The Oily Rag Run is leaving the UK … for once

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For keen readers of the Automobile it may be no big news. Still, the Oily Rag run is since many years one of the best-kept secrets of the vintage car calendar. We are sure the event was born from Douglas Blain’s sheer boredom with clean-shaven lawn shows. Plus his educated taste for the well preserved and unspoilt treasures of the motoring age that are still roadworthy.

The Oily Rag Run, this year on Sunday 30 September, will cross The Channel and (aside British Euro-loyals) for sure will attract greasy participants from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany or even further.

Now the name Oily Rag itself is prone to cause misunderstandings as if it is a branch of the once famous US-based company Rent-A-Wreck. No,  Oily Rag Run – ORR-  is meant for cars that are still in use, ranging from ‘sleeping beauty’ condition but still usable,  up to never restored but still in superb original condition.

In general, the Oily Rag is massively over-inscribed, as no more than 25 cars are accepted. Just a few examples of cars that applied for this year's edition are an unrestored 1903 Lacoste & Batman, a Rolls Royce 20/25 by Schutter & van Bakel in Voisin style, a Jaguar SS 2.5 ltr. Tourer, an Amilcar M3 and an equally fine as unrestored 1960 Rover 100 Saloon. Yes, motorcars up to 1960 are eligible.  In fact, the list of candidate participants is already quite long.  But no decisions regarding final granting of participation have been made so far. So it is not yet too late to send us a photo of your candidate car. Please add details about the car and a few lines about its past for us to judge if your car fits the idea.

The start location is less than an hour driving from Hoek van Holland, Netherlands. For visitors from abroad hotel rooms near the start are kept available. The program of ORR itself will be from 10- 17.00  with some 60 miles of pleasant touring in between including a light lunch. Cost of participation is low and will be less than 100 Euro. Please contact Joris Bergsma [email protected] or Scott Barrett [email protected].

Words and photographs by Joris Bergsma.

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