Women love cars ... and lorries, busses and diggers. We sent the suitably named DENISE BENTLEY to find out how to have fun and raise money for charity at the same time.
Wow, what a day it turned out to be!
No, it wasn’t because it was the hottest day of the year so far, although that was rather nice. No, it was a great day because I had the most fun since I don’t remember when (maybe 1966).
The occasion was the Ladies Driving Challenge at Rendlesham, an annual event held to generate money for charity. I was there to raise money for East Suffolk Mind but had the most enormous amount of fun while doing it. What better way to spend a Saturday than having great fun and raising money for charity at the same time?
During the afternoon session there was the opportunity to drive a range of vehicles that I wouldn’t normally have been able to drive. I started off by driving an HGV, this was a Mercedes Benz articulated lorry, forty feet long and 17 ton. What an experience! What power! No wonder so many women are now becoming HGV drivers. I bet it was because of their experience at Rendlesham. I then drove a bus (not as easy as the HGV), a tractor, a mota ball (brilliant), a golf buggy (ok to get around a golf course) no pun intended, and a 1981 off road 4x4 Land Rover. Some of the other vehicles on offer for the ladies to try included: gritters, quad bikes, diggers and a range of sporty cars.
We were driven in a stretch limo from one area of the base to another and assisted in lifting a motorbike onto the back of an army truck, using hydraulic equipment of course. I finished the day by driving an Audi TT at 90 miles an hour around a corner, how often does that chance occur?
Next year is the 10th year of the Driving Challenge so it will be an even bigger event with even more vehicles to try, so if you are an adventurous type of lady, give it a go.