• Car Dealer Plus
No Result
View All Result
  • Latest
  • Used Cars
  • Live
  • Forum
  • Power 2020
  • UCA 2020
  • UCA 2021
  • CDX
  • Knowledge
  • Suppliers Guide
  • About Us
  • Latest Issue
  • Top 100
  • CD Plus
  • Latest
  • Used Cars
  • Live
  • Forum
  • Power 2020
  • UCA 2020
  • UCA 2021
  • CDX
  • Knowledge
  • Suppliers Guide
  • About Us
  • Latest Issue
  • Top 100
  • CD Plus
No Result
View All Result

#B4B14 Day Three: We recreate the Italian Job. Sort of

James Baggott by James Baggott
October 14, 2014
0
Home bangers4ben

IMG_4284

Biblical doesn’t begin to come close to describing the swimming pool car park our Bangers4BEN teams were met with in Como, Italy, this morning.

As we packed our bags into our £750 steeds (soon to be sold in aid of BEN) I’m pretty sure someone had pulled the plug on nearby Lake Como. It was all a little bit moist to say the least.

Severe weather warnings that were likely to delay our journey south to Turin by three hours were in place, but we couldn’t come this far and not make it to our final destination.

The plan was to meet security guard Mr Milato at the old Fiat factory where he’d open a door to let us onto the roof where they filmed the famous scene in the Italian Job.

The BEN team were otherwise engaged in a bent metal saga that had unfolded in the wee small hours of last night, so it was left to me to phone Mr M.

‘Hello, this is James from Car Dealer,’ I said in my best Italian accent.

‘Something Italian, scedici ici mici ici deci Something Else Italian,’ I think Mr M said in reply.

It was clear he spoke no English. My Italian stretches to ‘carbonara’. The conversation ended pretty quickly. In fact, he probably thought I was trying to help him with his PPI claim.

Still we set off for the factory with some Bangers4BEN hope in our hearts. Our morning was filled with steamy windows (not like that) and us ending the search for The Worst Coffee In Italy. It’s in a services near Lake Como if you’re interested.

Don’t worry! The search is over! I have finally found it: The worst cappuccino in the whole of Italy… #b4b14 pic.twitter.com/smitWxdZgg

— James Baggott (@CarDealerEd) October 13, 2014

When we got to Turin the locals lived up to their driving skills, or lack their of, and treated our Banger rallyists to a series of close shaves, bumper scrapes and paint swapping. Our little MX-5 scampered around the trouble, potholes and slipped around the roundabouts. The Turbo badge makes all the difference. That and our aerodynamic improvements thanks to our window ‘repair’.   IMG_4354 We pulled into the old Fiat factory (now a shopping mall) around lunch time where the assembled masses were waiting to hear whether I’d managed to get anything other than Italian out of Mr M. I hadn’t. We lined our car up for a picture outside the factory just in case that’s all we could get. IMG_4409 Meanwhile, some of the teams made sure their arrivals will be remembered forever… Others just left their cars to drip dry in the car park….   IMG_4416 Fortunately our Bangers4BEN forward party had used some good old fashioned British charm and managed to tease the keys from the yellow-jacketed, gun toting security guards. IMG_4430 We gathered the troops and headed north. When we finally managed to get on to the special stretch, walked the banked curves at each end and soaked in the atmosphere there was an enormous sense of achievement.

The Bangers 4 Ben drivers strike a pose for @CarDealerEd at the Lingotto. #b4b14 pic.twitter.com/RTft9EWi4B — Sun Motors (@SunmotorsUK) October 13, 2014

We snapped a few group shots of the teams that made it to Turin and the roof (some saw the weather in the morning and decided to head north instead). IMG_4558

And if I had a pound for the amount of times I heard someone mention doors, blown off and only in the same sentence sentence as we walked around I’d probably have had enough for desert after this whopping pizza.

Today has been mega. Turin, pizza & many miles in our Mazda with a leaky roof. Loved every minute. Thanks #b4b14 pic.twitter.com/6YTjAP2I8C — James Baggott (@CarDealerEd) October 13, 2014

It wasn’t all good news though. While we were enjoying the sights on the roof some Italian low life in the car park was breaking windows on some of our cars. Nothing was taken in the progress, but still it wasn’t a nice way to end the summit of our trip.

Victims of vandalism – nothing stolen. #b4b14 @RMI_IGA pic.twitter.com/iJj2CiyD8J — Terry Gibson (@T3rryGibson) October 13, 2014

As we hit the road back to Mulhouse – our stop for tonight – there were some more incredible roads to enjoy. We soared up to the Great St Bernard Tunnel, which links Martigny with Rhemy-en-Bosses and the ascent into the clouds was stunning.

#b4b14 beautiful sights driving back through Switzerland…..the scenery’s pretty good too!! 😉 pic.twitter.com/o5BqSiiJBA — Nick Evans (@nikevans2206) October 13, 2014

There *may* have been some queue jumping by some people… erm…

@CarDealerEd #b4b14 We’re sure that sign said no overtaking #cheeky pic.twitter.com/sTm0MDmuXx — Nick Evans (@nikevans2206) October 13, 2014

We even managed to coast for 25km down the other side of the mountain – doing our bit for the Swiss. They really do NOT like cars there. Fines for speeding are imposed at just 1kph over the limit… especially in tunnels. And they have lots of tunnels.  IMG_4703 We obviously didn’t break any of the speed limits. Not at all. Honestly officer. Meanwhile on the route home there were a few ‘issues’ with the other teams. Blackshaws’ Dog had a run-in with Italian plod. We’re going to break them out of jail tomorrow with three Minis…

Well we lasted 1400 miles but was going to happen #b4b14 pic.twitter.com/eSxGSTi110 — Will Blackshaw (@willyblackshaw) October 13, 2014

There were some interesting sights on the road home for Captain Caralot and his Sun Motors crew too. The Plod they met seemed rather more friendly than Blackshaws’ encounter though…

Italian cops back Bangers 4 Ben rally – and love the @CaptainCaralot mask. Ciao pic.twitter.com/t8BVkbQGdy — Sun Motors (@SunmotorsUK) October 13, 2014

And even though not everyone made it on to the roof of the factory (like Pinewood who got caught in traffic) they still enjoyed getting to the #b4b14 ultimate destination.

What an incredible day on #b4b14. Some of our pic highlights @BENMotorCharity @CarDealerMag pic.twitter.com/pAy0Ay0gSD — Pinewood (@pinewoodtech) October 13, 2014

Now all the teams (well almost all as we’re still waiting to hear on a Mercedes with a stricken gearbox) are back safe and sound in Mulhouse and are relaxing before the drive home tomorrow. Tonight we’ll award the best fancy dress, best tweet of the trip and some other gongs which I’ve forgotten about. But if you pop back tomorrow we’ll let you know who won what. For now, here are men, drinking beer, which we plan to do… momentarily.

Beer o’clock #b4b14 @RMI_IGA @danesautos pic.twitter.com/q7lRrnx5u0 — Terry Gibson (@T3rryGibson) October 13, 2014

Until tomorrow….

MORE: WATCH A VIDEO FROM ONE OF THE TEAMS ON THE ROOF

MORE: TOP TWEETS FROM DAY THREE

MORE: DAY TWO BLOG

MORE: DAY ONE BLOG

Related Posts

Lindop Bros owner warns of showroom closure and job losses after bid for expansion is put on hold
News

Lindop Bros owner warns of showroom closure and job losses after bid for expansion is put on hold

March 8, 2021
Robert Forrester, left, and Kevyn Robinson with his award, Mar 2021
News

Kickboxing Kevyn is honoured for 40 years’ service with Bristol Street Motors

March 8, 2021
Cazoo customer hand over centre
News

Cazoo opens another customer centre as new vehicle prepping business plans 24-hour a day operation

March 8, 2021
Geneva Motor Show back in 2019
News

As manufacturers turn to digital reveals, has coronavirus killed off the motor show as we know it for good?

March 8, 2021
Road Test of the Year 2020: Ford Puma
News

Average used car list prices rise 1.5 per cent in February, says Motors.co.uk

March 8, 2021
Paul Van der Burgh has joined Lookers
News

Former Toyota GB president joins car dealer group Lookers as firm bolsters its executive team

March 8, 2021

Want the latest news?

Sign up to Car Dealer's daily news email updates

Subscribe
How many car dealerships does each manufacturer have in the UK? Car Dealerships Locations List 2021 revealed
News

How many car dealerships does each manufacturer have in the UK? Car Dealerships Locations List 2021 revealed

February 24, 2021
Used Car Awards with Mike Brewer and James Baggott graphi
News

Who won what at the Used Car Awards 2020? Mike Brewer reveals our winning car dealers

February 11, 2021
Car Dealer issue 156 front cover and Used Car Awards
Online Magazine

Out now: Car Dealer issue 156 features our Used Car Awards, H.R. Owen CEO Ken Choo and lots more

February 23, 2021
Used Car Awards 2021 logo
Used Car Awards

Used Car Awards 2021 will be back in all their glory on November 29 hosted by Mike Brewer

March 8, 2021
Trophy Cars forecourt
News

Investigation: Meet the hyper-specialist car dealers making their money from weird and wonderful motors

February 11, 2021
Become a Car Dealer Plus member and get more out of this website including free legal advice
News

Become a Car Dealer Plus member and get more out of this website including free legal advice

January 15, 2021
Car Dealer Top 100 – The list in full of the most profitable car dealers in the UK
Car Dealer Top 100

Car Dealer Top 100 – The list in full of the most profitable car dealers in the UK

February 10, 2021
Bitcoin ATM terminal
News

Will car dealers in the UK accept Bitcoin for payment? Dealers speak out after Tesla plans to accept cryptocurrency 

February 18, 2021
  • Latest
  • Used Cars
  • Live
  • Forum
  • Power 2020
  • UCA 2020
  • UCA 2021
  • CDX
  • Knowledge
  • Suppliers Guide
  • About Us
  • Latest Issue
  • Top 100
  • CD Plus
Call us: 020 8125 3880

© 2020 Blackball Media

No Result
View All Result
  • Car Dealer Plus
  • Latest
  • Used Cars
  • Live
  • Forum
  • Power 2020
  • Used Car Awards 2020
  • Used Car Awards 2021
  • CDX
  • Knowledge
  • Suppliers Guide
  • About Us
  • Latest Issue
  • Top 100

© 2020 Blackball Media

Log In
Register
Register
Server 2