Last December's hard winter weather and reports of snow, ice and floods from Wales all the way to the John o'Groats finish have prompted more newcomers to want to take part in LE JOG - Britain's toughest winter rally for classic cars - than ever before. Classic car owners seem not to be too worried about the effect of the elements on their cars - or themselves - when it comes to rallying.

As HERO staff worked through some of the hottest days of summer, they were busy responding to still more requests for entry information from all over Europe and beyond. As well as hardened LE JOGgers, who regularly make the annual pilgrimage from one end of the country to the other - many without hood or sidescreens, and often without heaters, many newcomers will be shaping up to join them.

Among the more unusual entrants so far for 2000 is the 1973 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow MkI of Simon Ballard, who will be taking part in the full Reliability Trial, doubtless inspired by performances from other Rolls and Bentleys on HERO's LE JOG and Classic Malts events in recent years. In the pre-war category, Keith and Jason Piper will be taking up Clerk of the Course John Brown's challenge in their 1932 Aston Martin New International. Imp enthusiast Mike Marsh is preparing a 1969 Singer Chamois. The car is in the UK though Mike, meanwhile, lives in Australia. LE JOG really does bring out some determined types, it seems ...