Photograph: John and Uncle Jack take a break to pose for the camera.
Rotarian car enthusiast, John Macartney, has just completed the ultimate road trip. This summer, John and a lovingly restored 1973 Triumph Stag, trekked across America and Canada, covering more than 15,000 miles through 31 US states and 6 Canadian provinces. Relying on the kindness of other enthusiasts and willing volunteers, John took on the Triumph Trans-AmeriCan Charity Drive, the longest ever charity drive in Canadian and US motoring history to highlight and tackle the stigma of post-traumatic stress disorder.
John, a member of the Rotary Club of Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire, arrived in Florida in June this year and finally took delivery of the car, following three years of extensive planning and preparation. Rotary clubs in Campden, Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and Slough all pitched in to help raise funds.
Describing the moment the keys to ‘Uncle Jack’, as the car is affectionately known, were placed in his hand, John says the enormity of the enterprise hit home: “I was utterly terrified! Ahead lay at least 10,000 miles of driving in a short time frame. We had no meaningful back-up in terms of professional resources – just a great raft of enthusiasts who were desperate to help in any way they could. I think my greatest fear, though, was at the responsibility of looking after such a superbly restored car that had taken up 18 months of many people’s leisure time and they’d worked so hard in the face of horrendous odds. Frankly, I was terrified of it getting bent!”
Primarily, John’s mission was to raise funds and awareness for three charities specialising in the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a serious mental illness which he has suffered from. Assist Trauma Care in Rugby helped John to reclaim his life and is the sole beneficiary UK charity. “I have seen some horrific sights while I was working in Iraq in 1980 that nobody should ever see and my own life was under threat as well. Thanks to Assist, I finally got my life back and now want to return the favour, as well as helping others along the way.”
During his drive, John was able to tell many thousands that PTSD is not limited to those serving in the armed forces. Anyone suffering a trauma from a mind-shattering or life-threatening event can be affected by this complex but treatable condition and John was anxious to convey this message to as many people as possible.
“Everyone worked so hard to make it the true team-effort that it was and we have achieved many things. Perhaps the most significant achievement is that we’ve been able to take off the lid of the stigma of mental illness and how it affects the many people who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. From my research and personal experience over 27 years, PTSD is still not officially recognised as a tangible mental illness in the UK. Sufferers very often can’t talk about their problem and this makes it very difficult for doctors to diagnose. I wanted to do what I could to raise funds for three charities in the UK, US and Canada to help spread the word.” says John.
As well as wanting to help those with PTSD, John had a personal challenge to overcome:”I had a stroke in 2005 and a doctor told me I’d never drive again. That was the red rag to the bull. I’d dreamed of doing this trip but had lacked a purpose – so pushing myself to recover from my stroke and then being taken out of my own PTSD gave me the objective. I suppose you could summarise by saying that if you really want to do something and prove others wrong, you can.”
British Car enthusiasts in the States were only too eager to help John and Uncle Jack:”They were so kind, so hospitable, nothing was too much trouble and all of them were desperate to find ‘something wrong’ with Uncle Jack to give them an excuse to have a fiddle. Sadly, I had to disappoint quite a few. But when the fuel pump failed in Vancouver, you couldn’t see the car for all the people around it wanting to help.”
Now back home in the UK, John has a chance to reflect on the highs and lows of the marathon journey. It’s time to turn his diary of the event into a book and to edit many hours of video footage. His travel buddy is having a well earned rest in a Colorado garage, waiting to be sold on to another enthusiast. John smiles when asked to describe Uncle Jack’s character: “He’s great! Comfortable, stylish, fast, a thrill to drive along a twisting road and with a wonderful V8 howl from the back end when you ‘extend’ the revs. If I won the lottery, I’d fly straight there, bring him home and continue to use him for charity fundraising work. Few enthusiasts in North America use their treasured cars for that purpose and Uncle Jack really is quite famous for what he’s done. He’s very well-known in US and Canadian classic car circles – though many enthusiasts wish I’d done the trip in a Triumph TR. No way! I need the comfort of a Stag!”
To read John’s blog click here.
