Lineup at Laugharne – setting for Dylan Thomas’s backwards-sounding Llareggub at the end of the 2010 Under Milk Wood run.

CLASSICS IN THE CITY!

Classic Car Buyer’s Welsh Correspondent – and prolific show organiser – Ashley Lovering is organising yet another classic car related event in his home town of Swansea.

Classics in the City, is intended to introduce the joys of classic car ownership to newcomers, and will take place in Swansea city centre on February 12. Due to shortage of space vehicle entry for this one is ‘by invitation only’; however all classic car enthusiasts are very welcome to pop along and visit.

Ashley’s major annual events are, of course, the Under Milk Wood road run from Swansea to Laugharne and the National Transport Festival of Wales which take place on successive days in June. The 2012 ‘Under Milk Wood’ and NTFOW will take place over the weekend of Saturday/Sunday June 16/17 and are open to all classic enthusiasts and to all types of classic vehicles – as well as cars, there’s usually a good selection of buses and lorries in attendance as well.

For more details, phone Ashley on 07814 958379, write (SAE) to him at 5 Clos Cynan, Killay, Swansea SA2 7DL, or log on to www.ntfwswansea.co.uk

Crew 17, the Dutch-entered BMW 535i holes its sump for the first time in Ethiopia.

LONDON-CAPE TOWN UPDATE

The 2012 London-Cape Town Rally has entered into its third week and is now fully living up to its reputation as one of the most gruelling endurance challenges.

The remaining teams recently completed the ‘Safari Rally’ leg of their journey, using roads made famous by this iconic event, as they travel from Nairobi, in Kenya, across the border to Tanzania.

According to reports, competitors have taken a beating on these harsh African roads, which in most cases are little more than dirt tracks.

Punctures, broken shock absorbers and torn brake lines have been the least of some teams’ worries, with the Mercedes-Benz 230E of Ralph Weiss and Kurt Schneiders and Pim ‘t Hart and Renger Guliker's BMW 535i both suffering holed sumps. For the second time.

Recent turmoil has seen the running order change somewhat, with the Toyota Hilux of Andy Actman and Andy Elcomb now occupying top spot, followed by Bob Duck and Steve Blunt’s Subura Impreza in second.

With under 6000km to go, the finish line is in sight though there is still a lot that can go wrong before then…

Readers can find regular updates on the progress of the remaining crews by visiting: www.londoncapetownrally.com

The only surviving Nuffield Gutty will be at this summer’s Military Vehicle Trust event.

GUTTY TO GUEST AT BIRTHDAY BASH

The world’s only surviving Nuffield Gutty, a prototype British Army replacement for the wartime Jeep, will be making a very rare public appearance this summer to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Austin Champ entering service.

Gutty is being released from the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust’s collection to be the star attraction at the Austin Champ Owners’ Club’s anniversary celebrations at the Wartime-in-the-Vale national Military Vehicle Trust event from Saturday, June 23, to Sunday, June 24, at the Ashdown Camp, near Evesham in Worcestershire.

Phil Plumb, vehicle coordinator for the ACOC events said: “To have the Gutty appearing is a real feather in the ACOC’s cap. Negotiations to secure it began in December 2007 and since then the custodianship of the Gutty has changed. Thankfully, Steven Laing, curator of the Heritage Trust collection, recognised the Gutty for what it is, a major landmark in the development of the 4x4 vehicle in the UK.”

Originally designed by a team that included legendary Mini inventor Alec Issigonis, the Gutty was manufactured by Nuffield Mechanisations. It utilised many revolutionary features including monocoque construction and independent suspension by torsion bars.

It’s rumoured that three examples were built to be trialled by the army, but only one survives today.