We thought you might have some questions about the run and what it’s about. If reading the “spirit of the run” has not answered them, then check out our list of questions and answers below:

My mini is old, will it be okay for a trip like this?

It depends. If you maintain it well, and it is reliable in normal everyday use, then there is not reaon why it should not manage this trip, no matter how old it is. One of the organisers will be going in a 1980 Clubman, and that car has been all over Europe without any problems.

My mini is only a 848cc model, is it going to be able to cope with the Alps?

Well, it will struggle a bit on the steep inclines, but we intend to take it easy, and your car should manage it. A 998cc engine would cope a lot better, and 998cc minins will make this trip without problem as long as they are well manintained.

How much will it cost? 

Including The run pack, which will include the ferry, camp site fees hotels and a T shirt and run plaque plus clear instructions is going to cost around £250 per person. You’ll have to pay for your own fuel food and drink and incidental expenses and road tolls.

Where does it start and end? 

It starts and ends at Dover, with everyone going to their own respective home locations. No doubt there will be cars who are from similar areas, so there will be some convoying at least part of the way home.

What is there to do in Turin? 

Is a typical Italian city, and there are sights to see, places to eat and drink, and just enjoy the atmosphere. Being close to the Alps, it is near areas of outstanding natural beauty.It will be the height of summer, so it will be warm, and the local villages and towns are not far away, so you can stay around the camp site and socialise with the other mini owners, or go your own way. We will not be insisting on any particular activities, there will be some organised, and it’s up to you if you want to take part or not. You should not miss the guided tours of the film locations though, that is likely to be the highlight of the trip.

What is the camp site like? 

We are still researching the camp site, and there will be an option of using budget hotels or the camp site. Obviously, the camp site will be cheaper, but you will have to load your car with tent and sleeping bags and beds etc.

Who else will be going?

This event is open to anyone with either a classic or new mini. We encourage families, which is why we have organised it for the summer holidays. It might not be suitable for very young children due to the long drives during the day, but if you have kids, you will know how they react to long journeys.

How many minis will be going on the trip? 

We don’t know at this stage, but we expect to see more than 15 cars doing the trip. We don’t want too many! 

How do I sign up for the trip? 

Follow this link and add your name to the list. Once booking opens, and prices and dates are firm, you will be invited to pay for yourplace, and then you just have to wait for the e-run pack to arrive in your in box, or we will make it available through the web site.

Can I meet other runners before the trip starts? 

Depending on where you are in the UK, we can put you in touch with other drivers who will be making the trip. We will also provide MSN addresses if you tick the box on the form to allow this. On that basis, you could chat on line with other TTT08 runners.

How many days will it be from start to finish? 

It will be around ten days from start to finish. We expect to spend three nights at the camp site, with three days spent getting there and three days back. The drives will be a fair distance each day, but not difficult drives, and cars will travel in groups which we can sort out nearer the date we travel. When does it start? We will meet on a date yet to be agreed, but expected to be late August at a time and exact location in Dover which will be confirmed nearer the date What route do we take? We will travel our own routes down to Dover, and take a short ferry crossing.  We’ll then drive on the other side of the channel to our outbound hotel stop, where we will have a meal and freshen up before having a bite to eat. The whole route will be confirmed prior to leaving the UK, and will be contained in the run pack, together with all booking references in case you should happen to get lost and have to travel independently. We will travel down through Belgium France, Germany Switzerland and into Italy.

Where do we stop overnight? 

Hotel locations and booking references will be contained in the run pack. We generally stay in budget hotels to keep

How do we make our Hotel bookings?

You don’t. We do everything for you

What camping equipment will I need? 

You may not need any at all, depending on which option you take up. If you decide to camp, the just the usual stuff. Tent, sleeping bag, camp bed or air bed, plus clean clothes and washing gear. A list will be provided for you as a guide. It will be a very long one, and you will just cross off the things you won’t be taking! Most people travel light, as we all know minis do not have a huge space to carry gear!

Do I need special insurance for my car? 

You will need to check that your insurance covers you for Europe. Some insurers make an extra charge for this, some don’t.

Do I need special breakdown insurance for my car? 

Although most minis are reliable, some owners experience an unexpected breakdown which requires recovery back to the UK. Without insurance, this would cost many hundreds of pounds. In some cases, you would not be able to afford to bring the car back, and that would be a tragedy! You should take spares for common types of failure, but serious problems, although rare, can occur, so copies of your European breakdown cover certificates will be needed prior to setting off.

What things do I need to take to make sure I comply with the European traffic laws?

We have provided a list of the things which are required on this website.

Do I need a passport? 

Yes. Check they are actually in the car before you set off, and not on the kitchen table, or you will not get across the channel!

Who will book the ferry crossing? 

Everything will be booked for you.

What is included in the price of the run?

Ferry, all hotels and/or camp site fees, T shirt, run plaque and stickers Do mobile phones work on the continent? Some do, some don’t. You need to check with your service provider to make sure that your phone will work on the continent.

What happens if I get lost?

"I am hopeless at map reading"

will need to take maps with you. We will give you a route card with simple instructions to help you to get to the hotels using the route which the organisers will follow. Obviously, if you in a convoy, you stand less chance of getting lost. Several of the runners will have satellite navigation, and if you let us know you are not a confident map reader, we will pair you up with a buddy who will stay with you through thick and thin to help you. You should try to borrow or buy a satnav, they are invaluable.

Are families welcome?

Can children come along,will this be suitable?

We welcome families, and the hotels we choose will be suitable for parents plus a child. For more than one child, there is room for another to sleep on the floor, but that would be very cosy! We aim to make this event appealing for people who like to drive through areas of beautiful scenery, and see what Europe has to offer. That’s why we are organising this event in the school holidays.

Am I insured? 

What if I have an accident?

You must tell your insurance company that you are going to Europe. Some make a charge for going on the continent, most do not. Whether they do or don’t, you need to let them know prior to going.

Is this run a copy of the Italian Job run? Don't they visit Italy?

This run has some similarities but a lot of differences, as follows.

This run does not have an entry fee of £500 for a car and two people.

his run will not ask runners to pay £60 per person per night for hotels for the eight day event.

This run has a price of around £250 which includes all hotels and ferry crossings, run plaque and T shirt.

This run has no age limit, the Italian Job has a minimum 19 year old age barrier.

This run does not require all runners to hold a valid drivers licence.

This run is not a charity event.

This run is a budget event.

This run does not do the same things as the Italian Job, the run is a very laid back event, with the runners able to do thier own thing with the exception of the convoying between locations

There are no formal dinners on this event.

We encourage families of any age to come on this run.

Won't this run be competition for the Italian Job run?

Absolutely not. The Italian Job is an established, successful event that has run for many years, raising a huge amount for charity. We encourage anyone to go on the Italian Job, and this run is so dissimilar that there will be no hint that this run will detract from the Italian Job.

So is this event suitable for young children?

There are some quite long journeys on some days. As long as the kids are okay to travel such distances, then there is no reason why they should not come along.