The Mini, mini Italian Job in Yorkshire fund raising event for Buttle UK

This can’t be much further removed from my day job but what a great way to raise funds for Buttle UK and their Chances For Children appeal.

It is our second experience of taking part in this navigational car event, named ‘The Italian Job’. This event celebrated it 30th year in 2019 and has raised a stunning total of almost 3 MILLION pounds over that time for children charities. It is normally held in, you’ve guessed it, Italy, but this year because of the challenges Covid presented it was held in Yorkshire.

Our Mini

Our classic mini is Almond Green….had to be really, almonds…..marzipan…..cake, lol! All 31 entrants maintain their cars to the highest standards making sure they are ready and safe for the tasks set. This time, over the 4 days we drove around 700 miles including our journey there and back to the home of Karen’s Cakes, Bishop’s Stortford, Herfordshire. We whizzed (sticking to the speed limits of course!) through the amazing Yorkshire countryside, including a mountain pass, picture post card villages and sea side towns.

 

Day 1

Day one started at Elvington Airfield with scrutineering, (of the cars not the drivers!) then some special stages, finishing with a drone filmed group charge down the runway!

We were on the front row being followed by everyone as we ‘took off’ down the runway, very exhilarating!

 

We then headed off to our Hotel for the next 3 nights, Fairfield Manor just outside Harrogate following the first of our tulip maps, no SatNav’s allowed!
Side note – a very nice wedding venue but the way.

Day 2

Day two was a fabulous drive following a tulip map route of course,  that included Grassington National Park, Aysgarth Falls. the Wensleydale cheese factory and the Buttertubs Pass plus a tasty lunch at The Green Dragon Inn, Hardraw.

The charity auction

Friday night back at the hotel was auction night and the Jobbers (that’s what the teams are called) raised an incredible £7000! Freddie, who organises the event with his mum Giulia, is fantastic at creating an atmosphere of fun rivalry between the teams resulting in this total!

 

Day 3

Day three the tulip may took us firstly to the Scarborough Fair Collection and onto Sneaton castle, near Whitby bay for lunch (again, a very nice wedding venue!) and then a surprise special stage of clay pigeon shooting.

 

The Final hours and farewell

That evening was our farewell dinner and awards, then an early start to head off to Piece Hall, Halifax, a fantastic substitute for the usual Italian plaza’s where the event normally takes place!

Our cars were all parked in the centre of this Grade 1 listed building and were greatly admired (as they were where ever we went) by the visitors who had dropped by for some shopping or a bite to eat.

The morning culminated with a few words from representatives from Piece Hall, Mini BMW and Buttle UK plus Freddie and a very noisy departure from the teams and cars!

 

 

 

Lastly…

A big thanks you to our sponsors and supporters, including The Bishop’s Stortford Independent, Absolute Signs and RCA Structures plus all those who have already donated on our Just Giving page.

It’s worth noting, all the money donated goes to the children, we pay our own expenses, including petrol, accommodation and keeping a classic car in top notch condition, plus things brought at the auction at greatly inflated prices we never knew we wanted, LOL!  Buttle UK uses their own trust fund created by the Rev Buttle to cover their running costs, so again every penny donated goes to the children.

Should you be feeling generous and would like to donate, please follow this link

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Karen-Burton21?utm_campaign=lc_frp_share_transaction_fundraiser_page_donation_received_-_nth_donation&utm_content=ef37d009-b5f3-4b7c-9a08-789d37cff0b9&utm_medium=email&utm_source=postoffice&utm_term=1634378364442

If you would like to know about Buttle UK, follow this link

https://buttleuk.org/support-us/the-chances-for-children-campaign/

And if you’re a Mini driving car nut and want to know how you can get involved, follow this link

https://www.italianjob.com/