VCOC creates history with successful heritage vintage rally to Jaffna

By Dr. Kalinga Ginige

The Vintage Car Owners’ Club, which succeeded the Veteran Car Club of Ceylon which was the pioneer vintage motoring club in South Asia, commemorated its 30th anniversary by organising a drive to Jaffna in the oldest of vintage cars with most of the vehicles bordering on a century of manufacture. 

The event will go down in the country’s motoring history and it is with great honor that we salute the members of the VCOC who took up this challenge which many other younger motoring clubs have hesitated to carry out and came out with flying colors with all participants reaching the milestone. 

Sixteen vintage cars and two motorbikes took part in this historic event which started at Independence Square on 1 March at 7.30 a.m.

Chief Guest Inspector General of Police Pujitha Jayasundera flagged off the drive, which proceeded along Bauddhaloka Mawatha via Kanatte Junction to Borella, with the convoy heading to Dematagoda Junction reaching Peliyagoda and out of Colombo to Wattala for a breakfast alongside the Toyota showroom.

The drive proceeded past Kandana to Ja-Ela, with a turn towards Ekala, proceeding to Kotugoda Bridge, heading towards Minuwangoda, passing Divulapitiya and reaching Kotadeniyawa. 

At this point an Austin Light 12/4 – H 1110 driven by Hasantha Thilakeratne joined the drive, passing Giriulla and entering the Kurunegala District.

The vintages arrived at Wariyapola for the lunch stop which was hosted by fellow member Ushan Jayawardena. The afternoon tea was served from a wayside petti kade at Daladagama and proceeded past Padeniya, Maho, Thambuththegama and Thalawa, finally reaching the historic city of Anuradhapura by 4.45 p.m. 

The people of Anuradhapura were given the opportunity to witness the cars and take photographs and pose with vehicles. Having spent a whole day on the road, the entourage settled into three hotels for some rest and met up for dinner which was organised with the courtesy of Ushan Jayawardhana who hosted the event.

Anuradhapura to Jaffna

On day 2 of the event on 2 March, from Anuradhapura to Jaffna, the drive was flagged off by SP Division Anuradhapura, Superintendent of Police Thilina Hewapathirana with a full tank of petrol put in at Jayawardena Filling Station by 10.00 a.m. 

The drive wound through the town of Anuradhapura and proceeded to Rambewa via the Jaffna Road Junction and proceeded to the Vanni District. The oldies chugged along the A9 passing through Irattaperiyakulum, Vavuniya, Thandikulum and Karnagarayankulum to reach Kilinochchi for lunch at the Light Infantry Camp. 

The drive proceeded past Paranthan and the Hasalaka Gamini monument near Elephant Pass with great enthusiasm as they entered the Jaffna District. The convoy continued through Mirusvil, Kaithadi and Chavakachchari and arrived at the destination of Jaffna at around 6.00 p.m. with cheers and handshakes greeting the drivers as the enthusiasm of reaching Jaffna was at its peak.

The convoy settled at the Green Grass Hotel Jaffna, which was abuzz as the car park was filled up in no time with the motoring enthusiasts of the North who swarmed the hotel. 

Jaffna Parade and 

return to Anuradhapura

The morning of 3 March was a mad rush at the hotel car park by the locals who swarmed into feast their eyes on the vintage vehicles. There Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Northern Range Roshan Fernando flagged off the parade at around 9.30 a.m. after inspecting the vehicles. He was a keen enthusiast of vintage motor vehicles and was happy to learn more about the whereabouts and the history of the vehicles. 

The convoy proceeded towards the Jaffna ramparts through Hospital Street. The roads were filled with crowds that waved and cheered as the vintage vehicles paraded through the streets of Jaffna city and settled outside the Tiko Hotel for light refreshments at an event hosted by Thilak and Kohila Thilgaraj.

The vintage vehicles paraded across town to Nallur Kovil to be met up by a large gathering and proceeded along the A9 road via Tinnaveli with a pit stop made to pose for some photographs at the Jaffna signboard, bidding adieu to the warm welcome and hospitality of Jaffna.

The drive proceeded to Elephant Pass, made a tea stop and proceeded to the Kilinochchi army camp for lunch and left around 2.30 p.m. The next tea stop was at the Irattaperiyakulam Police rest and proceeded into the twilight hours when the convoy arrived at Rambewa. 

Some vintages suffered some light problems, mainly due to the six-volt power supply, but managed to chug along to safely return to the Melbourne Hotel where the drivers enjoyed dinner and a good night’s sleep.

Anuradhapura to Colombo

On the fourth day from Anuradhapura to Colombo, the party left Anuradhapura in three groups by 9.30 a.m. One group left via Puttalam, while the other two left via Giriulla. One set left via Pasyala to reach the Kaduwela Highway entrance to go to Ambalangoda and Matara while the others went through Minuwangoda and Ja-Ela to Peliyagoda. Some opted to worship at a nearby Bo Tree. 

The first group reached Peliyagoda by 3.30 p.m. All the others reached Colombo by 6.30 p.m. The farthest reached Matara by 8.00 p.m.

All single-letter vehicles and the Peugeot 203 and the MG TD reached Jaffna driving 424 km without any major breakdown.

The entire event was approximately 828 km but for some it was more. A 3609, the Austin Seven Chummy of S. Senadeera came from Matara and he clocked around 1,260 km, which in all probability would have broken any long distance record that any Austin 7 has done in the recent past around the globe. 

Another great achievement was S. Piyananda’s Hliman 12 – Z 6923 which began from Ambalangoda having clocked around 11,62 km. Dr. Kalinga Ginige’s majestic Woleseley 12/48, Z6926 slotted in at third place of the long distance record, having begun his journey from Panadura clocking 996 km.  

This was without doubt a show of might for vintage cars of Sri Lanka which proved their mettle which proved the reliability of our vehicles and three hearty cheers to the kind owners who took up the challenge of this event which was a resounding success. 

It was a pleasure to note that the modern day BMWs and Mercedes travellers stopped and saluted the parade and were amazed to witness the 80-90-year oldies going at an average speed of 40-50 km per hour.

Some youngsters asked whether these vehicles would survive the run to Jaffna and back to Colombo, but several older drivers said that although the vehicles were old they would return home in the evening.

Some recalled their parents or grandparents driving these cars, how they visited distant relations in the attire of the past, how they were dropped and picked from school, how some time the engine was cranked instead of power started and how their drivers attended to wayside repairs.

Yet another group regretted selling these vehicles to scrapyards or to some others when they got modern vehicles, and a few more were motivated to restore available cars and gain club membership.

When travelling, word spread fast from town to town, inquiries were made checking for the event’s next stop and its route. There many gathered to take photos, checked the vehicles’ mechanical details and their history.