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The first
Minis to Monte event ran in 2004 with nearly 60 entries. The
aim of the event was to follow part of the route of 1964
Monte Carlo Rally. 1964 being the year when the Mini Cooper
first won the Monte Carlo Rally. Although the event made a
loss for the Club, for those taking part it was an
overwhelming success. It generated lots of good publicity
for the Club. Coverage was received in Classic and Sportscar
Magazine, Mini Magazine, Classic Car Weekly to name a few.
It was decided
to run the event again in 2006. This time we ran with less
cars just under thirty which made the management of the
event that easier. The route took us much further west that
in 2004. Crossing to Le Harve, Rennes, Limoges, Avigion,
Gap, Nice and Chambery. Again the route took in part of the
concentration run and common route.
2007 saw
the first Minis to Ecosse run, 5 days over some daunting
Scottish Roads. The event started in Perth then travelled to
Fort William, spending the next three nights based in
Inverness before returning to Perth for the Final Dinner.
Minis to
Monte was back on the calendar for 2008. Differing to
previous events which started in the UK, for this event the
initial assembly point was at Automobiles BMC in Vienne, just
south of Lyon in France. From there is was a short run to Tain l'Hermitage for the Welcome Dinner. From Tain it was
around the Burzet loop to Val les Bains, Embrun, Monte
Carlo, Digne to return to Tain.
The 2009 event
returned to Scotland. Starting in Perth, heading to Oban for
a crossing to The Isle of Mull the next morning. Leaving
Mull we headed to Ballachulish and then onto Tain for two
nights. The trip out took us to Durness and the depths of
the far North West of Scotland. The final run back was from
Tain to Perth for the farewell dinner. |
