Minis to Monte 2008
28th September - 4th October
1968 saw the
last entry of BMC works minis on the Monte Carlo Rally. So 40 years on
we propose to run another of our ‘minis to monte’ runs to recognise
this landmark.
Preliminary research into the route is already underway and the good
news is that it makes use of many roads not used before in previous
‘minis to monte’! Thanks to Paul Easter we now have the full detail of
the 1968 route.
In 1968 the results for the works minis were, 3rd Ruano Aaltonen and
Henry Liddon, 4th Tony Fall and Mike Wood, 5th Paddy Hopkirk and Ron
Crellin and 55th Timo Makinen and Paul Easter.
Itinerary
Sunday 28th September
Assemble at Tournon-sur-Rhône for Welcome Dinner.
Hotel: Tournon
Monday 29th September
We join the 1968 Monte Carlo Rally Common Route through the mountainous Ardèche area including the famous Burzet loop.
Hotel: Vals les Bains or Orange
Tuesday 30th September
Vals les Bains or Orange - Col St Hippolyte
We cross the Rhône valley, skirt Mont Ventoux and continue via Gap
Hotel: Embrun
Wednesday 1st October
Embrun - Monte Carlo. Rejoining the Common Route we head south to Monte Carlo.
Hotels: Columbus Monte Carlo
Thursday 2nd October
Monte Carlo - Digne. We start off on the stages of the Mountain Circuit over the Col de Turini and Col de Couillole and then pick up the early part of the Common Route to Digne.
Hotel: Digne.
Friday 3rd October
Digne - Tournon. We continue on the Common Route via Die and the Col de Rousset on the way to the finish back in Tournon for the Farewell Dinner.
Hotel: Tournon
MINIS TO MONTE 2008 update
We can now report that we have a full entry list with several reserves standing by. We are attempting to stretch slightly the 30 car limit that we originally set, the critical factor being to find hotels that can provide enough rooms. Entrants who have had their entry confirmed will shortly be receiving a letter asking whether they require single rooms, as this affects the total number required. The actual regulations and entry forms will follow shortly afterwards.
In mid-February the first recce will take place, although we expect many roads may still be snow-bound. At this stage all we will be doing is checking the feasibility of each day’s run and the suitability of hotels, which sounds a bit pathetic when you think that in January 1968 competitors did the whole distance in 48 hours in ice and snow with only one night in bed. And they had just driven from points all over Europe, while we will be dropping in by Easyjet.
We have been contacted by a Mini specialist in Vienne, just north of our start and finish point, who is keen to be involved with the event, so we plan to include information on his premises so that entrants can make a visit part of their run down to the start.
Graeme Allan, who planned the route for last year’s Minis to Ecosse, is organising a group of cars to follow the route of the 1968 Concentration Run from Oslo down to our start. Several Scottish members will be taking part, so if anyone wishes to go the long way round, starting I believe in Newcastle, they should contact Graeme at for further information.