When Dave Penny decided to raise money for a charity close to his heart he had no idea that, with the help of his eldest son, the pair would see hundreds of pounds come flooding in.
The father of three from Old Rayne has always had a passion for fast cars, track cars in particular, and thankfully seven-year-old Brody feels the same.
Together they embarked on the ultimate father-son road trip and completed the North Coast 500 in less than two days earlier this year, thanks to their speedy Caterham Seven.
It might not strike you as the typical child-friendly people carrier, but Brody now has some very special memories while Dave delights in his hobby.
He has been able to continue with his passion after his beloved Westfield was destroyed in a fire, and the Caterham is now part of the family.
Dave is also dad to Ayla, four, and seven-month-old Caleb who has Down’s Syndrome.
It was Brody’s idea to raise money for Down’s Syndrome Scotland in honour of his little brother, and Dave believes more people may now be aware of the condition.
“We took part in the Cannonbawz Run, where our entry fee went towards raising money for Scotland’s charity Air Ambulance and Marfan Association,” said Dave.
“But because of Caleb, we also asked the organiser if Brody could raise sponsorship for Down’s Syndrome Scotland,
“We thought we might get a couple of hundred pounds then my wife, Claire, suggested we set a target of £321.”
Down’s Syndrome is also known as trisomy 21 because it is caused by a third copy of chromosome 21, so the target was particularly apt for the family.
“We never thought we’d fly past that target as Brody managed to raise £5,260 in total, we couldn’t be more proud,” said Dave.
But what are the practicalities of driving a Caterham with a young child in the passenger seat?
“I managed to get a booster seat which fits but I also adapted the Caterham because I’m pretty tall.
“I fitted a road cage for extra safety and Claire obviously told me to behave.
“Children seem to love the Caterham. It can be in a line-up of fast sports cars but that Caterham is the one which gets people’s attention and that’s what I love about it.
“It’s different and it’s the silver lining to losing my Westfield.
“I went to Leamington Spa to pick it up and made a few modifications. We didn’t get the best weather on the trip but Brody still loved it.
“We left at 11 on Saturday and got back about 10 on Sunday night, he loves our little trips in general although he did turn me down in favour of a birthday party last weekend.”
Dave’s passion for track cars started after watching events such as the Golspie and Alford sprint, and he rebuilt his Westfield from scratch. “I took the plunge and decided to become involved, I couldn’t face rebuilding another car after the Westfield though,” he said.
“The Caterham is an incredibly raw drive and even on a clear winter’s day, it’s a brilliant drive.
“If you get into a Porsche after the Caterham it just feels fat and slow – the Caterham isn’t like a normal car.
“I really enjoy getting out for a wee run and I’m glad we were able to raise awareness of Down’s Syndrome as well.
“From day one, Brody and Ayla were very accepting of Caleb; they knew he needed more help but it made no difference to them.
“The same went for close friends and family but we never really announced that Caleb had Down’s Syndrome in the first place.
“This has been a subtle way to let others know so they can ask questions and understand Down’s Syndrome.”
It may not be the conventional way to travel with a child in tow, but the Caterham clearly works for Dave and Brody. “I’ve got no regrets, and it’s the best way to see Scotland,” said Dave.
“We’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone who donated to us, from businesses to individuals.
“The support was fantastic.”