VETERANS from a bygone era of motoring are being fine tuned as they prepare for an annual trail round mainly rural roads of the North-East tomorrow.

A total of 115 lovingly preserved elder statesmen of the roads, all at least 50-years-old, are expected to take part in the 32nd Beamish Safety and Reliability Run.

They will attempt to successfully complete the 150-mile course, answering questions at a series of checkpoints en route.

Following problems with the foot-and-mouth outbreak two years ago, the course is now back to its traditional route - with the exception of the start/finish, and a section over Bowes Moor and Sleightholme Moor that has been altered due to the poor state of a road, leading to a nine-mile de-tour eastbound on the A66.

Eden Place Picnic Area, near Beamish Museum, is the start and finish point, with the first vehicles departing at 8.30am, and the last going out by 10am.

They are expected to start arriving back at about 3.45pm, barring any mechanical mishaps.

The morning section takes in checkpoints opposite the Punch Bowl Inn, at Satley, in Hamsterley Forest, at Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, outside the CB Hotel, in Langthwaite, before the popular lunch-stop on Bainbridge village green, in North Yorkshire.

Vehicles should start to arrive after 11.30am, with the best opportunity of looking over the vehicles between noon and 2.30pm.

The return route takes in Britain's highest pub, the Tan Hill Inn, but Bowes village is omitted from the route this year, with cars instead heading along the A66 to use the Cotherstone turn-off as they make their way to the next checkpoint, opposite the Rose and Crown, in Romaldkirk, a detour of nine miles from the usual course.

Further checkpoints include Bollihope Quarry, between Teesdale and Weardale, with the cavalcade then heading via Stanhope's ford crossing to the Moorcock Inn at Waskerley, then via Burnhope village, back to Eden Place Picnic Area.

Among notable vehicles taking part this year are a 1925 Morris Charabanc - an early people carrier - a 1925 Lorraine-Dietrich and a 1928 Lea Francis P 12/40.

The oldest participant is 85-year-old Cyril Purvis, from Sunderland, riding his 1950 BSA 123cc, appropriately given the number one in the field, while 83-year-old Jack Piper, from Hetton-le-Hole, east Durham, maintains his record of taking part in every reliability run, in his 1934 Lagonda Rapier.

This year's event is being recorded for posterity by South Shields Movie Makers, with the aim of producing a commemorative video.

Honorary secretary George Jolley said past form suggests most of the field should make it round the course.

"We've got a damned good field and, with good weather, it should make a great spectacle for the public, who usually turn out in droves to see some of these vehicles making what in some cases is their only public appearance of the year."

Further details of the event and the route are available from Mr Jolley, on 0191-536 0929.