Portcullis White Hat Rally 2009

The Long Road Home..............

2009-09-14T19:15:00.002+01:00

After a long convoy run from Turin to Nice yesterday(the highlight of which was Mr. Bridger redecorating Maggie with his breakfast), The team met up with the rest of the teams after succesfully completing the rally(How many of you thought that would happen?)!

Yesterday's mini challenge was won by Bridger's Boys, with over a thousand more points than any other team!

Then came the suprise of the weekend, Maggie was crowned "Best Dressed Car".

We got up this morning nice and early to start the 700 mile trip back to Calais and our ferry, unfortunatly Maggie had other ideas. 12 miles out of Nice, her clutch gave up : (

After alot of slowly driving around garages(to no avail), the writing was on the wall. We weren't going to make it back today. Drastic actions were taken and flights arranged back to England. Maggie was scrapped.

RIP Maggie

1994-2009

Monte Carlo beckons............

2009-09-13T12:42:00.003+01:00

After an eventful couple of days, finally a blog comes!

Yesterday started better than we expected, with the van having been fixed and ready for us on arrival back at the garage. Albeit with slightly more expensive tyres on it than we would have perhaps chosen........

.....but we were back on the road and only an hour behind the rest. The journey through the Alps and over the Gd St. Bernard pass was spectacular, and Maggie coped with it rather well, some slight smoking from the brakes on the downhills, but a mechanically sound journey. Our new tyres have also eliminated our wobble at 65 mph.

Unfortunately, the Blues Brothers team was arrested as they passed the Swiss/Italian border, for illegal use of a siren and having illegal number plates! We didn't laugh. Honest.

Not only did we manage to catch up and pass several of our competitors, we also managed to come second in the days photo challenge.

On arrival in Turin we met up with Mr. Bridger and headed off into the town for some food and light refreshment.

This morning we managed to just about make our 0930 meeting time, although there were some sore heads and red eyes!

We headed up to the old Fiat factory and the rally drove up on to the roof for coffee and photographs before a rousing speech from Mr. Bridger and setting off again.

We are currently sat on the Italian motorway, Tim is at the wheel and we are heading towards Nice via Monte Carlo for the last leg, trying to capture minis on camera for today's challenge.

Yesterdays photos to be uploaded soon!

A beds a bed!!

2009-09-11T23:48:00.003+01:00

Well we made it to the hotel - less a van!!

We're sure this must have been a brothel once.

Bridgers Boys were the last to leave the restaurant tonight!!

PS. Will Skate murder an innocent civilian tomorrow?

12 miles from the hotel

2009-09-11T17:18:00.002+01:00

BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maggie impresses the Veyrons!

2009-09-11T13:33:00.004+01:00

We've done 350 miles so far since we left Pinner, "Tim" is driving and "Skate" and "Ollie" drove this morning. Maggie has lost little oil and her make up is so subtle!!!

At this mornings stop, we got more attention than the Ferrari 540 and Bugatti Veyron parked next to us. Amazingly we've been passed by 3 Veyrons so far - they can't have cost less than £500?!!

Anagrams of Veuve Cliquot Ponsardin referring to The Italian Job are desperately needed!!

"Bailey", "Dad", "Ollie", "Skate" and "Tim"
(in the Champagne Region)

So for the off...........................

2009-09-10T15:16:00.003+01:00

So tonight we set off..................

After one RAC visit and some engine starting issue the Bridger's Boys van is ready for the off!

She has been cleaned up and is looking good(no seriously) and all she needs now is a nice French female name. Suggestions welcome........

Pre Painting.........

2009-09-10T15:07:00.005+01:00

Good to see Deano's getting advice from Piers & Connor!!!

Van in progress.................

2009-09-08T13:40:00.002+01:00

Portcullis is fundraising for ChildLine - JustGiving

2009-09-01T16:27:00.001+01:00

Portcullis is fundraising for ChildLine - JustGiving

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10days to go................

2009-08-17T10:28:00.005+01:00

Welcome to the first blog post for the Portcullis White Hat Rally 2009 team!

With the vehicle now purchased(pics to follow) the countdown begins. The vehicle is in reasonable condition(Portsmouth FC sticker removed from windscreen) despite Kieran's attempts to write it off just hours after purchase.

The team "Bridger's Boys" consists of 5 Portcullis employee's:- Kieran Combes, James Fisher, Harry Norman- Walker, Richard Dean and myself, Chris Rann.

So, what are we doing?

We shall be attempting to take our vehicle(all £470 of it) from Boulogne to Nice via Turin, approx. 870 miles, and back again! Along the way we will be set challenges by the organisers, all in an Italian Job theme. Although this should be alot of fun, the idea is to raise money for ChildLine, a worthy cause I am sure you will agree.