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1990 Onwards.....!!!
CURRICULUM VITAE
NAME - THE ITALIAN JOB
The famous cliff-hanger words of Michael Caine at the end of the film "Hang on a minute lads … I`ve got a great idea. "
have inspired a group of enthusiastic Mini-Mad Friends to devise a fun filled event with the challenge of Raising Money
for Children in a fun way. The idea - bandied around while Freddie St George and friends were having a pizza at an
Italian Restaurant in Brighton - took shape thanks to the involvement and support of the Trento Tourist Office in NE Italy,
and the patronage of the great John Cooper (whose name is so inextricably linked with Mini)
D.O.B.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 8th 1990 - 56 teams took part in this first Run including the oldest Mini, a totally restored 1960 Mini van,
which suffered a few mechanical problems when its carburettors froze on the Alpine Roads of the Dolomites and the open
framed Mini Moke driven by the first of many Dutch Teams to join the event. The Minis were escorted by a fabulous 1967
Lamborghini Miura P 400 restored by the owners as an homage to the one featured in the film ! A great deal of money was
raised with a "Guess the mileage competition from Newhaven to Brighton via Trento and Lausanne " and a staggering £ 58.000,00
was donated to Children in Need and Childline.
THE START
For the next seven years Jobbers ( the name given to teams by a journalist from a national magazine to describe the
enthusiastic Mini drivers ) of all nationalities have driven off-the-beaten-track roads across Europe. We have together
explored the relatively unknown Italian Region of Trentino and enjoyed the warmth hospitality typical of these mountain
people whilst raising money for the NSPCC. The Navigational Rally around the Region was started in 1992 and the overall
Winner that year was Mike Wildman now a dedicated Red hatter assisting new Jobbers as a marshal throughout each event.
GROWING UP
Seven years down the line and the time came to become more adventurous and take our Minis to explore another Italian Region,
this time slightly further south. The city of Imola in Emilia Romagna was invaded for the first time by the Minis in 1998.
Since then Jobbers have devoured the thrill of a lap or two on the Dino and Enzo Ferrari F1circuit! and Minis from the UK
and the rest of Europe and from further a field (Russia Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and USA) have been welcomed in
cities such as Bologna, Ferrara, Modena and Ravenna.
The Ferrari Museum in Maranello became an usual stop for the Minis
and a special buffet lunch was held there in 1997 . An additional thrill was added in 2001 with the stopover in Turin and
an exciting drive on The Lingotto, the test track of the Fiat Car Company which featured prominently in the original film.
IN 2005 We were truly privileged to be invited to Fiorano, home of Ferrari's private test track. Whilst our minis
performed in a specially devised gymkhana, a Ferrari 360 Challenge car was put through its paces around us, roaring,
squealing and screaming as it laid down much rubber on the hallowed surface of this most famous private circuit.
Jobbers also had the opportunity of briefly exploring the city of Treviso before arriving to Venice, a new addition
to the Navigational Rally Route of 2005. For the first time in 16th years the Minis enjoyed a day of rest in the hotel
car park whilst their owners went sightseeing in Venice! More surprises for Jobbers were in store in 2006 with the first
visit of The Italian Job to MONZA Grand Prix International circuit ! and a boat trip off Stresa to the Borromean Islands.
Planning is already well underway for the 20th Anniversary Run in 2009. We feel the time is right and the occasion fitting
to stage a real big Mini invasion and what better place to start with than the Capital City of Italy, ROME !
However, whatever the itinerary the "mission" remains unchanged since our very first run - to raise as much money as
possible in support of KIDSOUT the events nominated Charity since 2008.
Having supported NCH Charity from 2000 to 2007. Our first self imposed target of a Mighty Million Pounds Raised
for the Millennium was reached in 2000 whilst in 2007 our total was just over the 2 million target.
We are now edging slowly but surely towards our next target thanks to the great support extended to the
event by Corporate Companies and the public at large.
December 2008
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