Though Disney/Pixar's Cars 4 might not be released until next year, two couples who visited Wick yesterday gave us a short taster of the animated film as part of their UK charity run.

Billy and Yvonne Campbell of Pink Petal Floral Design in Fraserburgh (Tow Mater) together with Scott and Anita Morrison of SM Plumbing and Heating in Maud (Lightning McQueen) arrived in Wick after a monster trek across the UK that clocked in almost 2500 miles.

The original plan was to take part in a Benidorm or Bust charity rally – driving old bangers dressed up like the Disney/Pixar Cars characters 2000 miles from Peterhead to Benidorm in Spain over six days. Lockdown restrictions led to an alteration of the plan, however.

Yvonne said: "We're doing the charity car rally from our base at Peterhead down to Portsmouth, then Portsmouth to Land's End and from there to Stoke-on-Trent, then Fort Augustus and on to the NC500 and finally back home to Peterhead."

The couples both set off last Friday morning but took "a day off" to go shopping in Portsmouth.

"The first day we did over 600 miles. We then went to Land's End and stayed for about an hour before heading off again," said Billy. The rust on his Tow Mater inspired tow truck was produced using a special spray and the vehicle underneath all the embellishments and add-ons is a very roadworthy Chrysler PT Cruiser and not quite the old banger it appears.

Scott and Anita's Lightning McQueen style racing car is a Honda Accord and though both vehicles have the trademark Cars cartoon eyes, the adapted sunshades can only be used when the vehicles are standing still otherwise they'd be driving blind.

All costs for the trip are funded by the teams and all monies raised will go straight to their chosen charity, Clan Cancer Support – both teams having a parent undergoing cancer treatment.

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The charity trek was pretty hard going both teams admitted but the problems of overheated engines and breakdowns were surpassed by one nightmare experience earlier this week.

"Monday started off with what can only be one of the scariest days of my life," said Billy.

"Went for fuel before heading onto the M6 motorway – which was down to 60mph and no hard shoulder as there was roadworks at the other side."

Both teams got split up and then Billy and Yvonne got a CB radio SOS message from the other team saying that Lightning McQueen "had died and couldn’t get started again". With the the little tow truck heading to the rescue, the couples worked together to rectify the problem when, suddenly, an 18-wheeler truck appeared behind them.

Billy continued: "The artic lorry came towards us at full pelt round the bend. The driver went to move lanes and couldn’t, only to then see smoke everywhere from the lock up [of brakes] – one of those moments you close your eyes and wait for the dunt up the behind."

Luckily, the big dunt never came after the lorry driver's evasive manoeuvre.

"Hats off to the driver, as how he managed to get that lorry stopped in time and not hit us, I still don’t know."

After getting Lightning McQueen back on the road again, they all headed up to Fort Augustus that evening and had a "stiff drink before bed".

Continuing on the last leg of the run, both teams enjoyed their quick pit stop in Wick and are now safely back home after completing their journey.

The couples have a Facebook page where more information is available at www.facebook.com/Disneycarsevents

To donate to their cancer charity fundraiser visit www.justgiving.com/team/Benidormdisneycars2020

Long haul for Louis Hall at Land's End

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