Summit Fleet Leasing and Management is excited to announce its support of “Bean Across the World,” a remarkable motoring expedition that aims to recreate the historic drive from London to Melbourne, originally undertaken by eccentric Australian adventurer Francis Birtles in 1927.
The expedition team, comprising respected journalists including Matthew Benns, Tony Jordan, Stuart Duncan & Warren Brown, along with Summit Fleet’s own Richard Davidson in the workshop with Trevor Seaman, Grahame Kilby, Barry Burrows, Mick Weston, Mark and Michelle Coggan, Damien Gildea and Damian Lay, have meticulously restored a genuine 1925 Bean Fourteen motor car – the same model that Birtles drove nearly a century ago.
In September 2024, the team will embark on the 26,000km journey from London to Melbourne, clad in period-accurate 1927 attire, to honour and relive the original adventure.
Summit Fleet’s involvement is instrumental in ensuring the success of this ambitious endeavour. Summit Fleet have provided the support vehicle to assist the expedition’s logistics and safety. This support vehicle will accompany the vintage Bean Fourteen, ensuring that the team can overcome any challenges from diverse terrain that they will need to navigate.
“It’s been a lot of fun and a great challenge being part of helping the team bring the Bean Fourteen back to life and preparing it for this ambitious drive,” said Summit Fleet’s Richard Davidson. Davidson added, “Some of the engineering challenges overcome to modernise and improve reliability of the Bean have been remarkable and the workshop team have collaborated well to get the Bean ready.
Summit Fleet’s General Manager Darren Gore added, “When Richard raised the prospect of Summit Fleet supporting this reenactment, it appealed in a number of ways. We love cars and everything about them and whilst the automotive industry is evolving technology and innovation at a very fast pace, it’s nice to reflect on nostalgia and see how far we have come. The principals of such endeavours of adventure should not be lost, and perhaps in some small way we might see ourselves living up to these from time to time. The connection to persisting with the task at hand, overcoming challenges and reaching objectives are front and centre in what we do daily. Having worked with various chapters of the Royal Flying Doctor Service over the last 10 years, and admiring their work and purpose, we are also able to support the goodwill that this project will generate for them. Noel D’Souza and Angic Mourad have done a great job coordinating the necessary resources to support Warren and his team from Summit Fleet’s perspective and like all of us look forward to following their progress in the coming months.”
“This is more than just a road trip,” said Matthew Benns. “It’s a tribute to Francis Birtles and his incredible journey, a celebration of motoring history, and an exciting challenge that we are eager to undertake. With the support of Summit Fleet and our other sponsors, we are ready to hit the road and bring this story to life for a new generation.”
