God’s Country Rally: Classic car rally to be held across Yorkshire to support historic churches
Motor enthusiasts from across Yorkshire are invited to take part in a rally with a difference in aid of the region’s heritage.
Proud Yorkshiremen and women have often called the county God’s Own Country.
Inspired by this description a small group of business leaders have come together to showcase the county with a classic car rally with a difference – the God’s Country Rally.
They include the Chair of the Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust Ed Anderson, the former chair Tom Ramsden and two prominent Yorkshire businessmen Jonathan Turner and Jonathan Sands.
The event will start at one of four landmarks on October 17.
Each landmark will be at a point of the county’s compass in order to allow drivers to beginat their own preferencial start.
Entrants will then travel to Bowcliffe Hall as the finish point.
A spokesman for the organisers said: “Each entrant will be asked to capture on camera as many places of worship and other historic points of interest as they can along their journey.
“And there will be prizes for the best photograph, the funniest photograph and the most photographs taken on route.
"And to stop any cheating – not that any proud Yorkshireman or women would ever cheat – each car will be given a maximum of three hours and 100 miles to complete their own route from their start point to the finish line at Bowcliffe Hall.
"To ensure that all photographs are taken on the day each of the images must have a copy of the day’s The Yorkshire Post in shot!
"Copies will be distributed within a goodie bag at each start point.”
The rally will conclude with a prize giving and barbecue at Bowcliffe Hall and all proceeds of the event will go to The Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust and four other local charities, one from each start point.
The Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust provides funds for churches, chapels and meeting houses of all Christian denomination and of any age within the county of Yorkshire.
Funding ranges from relatively small schemes such as repairs to monuments, to much larger ones – including large scale repointing of stonework, complete roofing repairs and replacements along with other more complex conservation works.
With the help of Friends of the trust and the public through fundraising activities, donations and sponsor days, the Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust is currently able to award grants amounting to approximately £100,000 a year to churches in need.
Entries are limited on a first-come-first-served basis.
Anyone interested in entering email [email protected] for details and an entry form.
The event is backed by Leeds-based Brand Consultancy Born Ugly and The Yorkshire Post.
The four start points of the Rally are Dean Clough (West Yorkshire), Wentworth Woodhouse (South Yorkshire), Everingham Hall (East Riding) and Mount St John (North Yorkshire).