Hey, thanks for the kind comments.
Yes we were really shocked when we were told of the award and asked to drive up to the marquee. The trophy will take pride of place, first at Simon's place and then at mine.
Anna: its a July 1959 in Garnet Red.
Will: as far as we understand it the tyres are the original Michelin crossplyes supplied new with the car. That will mean they are now 50 years old and have covered 69000 miles!!!! There is still tread left and only very minor crazing of the rubber to the side walls. There are full records of every mile covered and every pound spent on the car from day one until 1985, by which time there were 58000 miles on the clock and there's no mention of the tyres ever having been replaced.
The car did the round trip to Kent from West Yorkshire (520 miles) with no problems and returned 42 to the gallon at 55 to 60 mph.