Jersey, June 2026

RREC 20hp Register Rally to Jersey 1 to 9 June 2026  

Report by Simon Slaffer

40 participants were booked on the Rally exactly 10 years since the last 20hp visit which had commemorated the unveiling of a 20hp mural.

Participants arrived on ferries from Poole, Portsmouth and Plymouth (via Roscoff and St Malo) from as far away as Cumbria, Lancashire, Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Kent, Herefordshire, Hampshire, Middlesex, Sussex, Buckinghamshire and Suffolk. Organisers Simon and Angie Slaffer only had to travel 5 miles from their home in Jersey to the St Brelades Bay Hotel but ran out of fuel on the way.

After a warm welcoming reception of drinks and canapés provided by the Hotel, there followed each evening a superb meal provided by a very large multicultural staff. The hotel could not have been more helpful throughout the 8 nights.

The first day involved a beautiful north coast tour, participants being blown away by the beauty of the Island. A hearty “light” lunch had been pre ordered at Ransom’s Garden Centre, but the lure of superb gateaux was too much for many who failed to keep the meal as light as intended.

After lunch a scenic cross-country route passed by the Orchid Foundation (fresh from their serial Gold Medal win at Chelsea) and Pallot’s Steam Museum. The museum holds an eclectic collection of ancient farm tools, musical instruments, Jersey memorabilia and post war classic cars. Many of the group returned to these venues later in the week.

The second day started with morning refreshments at the home of Simon and Angie, where a serious off-road experience in a field led to the parking area.  The cars then proceeded in convoy into St Helier where there followed a fantastic cavalcade right through the middle of the town with sports car participants from the Jersey International Motoring Festival. This was a rare excursion through normally busy streets which had been cleared by the Honorary Police and marshals from the UK attending the Festival of Motoring. The streets were lined with crowds of spectators. The entourage had exclusive use of a parking area at the Weighbridge where the line up attracted many admirers.

On the third day there was a visit to Le Riche Automobile Restorers. There was a fascinating talk by Director Joe Castellino who talked knowledgeably about the firm’s restoration skills, using their worldwide recognition of the renovation of original Swallow motor cars as an illustration. Le Riche restore and look after every type of car from prewar to modern supercars, which they also store for international customers. The premises were filled with a huge selection of classic cars.

On the fourth day there was a private guided tour of Gerald Durrell’s Zoo. Durrell was a contemporary of Sir David Attenborough who had a huge respect for him and regarded him as decades ahead of everyone in his conservation work, the Zoo being the best example in the World of the breeding of endangered species. Simon was the honorary medical advisor to the gorillas and orangutans and could be found during the visit residing in his own cage.

In the afternoon there was a technical seminar in Simon and Angie’s garage on adjustment of the front and rear brakes of the 20hp, together with adjustment of the servo. A poorly adjusted car was raised off its wheels on jacking beams front and back. With the engine running the driver engaged the rear wheels. The second operator spun the front wheels by hand. The brakes were engaged and the servo adjusted until the front wheel brakes came into play.

On the fifth day participants were literally blown away, not by the scenery but by force 7 gusting winds which, together with copious rain, put a damper on the proceedings of the International Motoring Festival. This spoilt the viewing of the Jaguar XJ13, the car that was built for Le Mans in the sixties but never raced. It has gone down in folklore as the car that never raced but would certainly have won if it had! Notwithstanding the weather, the local car clubs were out in force and  everything from post war classics of every decade including Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Porsches (47 counted) and Land Rovers were represented.

The jewel in the crown was on the sixth day, where the participants were guests of the Jersey Old Motor Club who had organised a very rare tour through the grounds of ten of the Island’s historic manor houses. This started at Samares Manor with refreshments and a walk round the Botanical gardens. Some manor owners absolutely loved the cavalcade of approximately 50 pre 1955 motor cars passing through their grounds. They had arranged for their families, friends and staff to watch from their well-manicured lawns.

Following a free day the traditional mascot competition took place, the winners not only receiving the engraved silver plate but also a free overnight stay in the Hotel, kindly provided by the St Brelades Bay Hotel.

After a sumptuous Gala Dinner with live music and dancing, some participants repeated some of their favourite scenic routes on their last day before boarding their ferries to return home.

Participants: