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Tiny Joy's tribute: Trek across US

'Joy Across America' is the story of one tiny woman's 31-day trek across the US in a 109-year-old car in memory of her husband and to raise money for cancer research. Joy Rainey is truly an awesome lady.

LONDON, England - The story of one woman’s incredible journey across America is told in 'Joy Across America', a book being launched at this year’s Race Retro at Stoneleigh Park in the over February21-23 2014.

Wheels24 has carried several stories about this amazing woman...

 • Joy to cross US in ancient Olds
 • Trans-US in a very Oldsmobile
 • Celebs take oldies out garages
•  VIDEO: Joy Rainey in her Oldsmobile

Joy Rainey is the subject of this engaging encounter, telling the story of her epic 4 672km drive across the US in her 1904 Curved Dash Oldsmobile.

This height-challenged woman is no stranger to motorsport, having competed in karting and hill-climbs. From those first steps she developed a love of endurance events, among them the London/Sydney Marathon, and crossed South America in a Jeep on the Carrera Sud-Americana.

The trans-America trip in her Oldsmobile would be her biggest challenge.

IN LOVING MEMORY

The Oldsmobile dates from near the dawn of motoring and as such has tiller steering, two gears and a top speed of around 50km/h. The car enjoyed a detailed rebuild by Joy’s partner Trevor and the couple had planned to undertake the challenge back in 2009.

However Trevor died and it seemed the trip would never happen.

Eventually Joy chose to attempt it in Trevor’s honour and in April 2013 she arrived in America, tackling everything from smooth highways to dirt tracks and off-road sections.

The 109-year-old Oldsmobile performed faultlessly but there were plenty of problems along the way and 31 days later Joy arrived in Florida, achieving something no woman had previously accomplished in a single-cylinder car.

The story is told over almost 200 pages with a foreword by motor racing legend Sir Stirling Moss, Joy’s own photos from the journey and a dedication to her late husband.

Priced at £18.95 (about R350), the book will be available from Joy’s website or, if you're in the UK, at Race Retro where Joy will appear with her Oldsmobile.

The show will have tributes to 50 years of McLaren in racing as well as displays of rare competition and rally cars and hundreds of traders will offer everything you need for the coming northern season.
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