Vintage Car Owners Club sets sight for annual drive to Point De-Galle

The Vintage Car Owners Club of Ceylon (VCOC) has made arrangements to hold the annual drive to Galle on the weekend of 24 and 25 August this year. This event is one of the most sought-after events that will hold the Grand Finale at the Peddlars Inn Café situated at Galle Fort whereby heritage will meet vintage and bring back the glory days of a bygone era with the cars of the past that would go hand in hand with the historic ambience of Galle Fort. 

This event has carried on for many years and is pure delight to the many on-lookers who make it to Galle Fort to witness a brace of vintage cars that trek from Colombo to Galle in the oldest of old vehicles with most having surpassed the age of 75 years.

This year too, a brace of vintage delights ranging from the legendary Austin 7’s, the larger Austin Heavy Cliftons, Austin Big Sevens and Tens, Vauxhalls and Wolseley’s Flying Standards will be accompanied by pre-war and post-war motoring marvels such as the renowned Morris, Austin Benz Peugeot and VWs that will make their way to the traditional start of most veteran car events being the Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa and will proceed by 7 a.m. along Galle Road with a stop at Beruwela for a morning tummy fill and a rest for the ‘oldies’ prior to the departure with the next stop being the Coral Sands Hotel, Hikkaduwa which is the mainstay of the event.

The members will settle in for lunch along with their guests and after a small rest will make preparations to resume the parade from Hikkaduwa to ‘Point De Galle’ in fancy dress attire dating back to the glory days of motoring. One could only imagine the blend of the entire scene which is pure nostalgia which gives a time warp feel at Peddlars Street, Galle. 

Peddlars Street will be the settling place for the vintages that will be on display to the on-lookers who will also witness the dress code of the vintage era and the car fans of Galle with an array of tourists from the west as well as the east will have the opportunity to witness the delights of the glorious past. Abdul Aziz of the Peddlars Inn Café will host the special invitees to high tea prior to returning back to the Coral Sands Hotel to enjoy the rest of the weekend.

The President of the Club Neil Fernando and his committee will ensure that the event would be an immense success as in the past and it is hoped that this event would serve as a boost to the tourism sector as well. This is no small task as most of the vehicles are over 75 years of age and withstanding all obstacles the members of the Club will give their fullest commitment towards the annual drive to Galle. Coral Sands Hikkaduwa Managing Director Siri Gunawardena and his team will ensure the participants of a memorable stay prior to the return drive to Colombo making it a memorable event organised by the Vintage Car Owners Club.