KTLN thought you would like to know about a group of British fundraisers, who are driving from the UK to Kalkan.

It's a journey they have affectionately called The Turkey Trot, and they should be arriving in Kalkan this evening - Friday 24th September.

But there is a bit more to it than that, as we describe below.

And as if that wasn't challenging enough, they have set themselves a time limit of 3 days to complete the journey - that's over 800 miles a day!  All the cars have been given varying degrees of 'attention' by their owners, or local mechanics offering to help.

The Team
Andy Green, who dreamt up the idea a year ago, is in a 1979 MGB GT, with co-driver Dave Heard. 

Then there is father and son combination, Reg and Jack Vincent, in a 1977 MGB GT. 

Tootling along in a 1983 Austin Maestro, we have Frank Lyons and Mark Eastham. (When you get a minute chaps, try Googling the term 'sports car').

And last but not least is Nick Filleul and co-driver Steve 'T-Bone' Raynor, in a rather magnificent 1978 Reliant Scimitar GTE.  See photo, left.

These guys live as far apart as Devon, Kent and Milton Keynes, but most are based in or near Berkhamsted, Herts.  Whilst they did not all know each other that well before the trip, Nick tells us that they are bonding magnificently.

The Story so Far
The team managed to get to their launchpad of Calais in France, by 4am on Wednesday 21st September.  Their planned route would see them pass through France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, and finally Turkey. 

A full account of this marathon journey will have to wait for another day, but suffice it to say, it has not been without its interesting moments, and there have been breakdowns galore - some of which they had no right to expect to recover from, but recover they did.

By the end of day 1 (Wednesday), they reached a place called Hegyeshalom, in Hungary - south of Bratislava.  Last night, as KTLN spoke to the team, they were fast approaching Edirne, in north west Turkey.  This is a place that the KTLN team will not forget in a hurry, from our own Kalkan to UK trip!  Ah, happy days.

Kalkan by nightfall on Friday 24th September
By 6.30 to 7.00 this morning, they aim to be close to Istanbul, and they will then be heading south towards Kalkan.  Barring major mechanical catastrophes, they hope to be sipping a cool Efes by Kalkan harbour later this evening.

KTLN hopes to receive occasional messages from the drivers as they head south today, and registered members of KTLN will be able to monitor their progress through the KTLN Feedback Box, on our home page.  

There is no official finishing line as such, but we think they will be heading towards the harbour area in Kalkan, so if you are in Kalkan tonight, be sure to watch out for them, and give them a cheer.  You won't miss them - as you can see from the photo above.

KTLN wishes all eight drivers a safe journey, on this final day of their outbound trip.  The first Efes is on us chaps.

Remember, if you wish to make a donation, please visit their fundraising website, shown above.