Introducing Chris Driver and Terry Haworth – Team Sparky (Car No. 95)

Chris from Rossendale and Terry from Burnley have worked together for almost 10 years, have been running their own Electrical Engineering company (Goodshaw Electrical Ltd) for almost 4 years, and have been developing properties together (Goodshaw Property Services Ltd) for over a year.

They are a pair of like-minded car-enthusiasts and general "petrol-heads" who whilst striving to make a living working hard, enjoy the opportunity to play-hard as well. Travel and holidays with their families being high on the list of priorities. However their wives preferring the more luxurious form of travel courtesy of one of the many reputable Airlines out there and the ability to live-it-up in nice hotels, rather than the tent and airbed approach. Needless to say, a 2000 mile plus "schlep" across Europe in a car (new, or old, fast, or slow) staying on campsites was not Debra and Heather's idea of a nice holiday away.

This latest adventure started out on the back of a road-trip to Prague, delivering furniture for Chris's cousin (who is a school teacher out there) back in 2010, in not quite the sportiest of vehicles; a Volkswagen Transporter Van. Whilst this particular trip was carried out with the sole objective of getting from A to B and back to A again, the laughs and spirit of adventure along the way, "sparked" the need to do it again sometime, ideally with like-minded "petrol-heads" & "fools-of-the-road" ideally, in a safe and organised manner.

After scouring the internet for ideas, they stumbled upon www.screwballrally.co.uk and its 2012 European Charity Rally became their choice of event. The deposit was subsequently paid, which in turn led to their first of many challenges; that of finding a suitable car. The car needed to be as reliable, and as economical as possible, but more importantly, had to be suitable for "screwball – theming".

Back to the powers of the internet; Autotrader and Ebay, amongst others, but it was Terry's son, Lewis, and his fascination with Lightning McQueen in Disney Pixar's Cars that was the inspiration for the theme and subsequently finding a donor vehicle that could be adapted to suit this theme, a Ford Puma, ideally in red, being what was felt to be the most suitable car. Going for a Lightning McQueen theme also solved the question of which Charity to support. The NSPCC being perfect for a "theme" that would create a lot of interest from the younger generation.

A few inspections and test-drives later and the deal was done on a scruffy but sound 2001 (Y-reg) 1.7 Zetec from just outside of Brighouse in Yorkshire. The drive back to Rossendale revealing that in addition to the planned (theming) work schedule, the car would need a new clutch, timing belt, rear axle bushes and a full service. This work was classed as essential and had to be carried out prior to what turned out to be the enjoyable task of theming.

Please refer to "The Car" link for a photo diary of the works carried out....