Fans of the iconic film The Italian Job, who drive a MINI car (or any vehicle featured in the film) will simply love this Autumn’s ‘staycation’.
For the last three decades, the Italian Job motoring holiday has been a road trip for MINI and vintage car enthusiasts, raising funds for a great cause and taking adventurers off the beaten track in Italy and visiting some of the locations used in the 1969 movie starring Michael Caine.
This year the organisers have decided to run their first ever UK-based ‘job’ in October and in North Yorkshire to be precise.
The 4-day ‘Yorkshire Job’ will kick off at the Oxford MINI Plant on Friday 30th October before driving through this historic English County known for its Roman and Viking heritage, as well as its Norman castles, medieval abbeys, Industrial Revolution-era cities and 2 national parks. En route you will take in many of the hidden gems that capture the very essence of Yorkshire – from the natural beauty of the Yorkshire Dales and Moors to the rugged sandy beaches of the Yorkshire Coast; to the cosmopolitan charm of Leeds and York’s ancient cobbled streets. The ‘Job’ finishes with its traditional celebratory black-tie event in the ancient town of York on Monday 2nd November.
Each day there will be plenty of ‘selfie’ opportunities including daily time trials, convoy processions, treasure hunt style competitions and ample opportunity for ceremonial welcomes and some gatherings. ‘Jobbers’ don’t need to worry about break downs – there is a service vehicle and support crew on hand throughout.
The Italian Job’s raison d’être is to raise money for children affected by poverty in the UK. To date the mother and son organisers, Giulia and Freddie St George, have generated nearly £3 million for charity through the event. Each driver/ adventurer is encouraged to raise money in advance of the trip through fundraising activities and sponsorship of their car.
The Italian Job’s current charity is Buttle UK, which provides support by paying for things that we would expect all children in the UK to have, but which their parents simply cannot afford. Each Chances for Children grant is designed to meet needs where the safety, health or development of a child or young person are at risk. It could pay for a bed where a child does not have one, and has been sleeping on the floor, or a laptop to do schoolwork for a child who, having fled domestic abuse, cannot go into school because of Covid-19. An endowment created by Buttle UK’s founder, Frank Buttle, means that the charity can pay its own administration costs. Therefore, 100% of all monies raised on the IJ’s Yorkshire Job will go directly to the children it helps.
The cost of the IJ Yorkshire adventure is £549 pp based on a twin/ double occupancy at the Mercure York Manor. The price includes hotel accommodation half-board including wine at dinner; lunch out; tickets to the Reception & Gala Dinner; team entry in the navigational rally with your own IJ Rook Book; entry to any visiting attractions; assistance throughout by the organisers, marshals and service van.
The main Italian Job event will return to Italy in 2021 starting in Turin on May 11th and finishing in Barga on the 19th May. The event sees a brand-new Italian itinerary including: Turin; a visit to the Royal hunting Lodge of Stupinigi and the Royal residence Venaria; the famous Lingotto Roof Top test track; Monza and the F1 Circuit; Imola; the newly covered market in the beautiful city of Ravenna and Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit.
REGISTRATION for the IJ Yorkshire Job 20 and the IJ 21 is now open.
Further details can be found at www.italianjob.com or by emailing the organiser gsg@italianjob.com
Time we synchronise our watches?
