VCOC to hold vintage rally for World Elders’ and Children’s Day

By Shanuka Tissera

The Vintage Car Owners’ Club formed in 1987 is the only club catering to veteran, vintage and post-vintage thoroughbred vehicles in Sri Lanka. The VCOC aims to keep these pristine pieces of art in mint condition and have now become a part of Sri Lanka’s National Heritage with most automobiles earning the status of rare collectors’ items.

It will be a wonderful sight when some 60 vintage cars around 60-100 years old take part in the annual road show to celebrate World Elders’ day and Children’s Day on 7 October.

The VCOC has planned to celebrate the World Elders’ Day and Children’s day in an exemplary manner, by organising a vintage car rally starting from Colombo Cricket Club and ending at the Taj Samudra Hotel.

The aim is to also spark interest amongst the youth in the vintage automobile industry as it calls for skill and patience in preservation. The vast collection of cars will be an opportunity not to be missed by any car fanatic and will in turn, help towards bettering the lives of those less fortunate.

The owners of the vintage cars and the clubs affiliated to VCOC have decided to donate all funds received from this event to the welfare of the deserving elders and children which is a first of its kind in Sri Lanka. The speciality of this event is the participation of elderly citizens and small children who will get to travel in the vintage cars around Colombo and the Galle Face green area.

“This will be a very special day for us and we hope that it will bring the Sri Lankan community closer. This is an important CSR project for us as we take great pride in maintaining these immaculate machines for our future generations,” said VCOC Chairman Mahen Mallawarachchi.

The Lakshmi Children’s home in Seeduwa governed by Colombo YMBA and Gamini Matha Elders home in Hunupitiya will be the beneficiaries of this event that will be held for the fourth time. Janashakthi Insurance will be the main sponsor of this event with the hospitality partner, Taj Samudra Hotel.

This will be a rare sight both for Sri Lankans and foreigners as the collection of cars to be presented are some of the highest quality restored and maintained vehicles in the world.