This morning was a leisurely start. We had to just drive the few hundred yards to the old spiral ramp in the Fiat factory leading up to the historic roof top test track. Here we did a challenge against the clock on the banked track. Once completed we left our vehicles and went down into […]

An early start to get to the Monza race circuit by 11:30. Unfortunately the way the cars have been parked no one can get out easily. We decide to wait until around 6:30 and accept we are going to be late. It is still a struggle to manoeuvre the van out through the gaps to […]

Today we leave our base in Rome for the 250 mile drive to Tuscany. We set off about 08:30 into the Monday morning traffic on the Rome ring road. The official route goes up the coast but we have decided to let the satnav take up on the fastest route,although for us it is not […]

Today we start with a manouvering challenge against the clock. Then it is out of the hotel and on to the motorway. This is where the excitement started. The van coughed and lost power. I tried to coast through the Italian traffic to the side, fortunatly the engine restarted and allowed me to get onto […]

A very early start to head south towards Napoli to be at a Palace by 09:30. We did the checks on the van and programmed the Satnav last night ready for the early start. When we were awoken by the alarm at 5am. I discovered I had succumbed to a bug going round. The long […]

Today the van gets a rest because it is a treasure hunt on foot around Rome. At 9am the hotel shuttle bus took us to the Vatican where we started hunting for clues and taking photos to prove we had visited. We were with Jackie and Kevin and all took on roles. I was navigator […]

Today started with moving to a corner of the hotel car park to getting under the van and top up the gearbox oil. I have no idea where it is going but no dripping. Checked the axle for good measure. I now smell of cats piss which only those who have used Hypoid gear oil […]

An early start today for the drive to Rome. We left the hotel and drove the few hundred yards to the motorway junction, and for some reason only known to me and the satnav I got in the wrong lane and headed in the wrong direction. It was 15 miles before I could turn around […]

My compatriot for some reason did not appear to want to get out of bed this morning. Is it that she is a day older, or was it the partying last night? We set off for the Imola race track for manoeuvring challenges against the clock. Needless to say we did not excel in this. […]

The day started as normal until my compatriot asked what day it was. I looked at my watch and wondered if she was losing it. My watch said Monday the 20th. Unfortunately it was Monday the 21st which is my compatriots 65th birthday, so actually the day did not start well. I scrambled in the […]