Vintage Car Club Colombo Drive
The VCOC members organize a drive after a long, pandemic-induced hiatus
Published on 29 Dec 2021
The Vintage Car Owners’ Club (VCOC) recently organized a Sunday run that was run within Colombo. The weather “held” for the morning and it was a fine day – compared to the constant heavy down-pours of the several weeks prior to that.
It was the first event that VCOC (and indeed any motoring club for that matter) organized after the lifting of travel restrictions. Some 15 cars and over 10 bikes participated in the drive which started from Maitland Place, Colombo 7, drove around Colombo in convoy covering a distance of about 20 kms and finished back on Maitland Place. The Cinnamon Gardens Police gave an escort to the vehicles which were admired by on-lookers all along the route.
The VCOC which was formed 33 years ago is the successor to the Veteran Car Club of Ceylon that was formed way back in 1953. Mr. Neil Fernando, a live-wire of the club and president of the VCOC for several years, passed away in January 2021.
The current president of the club is Dr.
Kalinga Ginige and is ably supported by Vice Presidents Mr Mahesh
Mallawarachchi and Mr Hercil Fernando; Secretary Mr Ruwan Fernando; Asst
Secretary Mr Janaka Bodaragama; Treasurer Mr Ray Welaratne; Asst. Treasurer Mr
Ravindu Wanniarachchi; and Committee Members Mr Sapumal Edirisinghe; Mr Ramal
Jasinghe; Mr Ushan Jayawardana; Mr Damindu Fernando; Mr Srijith De Silva; Mr
Mahinda Dangampola; and Mr Tharindu Wanniarachchi.
For many years, vehicles eligible for membership of the VCOC were those with registration numbers with the prefixes “A” to “Z”. A couple of years ago the eligibility was extended to include vehicles with prefixes “CE” to “EN” as well.
