TONBRIDGE MUM WINS NORTH AFRICAN ADVENTURE -
June 2011
A Tonbridge mum-of-three’s extraordinary off-road driving skills earned her a once-in-a-lifetime motoring holiday in North Africa.
Rachel Harding, a regular customer at Halfords Autocentre on the Riverdale Estate on Vale Road, Tonbridge, entered a competition run by tyre company Continental when she visited the garage for new tyres.
To her surprise she won a place at a 4x4 trial day in Gaydon in Warwickshire, dazzling the event organisers with her off-road skills and qualifying for a place on a driving adventure in Morocco.
Rachel, who runs a company called Sevenoaks Fencing with her partner Paul Wilmshurst, said: “We drove hundreds of miles each day, across the desert, dried river beds and mountains. The things we saw were spectacular, one night we even stayed in a Bedouin camp.
“It was incredibly hot though – I guess it is the Sahara desert!”
Mike Hughes, the assistant manager at the Halfords Autocentre, said: “We were delighted when Rachel won because she’s a lovely person and a great customer. She’s also evidently one hell of a driver!”