Joy Rainey to make 2,826-mile trek across U.S. in 1904 Oldsmobile

(April 11, 2013) LONDON — Joy Rainey, a regular participant in the Royal Automobile Club's London to Brighton Veteran Car Run each November, will begin an epic 2,826-mile journey across the U.S. on Saturday, April 13. At 8 a.m. Joy will be flagged away by the Mayor of Oceanside, California, to drive from Los Angeles to Daytona Beach, Fla., in her 1904 Curved Dash Oldsmobile to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.

Joy has a very varied motor sport career. She campaigned a Jaguar E-type in speed hill climbs before progressing to a 2.3-liter single-seater – breaking several records along the way. She took part in the London to Sydney Marathon in 2004 (in a Morris Minor) and the 5,000-mile Carrera Sudamericana two years later — in a V8 Jeep Grand Cherokee converted to run on LPG.

She first took part in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run in 2001 in a 1901 Clément Voiturette lent to her by Haynes Motor Museum. The car didn't make it to Brighton but for the 2006 event Joy returned with 1904 Oldsmobile Curved Dash Runabout from the USA, which she bought by selling her single-seater hill climb car. The Oldsmobile has taken Joy to the finish of the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run on several occasions — including in 2012 when it took her nearly five hours to complete.



For many years, Joy's partner and co-driver in long distance rallies was Trevor Hulks. He died in 2010 and Joy is undertaking the trip as a tribute to Trevor and hopes to raise £20,000 for Cancer Research UK. On the trip across America the Oldsmobile will encounter an enormous range of conditions, from 6,500-foot high mountains to blisteringly hot deserts.

Social media users can follow Joy’s progress on Twitter (@JoyAcrossAmeric) and Facebook (Joy Across America). When the car is in motion position updates should be available every 30 minutes via Yellowbrick Tracking and there will also be regular video and photographic updates posted. She expects to arrive in Daytona Beach on May 13.

For more information about the trip or to make a donation to Cancer Research UK click here.