West - Mini Minor to Asia Minor: there & back

Nicky West

Foreword by Jean Christophe Novelli

First printed in hardback format in July 2012.

First published in ebook format June 2013 by Veloce Publishing Limited, Veloce House, Parkway Farm Business Park, Middle Farm Way, Poundbury, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 3AR, England Fax 01305 250479 e-mail .

Ebook edition ISBN: 978-1-845846-26-8

Paperback edition ISBN: 978-1-845843-61-8

Nicky West and Veloce Publishing 2013. All rights reserved. With the exception of quoting brief passages for the purpose of review, no part of this publication may be recorded, reproduced or transmitted by any means, including photocopying, without the written permission of Veloce Publishing Ltd. Throughout this book logos, model names and designations, etc, have been used for the purposes of identification, illustration and decoration. Such names are the property of the trademark holder as this is not an official publication.

Readers with ideas for automotive books, or books on other transport or related hobby subjects, are invited to write to the editorial director of Veloce Publishing at the above address.

All Ebook design and programming by Veloce Publishing Ltd on Apple Mac.

Veloce Publishing ltd

digital.veloce.co.uk

Contents

Acknowledgements

My grateful thanks to everyone who, in some way or another, made the adventure (and this book) possible.

A-Ferry: Kirsty Laifa, Benjamin Milhau, Meryam Boumenar

Amanda Wakeley: Laura Froud, Charlotte Argyrou, and Amanda herself

ARP: Nigel Atkinson

Autoshift: Paul Clarke

Bauer Media: Stuart Adams and Elaine Armstrong

BBC Three Counties: Jenna Benson, Tara Dolby, Tim Wheeler

Best of Both Worlds Ltd: Mary Sykes

Brocket Hall Golf Club: Jo Putnam and the amazing Erik

Brooklands Welding: Mark Johnson

Castrol Classic Oils: Martin Bentley

Charles Tyrwhitt: Nathan Rous

Columbus: Claudine Drollet

Corgi Collectors Club: Susan Pownall

Datum CP: Scott Pearce, Zoe Buckingham

Deb: Martyn Hodgkinson

Demon Tweeks: Simon Downey

DSCO: David Suckling, Nikki Brant, and everyone there

Egyptian consulate: H E Mr Amr El Henawy and Laura Darlison

Eurolec: Michael Hadley

Functionphotos: Ian Griggs and Wendy Cunnington

Garmin: Jen Hamblin, Laura Tomei, Claire Haigh

Gaz Shocks: David Lyon

Got the T-shirt: Dan Beer, Carl Horsfield

Guessworks: John Guess

Halfords: Sarah Leung

Harrods: Rosie Menzies

Hatfield House: Lord and Lady Salisbury, Elaine Gunn, Julie Loughlin

Hitchin Band: Chris Ankers, Hannah Prince, and all in the band

Hornby: Martyn Weaver

Lamberts Florist: Paul Gibson

Lifesaver: Michael Pritchard, Tamara Robinson

Millers Oil: Robin Longdon

Mini Magazine: Mark Robinson, Jeffrey Ruggles

Mini Mail: Tim Harber

Mini Spares: Justin Jeffery, Keith Dodd, Gary Pattinson, Stevie Toner

Mini World: Basil Wales, Kay Drury, Monty Watkins

Mvenpick Hotels: Sean Cullen, Sherif Halim and Moheb Goneid

Novelli Academy: JCN, Michelle & Petit Jean. Jenny Walters and Nuala Prior

Oberoi Mena House: Tarek Lotfy

Oakley: Heather Pigott

Olympus: Sarah Cheetham

Optima: Gordon Mackay

Piper Cams: Ian Cox

Practical Classics: Danny Hopkins

RAC: Paul Gowen

Rimflo: Paul Ivy

Radio Verulam: Danny Smith

Roadology: Sean Williams

Sabelt: Steve Bennett

Samson: Joe Meddings, Gareth Underwood

Sassafras Jazz: Susie ODea and Johnny Spence

Simply Delicious Cake Co: Millie and Archie Hunter

Sony Centre Welwyn: John Freeman

Sticky Fingers: Martin Cull

SU Burlen: Mark Burnett

Superfast: Ariadne Psimara

Swiftcover Insurance: Jade Trimbee

Tabledressers: Jessica Blair

Trailfinders: Lucy Balding

Veloce Publishing: Kevin Quinn, Rod Grainger and Sam Childs

Villa Sampaguita: Tim and Rina Brewer

Vintage Tyres: Chris Marchant

Visemar: Andrea Forcellini, Marco Agostinis

Waitrose Welwyn: Ross Barnard, Lorraine Gwyther

WHT: Ross Logan

Lucy Alder, Keith Calver, Sophie Chryssaphes, Carolyn Fallon, Phil Glasson, David Lawton, Claire Lloyd, Peter Madden, Fiona McGee, Wendy Rowley, Katie Sharpe, Allie Stribling, Brett Tyrrell, Sue Waite, Anna Weeden, Richard White, Aaron Whitnal, Daniel Wilkin, Lesley Willies and Dr Gihane Zaki.

Armani, Mum, Dad, Trace, and a dog called Bob.

Eri, Vagrelis, Myrto, Leandros, Stefanos, Nicole and all our friends in Athens.

... And of course, my own dear Rob, for believing in a dream.

Photographic acknowledgments:

Marco Longari (AFP)

Ian Griggs and Wendy Cunnington (Functionphotos.net)

Gordon G May

Foreword

by Jean Christophe Novelli

I was intrigued by Nicky and Robs journey to the last remaining Wonder of the World the Egyptian pyramids and back in just 40 days, not only because it was to raise money for such a worthy charity, but because the car they were to attempt such an amazing feat in is the same age as me!

Being able to flag them away from Hatfield House at the start of their adventure, along with special family friends, was a great feeling. Seeing their joy as the Mini sped away with a wave of the flag, driving so far in order to raise awareness and essential funds for seriously ill young people, was such an important cause and close to all of our hearts.

My own son enjoyed it very much too maybe he will grow up to be an explorer instead of a chef?

I hope you, like me, enjoy sharing both the highs and lows of their epic trip.

For Splonk our constant companion throughout; for Lucy, who cared enough to introduce us; and Wendy, who knits for him.

Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.

Theodore Roosevelt - 26th President of the United States (1858-1919)

Prologue

July 2006

24, 23, 22, 21...

I sat holding my breath, heart pounding.

18, 17, 16 ...

Are you sure about 500 seems awfully low? I asked quickly, knowing we had only one shot at this on an ancient PC still powered by dialup rather than broadband.

Thats plenty, Rob replied, adding immediately Ok, 550, as the countdown ticked relentlessly on.

Rob friend, husband, rally driver, and Mini enthusiast extraordinaire had seen an antique 1961 Mini advertised on eBay five days earlier. A true barn find, this little car had come off the road in 1967 for unknown reasons and sat gathering dust ever since. After a couple of emailed questions, wed shot out to view it on Wednesday evening (it was now Sunday afternoon) and decided that it was a very genuine and fairly solid MkI Morris Mini Minor Deluxe, which suffering from incredible sun fade looked more like a Pink Panther Land Rover from WWII than its original Cherry red.