Completing the gruelling weekend with just over 1200 miles covered, Bob Higginson the mastermind of Mini4RNLI, along with seven other cars made it back to the Cary Arms just before 7pm Monday evening (25th November). The three-day road trip with three classic minis leading the convoy left Brixham on Friday 22nd to embark on the famous Rallye Beaujolais, the annual Beaujolais Nouveau run, to raise funds for the Torbay RNLI.
To celebrate the home-coming of the Ralley Beaujolais teams, the Cary Arms, Babbacombe Bay, Devon, held a French evening with traditional French epicurean classics, jazz and lots of Beaujolais Nouveau to celebrate! A raffle held during the evening raised £270. Funds are still coming in, but it is expected to reach the £9000 mark. International yachtsman and philanthropist Peter de Savary, chairman, of de Savary Properties, together with his wife Lana, donated £5000 to the worthy cause.
Interesting facts include: Mini4RNLI averaged 36mpg, stopping 14 times to refuel. The leading car - Mini4RNLI, is a 1998 Classic Mini Cooper S, previously owned by the 24hr LeMans endurance race winner. Making very good time, despite a few hiccups along the way, the Pimms Mini pick-up 1000cc suffered a few mechanical failures including a broken gearbox; radiator; speed; heater, yet still managed it back to the Cary Arms along with the other minis to deliver the prized Beaujolais, which this year is proving a very good wine. 500 bottles of Beaujolais made it back!
