2007 Italian Job
It’s 2007 and Michael Caine is off to
Italy again to do the Job
38 years on from the original bullion robbery and Charlie Croker (Michael Caine) is on the rampage to Italy again with his driver fellow “Jobber” Ian Sims. They are to travel to northern Italy by Classic Mini where they will meet up with 200 fellow “Jobbers” from all corners of the globe in October 2007.
They aren’t going to do a real robbery, but hope to “rob” people of some of their cash in aid of the very worthy charities, which will benefit from this event. This is an event organised by “The Italian Job” organisation www.italianjob.com in aid of the National Children’s Home and in Mike and Ian’s case, the local Isle of Man Children’s Centre too. The organisation has put on this event every year since 1990 and up to the present day has raised just short of £2,000,000. Let’s hope we can help to tip that over the £2 million this year.
Unlike Sir Michael Caine, Mike was born as Michael Caine, whereas Sir Michael Caine changed his name from Maurice Joseph Micklewhite. Now “not a lot of people know that” which, for anyone who doesn’t know, is one of the many famous phrases quoted in connection with Sir Michael Caine, who starred in the original Italian Job film in 1969 and is one of the patrons of The Italian Job event, alongside Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson and other well-known personalities.
The vehicle Ian and Michael are using is a 1993 Mini Classic 1275 which is being prepared for the 2,500 miles round trip where they travel at their own pace to northern Italy to meet up with the other 100 cars for scrutineering and briefing etc on 26th October 2007. Following some of the original Italian Job route the Minis took, there will be a rally day on the hills overlooking Stresa and one or two around the Veneto Region. This is followed by a lap or two on the formula one circuit of Monza, a day of sport at the Adria raceway and of course a spin or two on the famous Lingotto. En-route there will be fund raising fancy dress events and an auction of goods brought by the “Jobbers”. They will return to the UK on 3rd November 2007.
To start their fund raising Mike and Ian are at present selling “Prize Draw” tickets for £1 each (10 per book), to win a first prize of a brand new 2007 specification Mini, second prize is a one week holiday for 2 in Italy, the third prize is a weekend holiday for 2 in Italy, fourth prize a hamper of delicious Italian wines and food, and fifth prize also a hamper of delicious Italian wines and food.
Mike and Ian are funding their own expenses, hotel, food, etc and have managed to fund the entry fee and fuel through family and friends. Therefore any money donated, raised from supporters, or via the prize draw tickets or advertising space on the Mini, will all be for the benefit of the charities.
The money raised by the “Jobbers” is split as follows: 15% to “The Italian Job Development Fund”, 5% to a local Italian children’s charity and 80% to the NCH www.nch.org.uk, but in Mike and Ian’s case, they have negotiated with the organisers that half of the 80% will be donated to The Isle of Man Children’s Centre www.iomcc.org.im
If you would like any more details, or have any offers of support, please contact Michael Caine 07624 462182 or Ian Sims 07624 496879
