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Minis
to Monte
Minis to Marseille will be running in
2012 -
See details on the
minis to monte
website.
Minis
to
Monte
is a
Touring
Assembly
following
the
roads
of
the
Monte
Carlo
Rally
and
other
important
rallies.
The
events
are
organised
by a
team
dedicated
members
from
the
Mini
Cooper
Register.
Since
its
inception
on
2004
the
event
has
run
every
other
year.
It
has
been
joined
by
other
Minis
to
events.
In
2007
and
2009
there
was
Minis
to
Ecosse
and
now
in
2011
Minis
to
the
Borders.
A
brief
history
follows:
 The
first
Minis
to
Monte
event
ran
in
2004
with
nearly
60
entries.
The
aim
of
the
event
was
to
follow
part
of
the
route
of
1964
Monte
Carlo
Rally.
1964
being
the
year
when
the
Mini
Cooper
first
won
the
Monte
Carlo
Rally.
Although
the
event
made
a
loss
for
the
Club,
for
those
taking
part
it
was
an
overwhelming
success.
It
generated
lots
of
good
publicity
for
the
Club.
Coverage
was
received
in
Classic
and Sportscar
Magazine,
Mini
Magazine,
Classic
Car
Weekly
to
name
a
few.
It
was
decided
to
run
the
event
again
in
2006.
This
time
we
ran
with
less
cars
just
under
thirty
which
made
the
management
of
the
event
that
easier.
The
route
took
us
much
further
west
that
in
2004.
Crossing
to
Le Harve,
Rennes,
Limoges,
Avigion,
Gap,
Nice
and
Chambery.
Again
the
route
took
in
part
of
the
concentration
run
and
common
route.
2007 saw
the
first
Minis
to Ecosse
run,
5
days
over
some
daunting
Scottish
Roads.
The
event
started
in
Perth
then
travelled
to
Fort
William,
spending
the
next
three
nights
based
in
Inverness
before
returning
to
Perth
for
the
Final
Dinner.
Minis
to
Monte
was
back
on
the
calendar
for
2008.
Differing
to
previous
events
which
started
in
the
UK,
for
this
event
the
initial
assembly
point
was
at
Automobiles
BMC
in
Vienne,
just
south
of
Lyon
in
France.
From
there
is
was
a
short
run
to Tain
l'Hermitage
for
the
Welcome
Dinner.
From
Tain
it
was
around
the
Burzet
loop
to
Val
les
Bains,
Embrun,
Monte
Carlo,
Digne
to
return
to
Tain.
The
2009
event
returned
to
Scotland.
Starting
in
Perth,
heading
to
Oban
for
a
crossing
to
The
Isle
of
Mull
the
next
morning.
Leaving
Mull
we
headed
to Ballachulish
and
then
onto
Tain
for
two
nights.
The
trip
out
took
us
to
Durness
and
the
depths
of
the
far
North
West
of
Scotland.
The
final
run
back
was
from
Tain
to
Perth
for
the
farewell
dinner.
Making
a
variation
to
the
format
of
previous
years
the
2010
event
took
in
roads
used
by
the
Monte
Carlo
Rally
use
was
also
made
of
the
routes
from
the
Tulip
Rally,
Alpine
Rally
and
previous
Minis
to
Monte
events!
This
enabled
the
organisers
to
make
use
of
much
higher
passes
than
in
previous
years.
Crews
assembled
this
time
in
Reims
for
the
start
and
the
welcome
dinner.
The
first
full
day
headed
to
from
Reims
to
Mulhouse
taking
in
some
of
the
Vosges
mountains.
It
was
then
onto
Aix
les Bains
for
two
nights.
All
the
cars
were
parked
in
the
main
town
square.
An
optional
run
of
some
200
miles
was
available
taking
in
some
exciting
roads
the
next
day.
Departing
from
Aix
the
route
headed
south
to
go
over
the
Col
d'
Iseran
some
2700
metres,
when
this
Col
was
traversed
it
was
cover
in
cloud
and
trying
to
snow.
The
night
was
spent
in
the
ski
resort
of
Lonslebourg.
The
next
day
saw
the
event
finishing
its
run
at
the
Columbus
in
Monte
Carlo.
Two
more
very
high
passes
were
crossed,
the
Galiber
and
the
Bonette,
this
being
the
highest
pass
in
Europe.
The
final
day
took
in
some
excellent
fast
and
winding
roads
back
to
Macon
for
the
Final
Dinner
and
awards
presentation.
2011
saw
us
run
Minis
to
the
Borders.
Based
in
Westmorland
and
then
Dumfries.
The
first
day
of
the
run
featured
the
North
Pennines
and
the
Yorkshire
Dales
with
the
following
day
in
the
heart
of
the
Lake
District.
Wednesday
saw
the run
from
Westmorland
to
Dumfries
via
the
Northnumberland
National
Park.
The
next
day
gave
us
the
opportunity
to
explore
the
regions
of
Dumfries
and
Galloway.
The
final
day
gave
us
the
chance
to
travel
to
the
east
and
visit
the
Scottish
Borders.
Returning
to
our
hotel
in
Dumfries
for
the
farewell
dinner.
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