I'm on the ‘Run!

I've has escaped my pen at Peter Vardy MINI in Edinburgh and I'm headed in the direction of France on my biggest adventure yet!

I am taking on the challenge of the famous endurance race  - "The Beaujolais Run" in a bid to help raise lots of MOO-ney for charity. I have been told there will be a frew hairy moments along the way or in my case - all the way!

I'll be going all the way from edinburgh to the south of France and back in only 4 days so any donation you could give would be "udderly" fantastic!

The Charity I'm Supporting

All monies raised go directly and in total to the event's nominated charities, which for the 2010 edition will be The Henry Surtees Foundation.  The Foundation was created after Surtees was tragically killed driving in Formula 2 at Brands Hatch in a totally freak accident, where he was hit by a wheel off of another competitor’s car in July 2009 aged just 18.

The Henry Surtees Foundation aims to:-

* assist people with brain or physical injuries caused by accident to return to community living by the provision of support for equipment and facilities;

* provide education and training associated with motorsport-related programmes in technology, engineering, and road safety instruction for two and four wheels;

* act as a resource for young people up to the age of 18 by providing advice and assistance and organising programmes of physical, educational and other activities in order to:-

* advance young people in life by helping them to develop their skills, capacities and capabilities so that they can participate in society as independent, mature and responsible individuals;

* advance their education; and

* relieve unemployment.

These objectives also reflect the determination of John Surtees to make sure that what he had seen and learnt over the past 10½ years of living and working with Henry (and the other young people that were around them in motorsport) is put to good use.

To that end, the Foundation would like to give more young people from the community at large an opportunity to experience the emotion, disciplines and learning that the world of motorsport can offer.

The Run Itself

The prestigious annual event will kick off on November 16 at the world famous Brands Hatch racing circuit in Kent, with former Formula One world champion Nigel Mansell OBE taking on the starter’s duties.  Mansell will also take to the grid with the 2010 competitors and patron of the ‘Run, John Surtees OBE, for a lap of the Indy circuit before teams head to France.

A wide range of unusual motors will then take on a navigational shoot-out over a cryptic checkpoint course in deepest Burgundy.  The format ensures everything from Austin to Aston, Jaguar to Jalpa and Porsche to Prius can compete on a level playing field.  Maps, Sat Nav and Laptops are all acceptable modes of navigation on the event.  Teams compete for the honour of achieving P1 on the grid the following year (for the highest fundraising team) and P2 (for the team that covers the shortest distance on the navigational trial).

Follow my adventures on the Beaujolais Run wvia my blog at www.scottishmini.com as well as www.facebook.com/ScottishMINI and www.twitter.com/ScottishMINI.