Local Couple Completes Italian Job Rally

Many thanks for your support! Andy & Emily managed to raise nearly £1200 with YOUR help! The Rally as a whole has so far raised £111,000 for the Prostate Cancer Charity. We are still collecting for those who still wish to donate: http://www.justgiving.com/Andy-and-Emily

Wednesday 22^nd June. Northampton – Folkestone (Via Northfleet)

A small group of the cars met up in Northampton for 12:00. The group included 6 classic minis.

We left TP Head office at 13:30 for Keyline Northfleet with myself and Emily stopping off at “Minispares” (Potters Bar) en route. Another classic mini followed us off the motorway, as they also needed parts.

We checked-in at Keyline Northfleet at 16:20 and met up with the remaining cars. We were de-briefed, our documents checked and we had some group promotional photos. A tunnel was set-up for all of the classic minis to drive through and “Prostate Cancer Charity” spokesperson “Tommy Walsh” was also there to wish us on! We were all given charity tins to fill with cash!

We left Keyline Northfleet at 17:30 straight into rush hour. Incorrect traffic information fed to us led us straight onto the A2 that was closed due to an accident. Many of the participants used to opportunity to use their collection tins and collect money for charity from stranded travellers. Emily and I managed to leave the A2 at 19:30 and took a snails pace through Gravesend to Rochester. We were able to leave the slow traffic and found a country route back to the M2 past the accident. We were finally destined to our hotel in Folkestone, however we got lost and reached our final destination for the day at 21:30 where our dinner awaited us.

Emily and I settled in for an early night as we had an early start and a 03:30 alarm. It didn’t matter as I woke up at 01:15 and couldn’t get back to sleep!

Thursday 23^rd June. Folkestone - Val de Bonnal (402 miles)

The first day of the rally and also the longest day and I hadn’t got much sleep! I already knew that we would be cracking open24 pack of “Red Bull” later in the day! We re-packed the car and ensured this time that the speaker board (under the rear seat) wasn’t blocked as the sound was previously muffled. We had to top up the oil as we had a leak through the timing chain seal.

Soon we were off to Dover. As we got to the terminals I took the wrong turn into the cruise terminal. Luckily Emily spotted our other team members heading in a different direction so I was able to quickly turn our mini around. We got the to the ferry check-in with 15 minutes to spare.

We were given a route change on the ferry for the day. We were working in teams for the first day and within our teams were decided on a specific route.

When we all left the ferry, it was difficult for us to keep up with the main pack, as we were restricted to 55 mph. That’s what you get for having a 3.44 differential with 10” wheels!

Driving on the continent with a right-hand-drive car proved surprisingly easier than expected!

I topped up our oil in Verdun at 15:00 after meeting up with the team for a classic French lunch. “McDonalds”. The weather was nice and sunny to start with and when the team had previously met up for coffee in a small French village but had turned to a mix of sunshine and heavy showers by lunch. Fortunately it had picked up by early evening. The team minus 1 car met up just after “Luxeuil-les-Bains” after Emily and I had got some fuel and items for our challenges.

Something gold- “Gourmet Gold” branded cat food.

Something Italian- Genuine Italian spaghetti.

Exactly 25 litres of fuel- It was a good thing that we had a Jerry can so we could do this task!

We travelled in a convoy into Vesoul (20:00) where our team leaders got us lost and took us an hour to reach our nearby campsite. After a tiring and very long day, Emily and I pitched up our tent and grabbed what leftovers we could from the BBQ as the sun was setting. We joined our team leaders for a quick beer and then retired to the tent for a well-earned rest. NOTE: I didn’t wake up early!

Friday 24^th June. Val de Bonnal – Turin (359 miles)

After waking up at 06:00, we washed, packed up our belongings and left the campsite at 07:15. Not before topping up the mini with more oil! There were no team activities but we were given again a suggested list of towns/cities to pass through/near as so the support vehicles could reach us if required. Emily chose a motorway route. We stuck to 50 MPH and went from France into Switzerland via the nearby border. Before crossing the border Emily and I made a fuel stop. Breakfast as well as petrol! The journey used reasonably flat roads and we decided not to go via the mountain route, as we did not wish to stress our heavily loaded mini. As we left Switzerland back into France towards Chamonix as so we could cross into Italy, we were very surprised to be met by a very high winding mountain road! Our poor car that hadn’t had a rest since our fuel stop struggled to pull along in 3^rd gear and the oil pressure really dropped in 4^th gear so we stuck in 3^rd. Although the temperature read normal, we could both smell burning oil. We pulled over 2 thirds up in a lay bay and gave our poor car a rest. The weather didn’t help at it was bright sunshine and around 30°C. It was baking! As Emily and I admired the scenery from altitude, one of our team members appeared and pulled in behind us. They also stopped and opened their car bonet to air it and have a quick break. They only stopped for 10 minutes before setting off again but we rested for 40 minutes. When we stared off again, the engine temperature was cooler and we were able to use 4^th gear. Our mini seemed to be back to her old ways again! We were grateful that we were nearly at the top when we had stopped. Now it was down hill! The temperature really dropped as a nice breeze was able to get into the engine. As we were cruising through the Alps back into France we played: “On days like these” from the Italian Job CD. It seemed very fitting with the fantastic scenery around. Luckily there were no surprise mafia JCB’s hiding and waiting for us!

The scenery was stunning! Emily had never seen frozen ice glaciers so close up and in the hot summer weather! As we left Switzerland we entered France into Chamonix and towards the Mont Blanc Tunnel. Our mini didn’t like it when we had stopped to queue up for the Mont Blanc tunnel and the engine temperature started to rise. Luckily we were able to get through the queue, pay (approx £30.00) and drive through the tunnel into Italy without too much of a delay.

Once on the other side we looked for a petrol station. Surprise, surprise, there was a one of our minis there. This was a team leader who was trying to meet up with the rest of his team as so they could get to our Turin destination as a team. Apparently they were further up the A5 Italian towards Turin. As the other mini set-off in pursuit of their teammates, we filled up with fuel and set-off. The engine seemed much hotter now after our brief stop and there were fumes of burning oil coming from the exhaust briefly until we could pick up some speed and cool the engine down.

As we travelled on the A5 toward Turin we passed the other team, all together, having a rest and a chat. We continued past them at our standard 50 MPH. A little later on they all whizzed past us but the mini that we had seen in the petrol station seemed to be struggling and pull-off the motorway. We could see oil fumes from the exhaust and we followed them. When we stopped we informed the drivers of what we saw and recommended that they stick to 50 MPH like us as to not overwork their engine. They were suffering a loss of engine performance. As we continued along the A5 we got word that they rest of their team were waiting for us at the next services. We met up and continued to our final destination in convoy and at a speed that suited us. Another 2 cars from the group joined our convoy of 5 cars but left us on the outskirts of Turin. We were informed that our convoy lead car had an illegal device. A Sat Nav! We were able to get to the Lingotto complex (Old FIAT Factory) with reasonable ease after a brief detour via the local train station. Soon the great finish line was in sight! The banks of the famous Lingotto rooftop track could be seen! As we pulled into the entrance there was a barrier. We were all wondering if this was the correct entrance. Emily got out of our mini and pressed the buzzer. As she was waiting for a response she did not realise that the barrier had risen. We were in! As our mini lead the convoy now, we all entered the complex. We wondered where to access to roof track. Suddenly a security guard appeared on a scooter and pointed us the way. The destination line was so close. No longer leading the convoy we followed the directions and suddenly and spiral ramp appeared inside the building. We all drove up it beeping our horns, and had our light on. We had our front fog lights on, windows down and blasting from our CD player: “Getta Bloomin Move On!” (Or better known as: “The Self Preservation Society!”) from the Italian Job CD too! I think I must be honest to say we must have all been surprised to see a large double door opened on the 2^nd floor revealing a shopping centre with innocent passers by looking shocked and wondering what was going on! It was tempting to do a real Italian job stunt and drive through it, but we had already passed it on our way up to get to the track!

We were so surprised to see that we were second only to be behind a driver that had been here twice before and knew how to get there!

Upon arrival to our destination we could see that only use half of the track. The far side had huge concrete bollards and was roof felted. The straights also had some speed bumps. That didn’t deture us from having fun on the other bank and the partial straights. Other cars soon started to arrive! On the track all of the cars queued in an orderly fashion or the turn.

I have always respected our mini and she had done so well to get there. However, it was this girls 40^th birthday! I put my foot down and created a huge wheel spin. I powered it around as close to the top of the bank as I dared. Emily was screaming! It was such fun but I only did that the once. I drove our mini respectably again after that and being the only white classic mini was requested for all of the promotional photo shots. We were allowed to park our cars on the roof for the evening and enjoy a few beers and canapés on the rooftop! One of the classic mini drivers was really going for it with a display of hand break turns too!

Dinner was served at 20:30 where we all contributed to fancy dress from the classic film. There were many in blue boiler suits and helmets and a couple of “Camp Freddies”. The star had to be an older gentleman as “Mr. Bridger” in his smoking jacket with a toilet roll and “The times” newspaper! Emily had dresses as “Lorna” and I dressed as “Big William”.

Saturday 25^th June. Turin- Chatillion Sur Seine (357 miles)

After breakfast, we got to our car at around 08:15. Some of the cars went to use the track for a final time. Emily and left the Lingotto centre at 09:00 for our next campsite in France via the Frejus tunnel. Our route back to Calais was a more direct route meaning less miles. We travelled again at 50 MPH with small stops to let our car cool down. It was another scorcher of a day! We didn’t have a lunch and we snacked on the food supplies we had brought with us. We got to the campsite for a respectable 19:00. It was nice to be able to get there relax and socialise! We only took one wrong turn in the village where we were staying so there was minimal panic! We kept seeing the classic mini from the night before which they were doing the stunt driving on the rooftop. Every time we passed them though small French towns they were sat outside having a small beer or lunch! It was like we were the tortoise, they were the hare catching us up and racing past us to the next village ahead! The scenery was yet again very beautiful throughout the day and travelling at 50 MHP you can get to appreciate it. Especially on such a fine day!

Sunday 26^th June. Chatillion Sur Seine – Calais (291 miles)

The dash for the finish line!

Unlike the previous campsite from Thursday night, where we were unable to leave until 07:00 we could leave this site at any time. As we know that we were speed restricted in our mini we left the site at 05:30 local time. Not before a final top-up of engine oil! We used the direct motorway route as we had to be in Calais for noon for the finish. We knew that all of the other cars would over-take us at some point but that should be later. As we got the first service station we were surprised to see a convoy of classic minis arrive hot on our tales as we were getting ready to push on. Many cars over took us en-route to the finish line and we decided to make the bold decision to increase our speed from 55 MPH to 55 MPH! There weren’t many service stations on the way back and I was so grateful that I had our Jerry can of full of fuel in the boot. We would have really been in trouble without it! After cracking on again with minimal stops, we got to Calais ferry port at 11:45!

WE MADE IT!

Many thanks for sponsoring us!

Andy Strachan and Emily Crouch.