Italian Job is a mini adventure

It was The Italian Job revisited for intrepid members of Penkridge & District Round Table as they re-traced the treadmarks of the famous movie’s Minis – including a brush with the law.

The three-day escapade encompassed infamous locations featured in the classic 1969 British crime caper to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. The Crumball Rally – The Italian Job, a budget car rally covered almost 1,000 miles, through France, Switzerland and Italy, visiting several of the key film settings this month.

Seven members, forming two teams, representing Penkridge & District Round Table had to do all this in roadworthy cars costing no more than £200.

The ‘Penkridge-Geysers’ – Peter Machin, aged 36, a company director; company owner Sean Flynn, 51; accountant Mark Axcell, 35; project manager Matt Hallchurch (aka Mickey Pearce), 37; sales manager Dave Wickes, 39; IT project manager Dave Holyoake, 50; and architect Richard Lever, 34, prepared for this formidable test of endurance for many months.

The team bought two “abandoned” family cars within the £200 limit and converted them to loosely resemble Italian and British police vehicles and donned full fancy-dress gear, including beacons and Polizia/carabinieri shirts and caps.

But their efforts did not meet with universal approval.

Penkridge & District Round Tabler Matt Hallchurch said: “A couple of poker-faced Frenchmen approached us to ask if we were English.

“We confirmed we weren’t policemen and that it was a fund-raising stunt.

“To our dismay they produced police identification and advised us our police beacons were in contravention of local law.

“That one took some talking out of.”

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