If you were going to drive to Monte Carlo, you’d probably choose something more glamorous than a 1977 Austin Princess as your set of wheels.
But that’s exactly what three University of Glasgow staff members are doing for their very own wacky race to raise funds for the Dental School.
Jeremy Bagg, Head of the Dental School, Neil Campbell, Director of Campus Services, and Ronnie Ford, Transport Services Manager are taking part in the Monte Carlo or Bust Banger Rally Champagne Charlie route – a 739-mile event from St Quentin, in the north of France to the Mediterranean Sea at Monte Carlo from 16-19 July. They are being supported by Evelyn Wallace, Jeremy’s secretary at the Dental School.
They are taking the Princess to the millionaire’s playground – or at least they are hoping the aging vehicle, bought for less than £300, will make it all the way.
Thankfully for The Mad Molars, the rally is less about being first to whizz past the finish line and more about completing a series of challenges on the way.
The team is squeezing in a few of its own special pit-stops. They have already taken the Princess over to the Isle of Jura Distillery to pick up a special signed bottle of malt whisky which they’ve been asked to deliver to HRH Prince Albert II Monaco at the end of the rally.
The team will also stop off in Carlisle en route to the Eurotunnel to call in at the home of the daughter of the first owner of the car, who is keen to see the Princess again for a quick trip down memory lane. The following day they visit and tour the Mini works at Cowley, where the Princess production line was located from 1975 until production ceased.
The trio are raising money towards the Dental Appeal (www.glasgow.ac.uk/dentalappeal) for the development of a new £300,000 Dental Technology Teaching Facility in the Dental School.
Sponsors are being asked to purchase self-adhesive molar teeth – white tooth (£10), silver tooth (£25), gold tooth (£50) – or a set of smiling lips (£100), which sponsors sign and are attached to the body panels. Corporate sponsors can opt to have an advert on the vehicle for a minimum donation of £250.
The display of decals includes one signed by Harris Mann, the designer of the car, whom they met for lunch in Worcester in January and subsequently at the 40th birthday party of the marque in March this year.
Prof Bagg said: “The enthusiasm of friends, colleagues and commercial partners who are engaging with us in this adventure has been overwhelming. So many people have recollections of the Princess marque from years past and are genuinely delighted to see one participating in the rally. We are very grateful to those who have already sponsored us and we look forward to sharing our exploits with everyone on our return.”
The Princess was produced by British Leyland between 1975 and 1981 and initial sales were strong but its popularity waned due to reliability issues and strong competition from other manufacturers.
To sponsor the team visit https://www.justgiving.com/themadmolars and to follow their progress on the rally visit https://www.facebook.com/themadmolars
