From Reims to Calais it was a one and a half hour journey, however we needed to rendezvous there to get our allocated slot at 11.30am. Giving ourselves time just in case of breakdown we set off early, just as well as we caught Carl and Angie (Team 18) up on the side of the motorway with bonnet up and people peering in, two of the other cars we were traveling with had stopped too. On investigation it was an electrical fault, a bad connection on the main feeds at the solenoid, a few replacement terminals and he was up and running again. Just before we set off, the service van broke down behind us, they had been suffering problems with dirty fuel and air in the system. Tim’s head was soon on the job and they were off again to meet up with another team in a service area who were suffering electrical problems too, we followed them to offer assistance, on arrival the car appeared fine, we checked the charging system and they went on their way. It did turn out not to be a charging problem but low oil pressure, however they made it to Calais. Everybody made it on time to the ferry terminal and we were on our way back to “Blighty”.
On arrival at Dover, as Italian Job tradition dictates, as we left the ferry horns were blaring out as we disembarked. An hour and a quarter run brought us to a point where we were all in line for a police escort to Brighton, what a sight! On arrival in Brighton we passed the finish line and were presented with a Finisher’s Trophy and Certificate. Now was a chance to book into the hotel and take a rest, well a rest at the bar!
The grand finale dinner and presentation started at 7.30pm where Freddie made a few announcements and drew the “Prize Draw”, unfortunately we didn’t win the BMW Mini, shame. Then it was time to reveal who had won the navigation rally and the special stages, 1st was Roger and Yvonne Team 22. 2nd our travelling companions Carl and Angie Team 18, 3rd Gunther and Susan Team 69, and 4th Keith and Bill Team 48, the latter three were all party of our party who travelled back from Italy together, shame we let the side down and didn’t get 5th but we did get 9th position overall, which we were pleased enough with for a first attempt out of the 40+ vehicles that took part.
