Brighton arrival details

We will not have a police escort into Brighton as planned, but we will be travelling in convoy to the finish line at Madeira Drive Brighton.

We are meeting up and then leaving the Brighton Marina Village at 3.30pm on Saturday and then head westbound along the coast road to Madeira Drive by Brighton Pier.

Please feel free to come and see the return of all the Minis from this year's run. We will find out our final placing and score at the evening reception on Saturday night - we are hoping for a top half finish!

Thanks for following our progress

We hope that you have enjoyed following our participation in the rally.

This has all be in aid of fundraising for charity, so if you have not yet made a donation and wish to do so, then please see our justgiving site which has a link on this blog. Every penny will help and the site accepts credit cards from all countries!

We will confirm the final amount received when we have tallied up the various items. The justgiving site closes on 21st November 2008.

Thank you!

Safe and sound in Lyon

We are now (Thursday evening) in Lyon, having completed over 300 motorway miles today. In the morning it's back on the motorway to Paris, where we hope to spend some time in the city centre.

Given that it will be Friday night tomorrow and our Paris trip plans, we do not expect to post any more items now until we get back to England, either Saturday or Sunday.

An apology (sort of)

We apologise for not posting any items last night, but we were too busy out and about in Monte Carlo having a good time!

On arrival at the hotel a lot of Jobbers descended on the bar and then a group of nine of us decided to head for the marina and spot the multi millionnaire yachts and find somewhere to eat. After days of pasta, we headed for a sports bar on the marina quayside (the famous "Stars N Bars") and each and every one of us had a burger and fries!

On the way back, we spotted the sleek, black, 33 metre Sunseeker Predator super yacht belonging to F1 driver Kimi Raikkonen. Pictured with the yacht here is David Baker, the managing director of KidsOut, who is driving a Union Jack covered Mini in the rally this year.

You know you are in Monte Carlo when....

...the hotel car park contains two super cars...

Monte Carlo or bust - Monte Carlo it is!

After leaving Turin at lunchtime on Wednesday, we took the motorway down to the Mediterranean coast and then headed along the Italian Riviera. The photo shows the car next to the beach with the Med in the background (note that the rally number has been crossed to avoid issues with the police in France!)

We then headed back to the motorway to get to Monaco before the light faded and navigating the roads to find the hotel would become impossible. We made it to our Monte Carlo hotel having joined up with four BMW minis on the outskirts of town who had ventured over the Alps.

On the Lingotto roof

PS - the car on the ramp is not us!!

Rally Day 6 - Turin and Lingotto racetrack

Wednesday morning saw us gathering in the car park of the Lingotto hotel, which once formed the main Fiat factory and on the roof of which is the racetrack with curved banks which features in the main chase scene in the 1969 Italian Job film.

The roof track is now used by hotel guests as a jogging circuit, but the Minis are invited up to recreate part of the film. It was a real case of bad news/good news.

The bad news was the overnight rain had left the banks very wet and the hotel would not let the cars drive around them as there would be little tyre grip. When we reached the top we could fully understand their reason as the bank is very steep. For one fellow Jobber this was their fourth visit to Turin and they had never been allowed to drive the banks, so that shows how rare it actually is.

The good news is that we were still allowed up on to the roof in our cars and we led the convoy up the famous ramps and were the first Mini onto the roof. There was plenty of time for posing for photos and for walking around.

Given that many Minis had been before and as we were not allowed to drive the banks, many cars decided to leave early and head straight for our next stop at Monte Carlo, Monaco. That meant that we had the opportunity to do some driving up and down the race straights once there was room to do so. That was a great consolation and we took plenty of video film of that!

Police escort through Turin

After lunch at a local restaurant, we gathered in preparation for the highly anticipated convoy through the city of Turin.

We were expecting much, but the reality was a lot of stop/starting and local cars were pushing their way into the middle of the convoy at every opportunity and the constant braking and accelerating to keep up with the car in front was hard work. It meant that we didn't get much time to enjoy the scenery or spot the film locations very well, except we did see the church steps where the Minis cross in front of the wedding, the stadium with the curved roof where the Minis lose the police and also the weir (although this was undergoing work and didn't look at all like the film).

However, we did manage to create a lot of noise as collectively the cars were using their horns at every turn and many locals stopped to wave or cheer the cars as they passed.

We were considering returning to the city tomorrow to try and see more film locations before we depart, but having experienced the traffic once we do not feel brave enough to try again.

Rally Day 5 - to Turin

We were told to be in Turin by 11.30am, and given that was a journey of over 220 miles through the rush hour motorway traffic, all the teams in old classic Minis (ourselves included) made sure that we were on the road by 7am.

We made it in time to the muster point where the cars were lined up waiting for a police escort to take us through the city and past many places featured in the 1969 film. The Travelers Mini had a prime spot and is to the left side of the photo.

Ferrari visit

The afternoon saw us visit the Ferrari Gallery in Maranello, where we were allowed to wander around Ferrari cars old and new. There were racing cars and road cars for the Jobbers to see.

Prankster at large

Someone has discovered that our signs are magnetic and can therefore be moved.

This was waiting for us at the end of our Maserati collection visit!

Rally Day 4 - Maserati collection visit

The final day in Imola saw us head in a new direction on the navigational rally. We ended up at a private motor museum with a warehouse full of priceless cars! The attached photo may give you some idea of the scale.

Mostly Maseratis but also a Pagani Zonda S. It was then back on the road for the next stage.

The scores on the doors so far...

At the end of day three on the rally (Sunday night) the car has travelled in total 1,378 miles.

We have been given the scores for the teams so far, based on time keeping over the navigational stages and also participating in some driving exercises. There are 48 teams participating and at the end of day one we were in 26th position.

At the end of day two we were in 24th place, and at the end of today we are in 22nd place. So by November 8th we should be in 1st place. Shame that the last day of competition is tomorrow!!

If you follow the links on the side of our site to the Italian Job's own website, you will see a section in the index on the left side to This Years Events Pictures - where we are featured in some photos - look for Team Number 8 on the door or registration H248FNK on a red Mini. The attached photo was taken by one of the rally photographers and is a great picture of Mike driving and Steve leaning out of the window trying to see the electronic timing strip on the road!

This blog is also featured on the MiniWorld website, who have a journalist taking part and who is also featuring a daily update. Our site has been advertised to the many readers from this Mini magazine. We have returned the favour and provided a link to MiniWorld if you are interested in our list of Website links.

A late entrant into the rally

At the dam, we were joined by Pudsey bear, the symbol of the BBC fundraising event Children In Need.

On the top of the Diga Ridracoli Dam

After the morning's journey, we were allowed to drive our cars over the top of the largest dam in the northern part of Italy. Usually this is a walking path in the nature park, but we were allowed to parade across the top.

The drop on the non-water side was high, but it was also clear how little rain there has been as the water side was also significantly lower than expected.

Rally Day 3 - a trip through town and country

After a busy night last night with the charity auction, and benefitting from an extra hour in bed due to the clock change, we had a leisurely morning journey through the local countryside and towns this morning.

We thought that we had left the mountains behind but the route soon took us into the Apennine mountains and we had to negotiate a number of steep climbs and hairpin bends.

The attached photo was taken in the town of Modigliana and shows the Union Jack covered Mini Cooper S Clubman being driven by the KidsOut team.

Operation Cough Drop?

I think that we've found a Loxley Lozenge!

An astonishing collection of classic cars

After Ducati, the cryptic clues in the rally book led us to a quiet corner of the countryside, where we pulled up in the courtyard of an anonymous looking farmhouse.

However, when the doors to some old converted wine cellars were opened, we were presented with the largest collection we've ever seen of classic cars. We lost count of the number of Ferrari cars that we saw, together with Lambourghinis and Alfa Romeos going back over the last century. The cars were packed into the space and we were allowed to simply wander amongst them.

Hopefully this photo will give you an idea of what we saw. After, we had lunch at a local restaurant and then made our own way back to the hotel in preparation for this evening's meal and charity auction event. Need to keep hands in pockets if the bidding gets competitive!

Rally Day 2 - Ducati visit

09.42AM and the housemates have gone to the Ducati factory.

Neither of us have ever had a desire for a motorbike, but you know when you see something special. We had a tour of the museum with various historic racing bikes and were then walked through the factory floor where you could see every stage of the construction process - all by hand.

No photos were allowed in the factory, but we did get some shots in the museum.

The photo that we didn't want to take

The last leg of the journey to Imola from Switzerland saw us travel 351 miles - total at the start of Friday was 1,112.

Sure enough, the car has started complaining and for the benefit of those in the Travelers office sweepstake on when the car would need attention, the winner is the person with Friday evening.

Following the return to the hotel in Imola, the mechanics had a look and discovered serious problems with the wheel bearings and associated areas, and they have spent more than two hours working on the car while we all had dinner.

The car has been fixed and remains roadworthy, so we are still in the race, but we are now in the running for the "Golden Dipstick" award for the Most Improved Car. The mechanics did say that they had no idea how the car had made it across Europe in the condition that it was in. Someone is smiling on us.

Saturday sees the first full day of rallying and includes a visit to Ducati, the motorbike specialists. We'll post some more tomorrow.

On the race track

Not a bad way to spend a Friday afternoon.

After completing his lap, Mike swapped with Steve who then completed his lap (and a third, unexpected bonus lap!).

After this, it was back to the hotel. Hopefully the journey and slalom hadn't taken it's toll on the car.

Lined up on the Imola Grand Prix circuit

Click on any photo in any posting to see a larger version!

As you can see, we were very near the front for the first lap, driven by Mike. Given that this was a parade lap, we only got up to 60 mph!!

Rally Day One - a visit to Imola Grand Prix Circuit

After the car and documents were checked over we attended a briefing explaining the basics of the rally stages. Each stage is a surprise with only basic directions given.

The first stage this afternoon was a short trip across town to the Imola Grand Prix circuit.

A buffet lunch was served in the Ferrari pit stop garage and we were allowed to eat while sitting on the ledge of the pit lane. The picture shows us with Dan from team 7, who will be in front of us for the rally stages.

We were then invited to take part in some driving challenges in the car park, including formation driving to crush plastic coffee cups and to slalom through cones. We will find out tomorrow how well we did at those activities! Then we were invited onto the track....

Land Rover kitted out as per the film

Introducing team 55 - a complete replica of the heist vehicle from the 1969 film.

Check out the helmets and wooden batons on the bonnet!

Aston Martin

Introducing Team 6 - who will leave 60 seconds before us on each rally stage.

We are now officially Team 08

We have this morning had the car passed as fit to participate in the rally and have been given our official team number stickers to place on the doors.

There are about 50 participants this year, with new BMW minis, old classic Minis and we have two special attendees;
1. A 1972 Aston Martin (!!)
2. A Land Rover which has been dressed to appear as the gang's vehicle in the 1969 film, complete with wire mesh over the windows.

Briefing and first stage later...

At the top of the Simplon Pass

To prove that the car is not Herbie!!

Over the Alps...2

After the train, we still had to negotiate a further mountain range. We decided to be brave and took the car up and over the Simplon Pass - at 2005 metres high - over 6000 feet climb! The photo attached was taken at the highest point of the Pass and has a great view.

Thanks to those leaving comments, we have only just realised that people could do that! Keep them coming!

We made it to Imola late last night in one piece and the car has not stuttered at all and coped with the journey brilliantly.

Internet coverage at the hotel is patchy but we will try and keep posting details.

Across the Alps...1

To get from Switzerland to Italy means going over, under or through the Alps. We decided against a long tunnel and a high mountain pass might be a trip too far, so we went through!

The attached picture is of us embarking on the car transporter train that crosses through the Alps from Kandersteg to Goppenstein in Switzerland. You then have to cross a further section of the Alps, but more on that next....

The rain finally caught us up...

Ever since we left on Monday morning, the weather forecast was that we would encounter rain on our journey. However, for the first two days of travelling we managed to avoid any rain and were blessed with good weather for yesterday morning's trip to the mountains.

However, as we travelled down the valleys to Interlaken, it was clear that the weather had finally caught us up and the whole town was blanketed by cloud. The attached photo shows the view from my hotel room yesterday afternoon and as I write this on Thursday morning, the view is much the same.

We are now leaving to cross the Alps into Italy on what is going to be our most challenging day for the car. It's the longest distance we have to travel in a day and the mountain climbs will be the toughest challenge yet for the Mini. After today we pick up the mechanics and service/parts van in Imola when we can relax a bit more!

Distance from Troyes to Interlaken was 354 miles on Tuesday, which gives a total distance travelled so far of 761 miles. Next post should be from Imola (internet permitting).

A day out of the car

On Wednesday, we spent the day visiting the Jungfrau mountain region. We kept to our promise to ignore the car for the day, so took a combination of trains and cable cars to visit Murren and from there a long cable car to visit the Schilthorn - a mountain top revolving restaurant and viewing platform at 2970m, or about 10,000 feet. This was used in the James Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" in 1969 as the mountain lair of the villain Blofeld.

As you can see from the photo, the weather there was fine and we had a good view of the Alps laid out in front of us.

However, we did notice a large band of cloud creeping over the world beneath us....

Straight into the mountains

After arriving in Interlaken, we took advantage of the good weather and drove up the nearest valley to Lauterbrunnen, starting point of journeys into the mountains in this area.

The light was fading fast, but we managed to get close up to the Alps and took this picture with the mountains just about visible in the background against the light sky.

We've just learnt that the local ice hockey team SCUI are playing tomorrow night in Interlaken and we will be able to attend before heading into Italy on Thursday morning.

Greetings from Switzerland

Following an early start, we left Troyes and headed down an almost deserted motorway network through France. We then took a cross country short cut to reach the Swiss border at Jougne, before again heading on the motorways through Berne to reach Interlaken.

The picture was taken on the shores of Lake Thun, with Interlaken in the background at the far edge of the lake.

Again, no issues at all with the car, which will be having a rest day tomorrow, while we explore this part of Switzerland on the mountain trains and cable car networks.

We're in France...

Contrary to popular opinions in Steve's office, the Mini did make it out of England and the team are now in Troyes, France.

The ferry was slightly delayed due to the moderate seas in the Channel, but we were amongst the first off the ferry and were soon heading down the French motorway system. Apart from a few strange looks from locals as they sped past us, we have had no issues with the car and we are now planning our journey into Switzerland for tomorrow night.

At Dover we met two other Italian Job teams waiting for the same ferry - one of which was team 07, who will be immediately in front of us for the rally stages as the teams leave in strict numerical order. As their car is a two year old BMW Mini Cooper S, John Cooper Works GP special edition (over 200 bhp) we won't be seeing them for long, with our c70 bhp engine!

Total distance covered so far - 407 miles.

Packed and ready to go!

It's Sunday night and the car is packed and ready for an early start tomorrow morning.

Tyres have been pumped up, fluid levels checked and checklists completed.

The spacious (!) boot is filled with a bag full of spare parts, petrol cans, tools, etc and the large black canister on the left side is the petrol tank!

With no space for personal items in the boot, we will have to use the rear passenger seat area for our belongings.

Steve will be leaving Hertford at about 6.30am, to rendevous with Mike at Ashford at about 9.15am, after navigating the M25 London orbital motorway through the early rush hour.

We are due to leave leave Dover on the car ferry to cross the Channel to France at 11.05am and we then head to Troyes in France for our first overnight stop, from where we hope to post the next entry on this website.

Hill Dickinson Quiz Night

Last night, Hill Dickinson solicitors kindly hosted the final event of our fundraising year. A quiz night was held in their London office, attended by HD staff and their guests. This was the fourth quiz night we have held in the year and the third new quiz that we have written from scratch. It was a great send-off event before we leave on Monday to cross the Channel and embark on our journey.

Many thanks to all at Hill Dickinson who funded the evening and have made a significant contribution towards our fundraising total.

Introducing Steve and Mike as Team 08

Driver and owner of the Mini, Steve Chandler is pictured on the left next to Co-Driver Mike Hobden.

A year after agreeing to enter the rally and with just three weeks to go until the team leaves England (20th October), we finally managed to get the two of us together with the car for a pre-rally photo.

The route is planned, hotels reserved and a number of options for crossing the Alps from Switzerland into Italy are being considered.

We intend to update this blog whilst we are on the rally, with a daily update and a couple of photos to let people know what we have been up to (hotel internet capability allowing).

MOT and service

IT PASSED!!!

For the benefit of our overseas readers (hello to Travelers US staff following our progress!!), each car in the UK has to undertake an annual road safety check and obtains an MOT certificate, and this is a dreaded moment for all car owners as expensive bills can follow.

Following the purchase of the Mini last summer, the MOT last year cost almost the same as the car purchase did, so it was with some trepidation that the car was entered for its 2008 test.

However, this year was a completely different story and the Mini sailed through the annual test with flying colours. Many thanks to Darrell at D C Minis in Potters Bar who gave the car a thorough examination in preparation for the October run to Italy.

Obviously with a car of this age things may still need attention before the run, but the main items have all been checked over.

Today, there are just 70 days to go until the start in Imola on October 24th, but we have made arrangements to start from England on October 20th, travelling through France and Switzerland on our way to the start in Italy.

How do you reach over 30,000 people at once?

Easy - just get your principle sponsor to place an article on the front page of the company's intranet site, so that it is the first thing that everyone in the international insurance company reads when they turn on their computers!

As an employee of Travelers Insurance in the UK, Stephen took the opportunity whilst on a June trip to the parent company in the US to meet with a member of their marketing team for an interview. This led to the creation of an article which has today been published on the front page of the main intranet site in the US, where more than 30,000 employees will see a photo of the Mini.

A follow-up story will also be run in November, when we expect to be able to supply some great photos of the Travelers Mini at European landmarks.

What is the 2008 Self Preservation Society?

OK, you know The Italian Job? The film? The 1969 original by the way, not the Hollywood 're-make'. Less said about that the better!

Well, in the spirit of the film, several years ago a charity race started. Essentially, drive a Mini to Italy and back and raise money for charity. Stealing gold is not permitted but raising lots of money for charity is encouraged!

This blog will follow the story of two participants in the 2008 Italian Job.

Stephen Chandler and Michael Hobden will be driving an 18 year old red Mini Cooper from England to Italy and back in October this year. Through this year they will be raising money for this years chosen charity - KidsOut. The blog will describe their fundraising efforts and follow the team on the rally itself.

So want to know some more already? Well, there is a link on this page which will take you to the website for the event. Most important of all is the link to the Just Giving page for The 2008 Self Preservation Society! Please do give generously. Thank you!

Travelers London Conference

As part of the sponsorship deal with Travelers, the Mini would attend various company events during the year. Consequently Stephen had to emerge from slumber at 5.30am today in order to drive through the rush hour traffic to central London - Haberdashers' Hall near Smithfield.

The professional indemnity for lawyers conference was hosted by BBC newsreader Huw Edwards, who informed the 100+ delegates of the Mini adventure and even took a few team business cards with him back to the BBC. We await a phone call from Jeremy Clarkson!!

Hertford Family Fun Day

On Sunday 1st June, the Mini attended the festival held in the historic Hertford Castle Grounds. The main activity was to fill the Mini with party balloons and hold a "Guess the number of balloons in the Mini" game, as well as selling official Italian Job prize draw tickets.

The weather was kind and lots of people stopped to look at the car - it's a real head-turner. The day helped to raise more funds towards our target.

In case you were wondering, the actual number of balloons (all inflated) that we managed to fit inside the cabin was 369!!

London to Brighton 2008

In preparation for our European adventure, our first joint journey saw us travelling from Crystal Palace in London to the seafront at Brighton.

The weather was great and the car took the journey in it's stride.

The car is now carrying the Travelers red umbrella logo on the roof and logos on the side and bonnet.