Sunday 3rd February 2013 - Thank you to our supporters.

We are still grinding our way north, but now in the UK on the M40.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank those who have supported us in the Event - most especially my crew - Peter Moss, co-driver / Nigel Chetwynd and Lisa Thornton, service team who have contributed so much to the planning and delivery of the result.

I would like to say Thank you to my sponsors Mini Spares, and to Justin Jeffery who has helped significantly to reduce our expenses on much needed consumables and spare parts. To Plastics 4 Performance and Paul Davenport who provided a significant contribution to lightening the car with the provision of their plastic window kit. To Mini World Magazine and Karen Drury for her continued support and acceptance of the articles I write concerning our Monte Carlo story and others. To Southam Mini & Metro Centre for the reliability, performance and a good proportion of the preparation of the car. Finally and without reservation to my family, who put up with my absence to participate in this adventure.

Thank you all - it would not be possible to do it without you.

End

Thank you to key sponsor: Mini Spares

Thank you to sponsors - Plastics 4 Performance for plastic glazing, and Mini World Magazine.

Thank you also to engine builder and rally preparation supporter Southam Mini & Metro Centre.

Team logo - Thanks to Mini Spares again

Friday, 1st February 2013. Final Results.

I write this from the back of the Service car as we grind our way back up through France.

The results are confirmed. The CRX89B team has done enough to fight back and win Class 11/1 for 1962-65 cars of 1300cc or less. A fantastic achievement for the team to have won this class for two years in succession.

In finality our overall placing was 86th which is a fair result given the timing challenge we had given ourselves at the outset.

We also placed first amongst all the Minis, and were the best placed British competitor.

Team GB placed 15th of 24 finishing teams.

Team GB results are:

1 - Vines / Moss - Austin Mini Cooper S - 86th

2 - Ring / Cave - Datsun 240Z - 97th

3 - Mustarde / Thorpe - Alfa Guilietta - 124th

4 - Ostle / Brack - Morris Mini Cooper S - 142nd

5 - Richards / Morrow - Morris Mini Cooper S - 176th

6 - Roberts / Tomlinson - Fiat 128 Coupe - 211th.

RTD - O'Nion / Wilkinson - Imp.


Amongst the Minis final positions are:

1 - Vines / Moss - 86th

2 - Picquier - 92nd

3 - Nakagawa / Morikawa - 133rd

4 - Ostle / Brack - 142nd

5 - Arnal / Arnal - 143rd

6 - Burnier / Alibaux - 147th

7 - Hart / Hart - 152nd

8 - Richards / Morrow - 176th

9 - McAlpine / Gallagher - 182nd

RTD:
Gary / Blumenthal - Fan belt issue in ZR14

Thus ends the 2013 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique.

Next year is the 50th anniversary of Paddy Hopkirk's win on the Monte Carlo rally, so it is widely anticipated that the Mini contingent will be well represented. We will be back.

Pictures coming later.

End.

Hi Noon, and the results have arrived, confirming class win for Team CRX89B. L-R: Nigel Chetwynd, Willy Cave, Peter Moss, Al Vines.

The Picquier / Picquier Mini which led the Mini pack for most of the rally.

The Picquier team

The Arnal / Arnal Team of whom we saw quite a lot during the rally

Bill Richards (right) with Justin Jeffery (centre) of Mini Spares - our joint sponsor.

Team CRX89B - L-R: Al Vines, Peter Moss, Nigel Chetwynd, Lisa Thornton.

Birthday lunch for Willy cave

Willy Cave - still going strong at a mere 86 years old this time around.

Loaded up and ready for the long haul home

Les vanquers - Rally Winners Gerard Brianti & Sebastien Chol with their Alpine A110

Class winners - Peter Moss & Al Vines in Class 11/1 up to 1300cc 1962-65

CRX89B - Winning Team L-R: Peter Moss, al Vines, Lisa Thornton, Nigel Chetwynd.

A one hour video of the rally highlights for the winning Mini team. - Compelling viewing - be warned!

Thursday 31st January - Final day and Night

The Rallye Monte Carlo Historique has finally rolled into town.

At the end of the Common Run Part 2 from Gap to Monte Carlo we were 119th, with Ginger Ostle at 127th, thus we maintained our new position as class leader in Class 11/1.

The CRX89B team set out with the target of pushing into the top 100 and maintaining position in the class. Ahead of us are the Picquier Mini, and two Brits - John Roberts and Oliver Tomlinson in the Fiat 128 Coupe from Team GB and Graham and Graham in a Lancia Fulvia from the Irish Rally Drivers Team.

ZR 13 - Col de Castillon - Dry for the most part, very long at over 40km and icy for 3km at the top, this was a tremendous fight. We overtook three cars and caught a fourth. We caught and overtook the Minis of Nakagawa and Arnal in one go on the same corner.

ZR14 - Utelle to La Tour sur Tinee - Very twisty, no barriers, big drops, no ice but damp and very slippery. Nearly came to grief three times because the front tyres were going off - too much stud and not enough rubber.

ZR15 - Col de Turini - A classic Monte Carlo stage - dry going up, and icy down hill for about 3 or 4km - overtook three cars in this bit, then had a tremendous tussle with a VW Golf the whole way down the mountain, before shaking him off toward the end.

Safely back in Monte, it is traditional for teams to take a little beer in the harbour front cafe, before bed at about 5am.

Results are published at 12.00 Noon today - Friday 1st Feb, and we are hopeful of a good result.

In Team GB - the leading Fiat of John Roberts had a brush with the scenery which affected the scenery on ZR14, so they returned to Monaco without doing the Turini.

The other British contender of Graham in the Lancia had electrical problems on the auto route after the last stage and checked in 25 minutes late to the final control.

Amongst the Minis, Bill Richards and John Morrow suffered a puncture in the Turini stage, which had to be changed and cost them alot of time.

Other war stories will no doubt come out as we gather for a coffee on the harbour front in the morning sun and await the results.

End

Service for the final night - A8 La Turbie sortie

Service for the final night - A8, La Turbie sortie

Guardian angels - Checking that all is ok before dashing to the first service point

....and we're off - into the night...

Pleased to be back safe, and fairly sure that we have won our class.

A thrilled Hart pairing with Auto-BMC team - pleased to have made it safely

Celebratory beers on the prom in Monte-Carlo - about 3.00am

30 Minute film of the highlights from the Common Run Pt2 from Gap to Monaco

30 Minute film of the Final Night - The Mountain Circuit