. |
|
|
|
 |
Vicko 'Buzzard' Thompson |
With the promise of plenty of G+T's Vicky was persuaded to create www.pekingparisraid.co.uk, a most exciting project! When not updating the site, Vicky can be found driving her brothers Austin 7 'Buzzard' or creating garden sculptures www.vickythompson.co.uk. |
|
|
|
 |
Nancy Ody |
Nancy hails from that "special place" Devizes , the capital of the middle south west - ish part of England. Throughout her rough upbringing Nancy was transported around by her parents in a number of vintage oddities and fed on a special Devizes hedgerow diet which promotes curly hair growth (the diet proved successful). That however was all a very, very long time ago and surprisingly has had little or no ill effects as Nancy now runs a massive media empire from a London tower block. For regular payments of bottled red wine she works tirelessly on such complex matters as Visas for the team and preparing for the inevitable media frenzy that will await the pioneer raiders if they are ever to be seen again. |
|
|
|
|
Alan D'Harrison |
Alain d'Arrison was discovered working on cave paintings in Betteshanger coal
mine in Kent. Immediately hailed as the greatest coal artist of the 20th Century
he rapidly became the doyen of Paris café society.
During the late 1980's Alain became a renowned Rally navigator. He did however
lose his way somewhat and this was demonstrated to a fascinated crowd whilst
driving his Type 37 Bugatti at Prescott Hillclimb.
Unfortunately he has recently becoming increasingly reclusive although can often
be found at Bigenor arriving at 1 minute past 6 in the evening. |
|
|
|
 |
Will 'Sud' South |
Guillaume Sud was born in the Bordeaux region of France, the son of French
peasants, in 1985. Like Ivan he soon outgrew the family home when he reached
7' 4" at the age of 15. He was sent to England to study where he was
discovered lost, riding an exceedingly large bicycle around the Beaulieu
Autojumble, which he had exchanged with old bicycle dealer Gim Tunn for a
Saussicon and bottle of Cider.
He was fed and watered by the Way family who took pity on him and lived in
nearby Petworth where he falsely assumed the name of Baron de Petworth.
Despite nearly being a qualified engineer and now living in Bristol, Sud is
remarkably useful in the workshop where he seems to be a natural on the
lathe - perhaps skills learnt in the French vineyards in his early days. |
|
|
|
 |
Ben 'Sud' minor |
Ben Sud is a curious creature, as yet unknown to scientists. Perhaps the most curious feature is his bewildering hair, which has been untended for many a year. Otherwise there is little to say. He never wears shoes, is surprisingly good at carpentry, is a purveyor of the finest Cornish fisherman's smocks, and always appears to have to keep a large number of intrigued girls at bay. |
|
|
|
|
Steve Bray |
Petworth to Henfield sub 23 minutes. |
|
|
|
 |
Dave Yorkstone- |
Dave Yorkstone AKA Flintstone/Longstone/Pavestone.
The son of a vicar, Dave is from Blackpool, in the north of England. He has been friends with Will Way for a long time since they worked at Cosworth together and tested F1 engines (20,000rpm). Dave used to rent a room from Will in Will's house so they have spent many an evening together discussing the things they love most – beer and women – oil and engines. Since Dave moved out of Will’s house he has switched F1 for Diesel engines (2,000rpm), and continuing the rather worrying ‘slowing down’ trend, Dave has also recently been seen drinking half pints of beer .. William is confident that Dave’s involvement in the Peking to Paris raid will get him back on full pints very soon! |
|
|
|
|
Tim Brown |
Tim Brown - shock absorber man & organiser of forthcoming VSCC camping trip.
Tim recently spent the whole weekend at Bigenor fashioning shock absorber brackets using an angle grinder (the angle grinder is still roasting hot and the boxful of cutting and grinding discs is empty!). Drives a Riley 9 and competed in the Measham in January with his brother Michael. They came very close in the results to Will Way and Nancy Ody driving the Austin 16/6 – though we understand they lost points due to poor map marking... Entertains fellow Peking Paris mechanics in the workshop with stories of recent dates with various fair maidens; we look forward to the next instalments on his next visit! |
|
|
|
|
Adrian 'Model A' Ward |
Adrian ‘Model A’ Ward - Former F1 Guru.
Adrian now works in education and lives in Thame with a large cat, an Austin, an Amilcar, a Model A and his excellent jukebox. Has been known to drive into ditches in his Model A though blames it on the ignition and his over-excitable advance/retard lever (!)….. Adrian is very handy in the garage and currently holds the title for being the only person to pass the Bigenor 'What is this?' test. Is very knowledgeable and has a wealth of interesting stories to tell on almost any topic! |
|
|
|
|
Simon Duke |
Simon is more at home driving his very German Geschwindigkeitwagon (big Silver family saloon) than an aero engined Edwardian but he seems to be able to turn his hand to fashioning various parts for the latter. He is legendary with a pair of skis on the slopes of the Matterhorn where he is known as 'Simon the Snow Plough King'. When not partaking in his love of extreme sports Simon likes to amble round the Buckinghamshire countryside in his collection of vintage tractors. |
|
|
|
|
John Everett |
John Everett comes from Wales along with leeks and Rudge Whitworth wheels. John has been racing since time began, always sporting a dashing set of bright yellow overalls. He was a pivotal member of the 'Austin Powers' team in the 2006 VSCC endurance race and will hopefully be persuaded to feature in the team again this year - perhaps even with the hot new engine that we have all heard much about but have yet to see...... Until recently John would set benchmark times at VSCC hillclimbs in his Austin 7 but has stuck to the circuits since being convincingly beaten on the hills by his rather pretty daughter, Kate. |
| |
|
|
|
Paul Mayhead |
|
|
|
|
|
Sandy Skinner |
Head of Technical Research- inlet manifolds. |
|
|
|
|
Francis Hodgson |
The "Works Boy." |
| |
|
|
