The Italian Jobbers
Posted by murmini Wed, 03 Jan 2007 12:36:00 GMT
You have all seen Michael Caine’s the film The Italian Job right? Well in 1990, an English Mini fan named Freddie St.George came up with the idea to drive from Italy to England in honor of the 1969 film. Well guess what?
It turned into an annual charity event that has raised over $3.5 million for the National Children’s Home. Running in late October – early November each year, two drivers per car have to raise £1500 (about $2900) in donations and can enter the event driving any type of car that was used in the film with Minis, being the car of choice.
Over the years it has attracted Aston Martin DB4s, E-type Jags and Alfa Giulia police cars and of course a goodly crowd of MINIs, both old and new. Run annually, The Italian Job event has been described as a “Mad Dog’s and Englishmens” caper and one of the most colourful events to be staged in the name of charity. By the way, the reference to Noel Coward is no mistake as he starred in the original film as Mr Bridger, an incarcerated criminal mastermind who runs a criminal empire from jail.
Each year, the rally from Italy to England attracts participants from all over Europe, USA, New Zealand and even Japan. Each team makes its own way to Italy, where the drivers converge on the cities of Northern Italy and take part in a four-day navigational rally and plenty of celebrating, culminating in a special lap of honour at the Imola racing circuit.
By the way, this is an amazing link to the Imola Circuit site with a superb animated map and video shot from within a Ferrari completing the entire circuit… enjoy! The Imola Circuit is called the Autodroma Enzo E Dino Ferrari, named after Ferrari’s late founder Enzo and his son Dino who had died in the 1950s. The Ferrari factory is just down the road in Maranello.
On the way back to England from Italy, the event follows a strict itinerary, with drivers being required to make all the necessary pit-stops in critically timed sections. The Italian part of the Job features visits to Imola, staying at the Molino Rosso Hotel, and Venice. When passing through Turin, they stay at the old Fiat Factory, which is now the a five-star deluxe hotel, the Lingotto, where the test track on the roof sees minis in circuit just as it did in the actual movie. Then on through the Alps, onto Paris and finally across the Channel to Dover to reach the finishing line and the chequered flag at the Grand Hotel in Brighton. Also, there is a great thread on MINI2 with some excellent details of what is involved in participating.
If you wold like to read a personal story of the event, Ian has posted an excellent account, with pictures and video here and there is a brilliant video here, made in 1997 by MiniPaul. I sometimes think we need to spend more time revering our pedigree and heritage of Mini-times gone by – so this is it for all you nostalgia fans!
Also, just to finish off, Kelly Jones, Javier Weyler and Richard Jones of the Stereophonics, have a great “Italian Job Video here. showing off the Welsh trio’s Mini driving abilities.
