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CHIPPY CHIPPY BANG BANG

Motorist drives up and down length of UK in van fuelled solely by cooking oil

A MOTORIST drove up and down the length of the UK in a van fuelled solely by cooking oil — from his local chippy.

George Heming, 21, filled his 1999 VW Caddy with free leftover fat — after sieving out chunks of spud.

George Heming drove the 600 miles from Land's End to John O'Groats on frying oil
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George Heming drove the 600 miles from Land's End to John O'Groats on frying oil

He and dad James, 50, then drove from Land’s End to John O’Groats — taking three days to do 1,000 miles.

They then made the 750-mile trip back to their home in Whitstable, Kent, using 180 litres.

Videographer George was inspired by his ex-radio presenter dad, who drove to Paris using cooking oil in 2008. 

George said of their trip in May: “We travelled there and back on chip fat. The downside was a lot had loads of chunks of chips in it. So we set up a filtering system. We also found it quite hard to start up on a cold engine. So there were days when we thought, ‘When is this thing going to die on us’? But it just kept going.”

George, 21, filled his 1999 VW Caddy with seven 25-litre drums of leftover cooking oil
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George, 21, filled his 1999 VW Caddy with seven 25-litre drums of leftover cooking oil

He had rejected a recommended engine modification as it cost £1,000. The van then conked out for good after a banger race last week.

George said: “I don’t think I’d ever do it again, just for the smell of the oil. I haven’t been able to eat fish and chips since, either.”

James said: “It was a really fun way to hang out, and relive that experience with him.”

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