a slot car version of the Mille Miglia.
In aid of the Alzheimer's Research Trust.

Right well things have taken a bit of a turn since my original involvement in the MMM. Firstly I've changed jobs three times, with the Bahrain Powerboat Grand Prix becoming a victim of the recession and a new UK-based job working on the World Rally Championship, Intercontinental Rally Challenge and World Touring Car Championship being deferred after a very last-minute request from the Bahrain International Circuit to stay on and help out with this year's Grand Prix.

Well, I say deferred but I did have to make a flat-out dash to Portugal and back for the WRC!

As a result I am writing this note in a bare apartment with all my slot stuff packed away in travel cases awaiting the man from Pickfords to come and collect them. I haven't been here for weeks, as there was lots to catch up on int he new job including the Rally Azores and launching the Rally of Scotland. I've managed to get 36 hours back in Bahrain before heading off to Sardinia for the 6th round of the WRC.

So far it's 50,000km travelled for work this year. And there are still 14 events left - not including the MMM. Yep I know, life's tough!

Anyway, an update on my entries:

1929 Bugatti T35 )scratchbuilt) - due to an admin problem at the slot shop in the UK, I've only just got the chassis and running gear for my Bug, which will soon be heading its way over to JAK. Once done with him it will be back with me and I'm going to have to finish it on the road at some rally or other in the next few weeks!

1953 Volkswagen 1200 (Pink Kar) - A very kind man in Australia has custom-made a full decal set to convert my Pink Kar Monte Carlo model. Again, this one's going to be finished up in a hotel somewhere!

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR '722' (Scalextric) - looks alive and well in the promo shots!

1957 Maserati 450S (MMK) - I'm abandoning all hope of converting this model from Le Mans to Mille Miglia spec. I'm afraid she will be running number 2!

I've decided to withdraw the Scalextric Mercedes 300SLR '658' and the Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar D-Type, as we seem to be doubling or tripling up on them.

The static collection of Tazio Nuvolari's Grand Prix cars will, however be coming. Maybe they'll get a run at some point but the idea is to have them as a tribute to the greatest Mille Miglia driver of them all, and they are:

1934 Bugatti T59 (Pink Kar) - Red car driven at the Spanish GP

1936 Alfa Romeo 8C/35 (Scratchbuilt) - The 1936 Monaco GP car

1937 Alfa Romeo 12C/37 (Scratchbuilt) - As debuted at the 1937 Coppa Acerbo

Due to the change in job my travel arrangements have got a bit complex. The weekend prior to the MMM I will be at the WRC Rallye Poland. While there I have several commissions for stories based around buying a Polski Fiat 126 and driving it back to the UK - although this is now back to the UK via Perugia! However the weekend after the MMM is the Rally Russia with the IRC, so my schdule is now:

Fly to Poland for WRC and buy a Fiat 126

Drive from Poland to the MMM in the Fiat 126

Fly from Italy to Russia for the IRC

Fly back from Russia to Italy and pick up the Fiat 126

Drive the Fiat 126 from Italy to the UK (stopping for coffee with friends in Zurich)

Arrive at Brands Hatch for the WTCC

So that's a fair amount to look forward to. Meanwhile I'm still trying to sort the media out (beyond my own jottings for a few magazines here and there).

Happy slotting!

at 10:24AM on May 20, 2009

Right well things have taken a bit of a turn since my original involvement in the MMM. Firstly I've changed jobs three times, with the Bahrain Powerboat Grand Prix becoming a victim of the recession and a new UK-based job working on the World Rally Championship, Intercontinental Rally Challenge and World Touring Car Championship being deferred after a very last-minute request from the Bahrain International Circuit to stay on and help out with this year's Grand Prix.

Well, I say deferred but I did have to make a flat-out dash to Portugal and back for the WRC!

As a result I am writing this note in a bare apartment with all my slot stuff packed away in travel cases awaiting the man from Pickfords to come and collect them. I haven't been here for weeks, as there was lots to catch up on int he new job including the Rally Azores and launching the Rally of Scotland. I've managed to get 36 hours back in Bahrain before heading off to Sardinia for the 6th round of the WRC.

So far it's 50,000km travelled for work this year. And there are still 14 events left - not including the MMM. Yep I know, life's tough!

Anyway, an update on my entries:

1929 Bugatti T35 )scratchbuilt) - due to an admin problem at the slot shop in the UK, I've only just got the chassis and running gear for my Bug, which will soon be heading its way over to JAK. Once done with him it will be back with me and I'm going to have to finish it on the road at some rally or other in the next few weeks!

1953 Volkswagen 1200 (Pink Kar) - A very kind man in Australia has custom-made a full decal set to convert my Pink Kar Monte Carlo model. Again, this one's going to be finished up in a hotel somewhere!

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR '722' (Scalextric) - looks alive and well in the promo shots!

1957 Maserati 450S (MMK) - I'm abandoning all hope of converting this model from Le Mans to Mille Miglia spec. I'm afraid she will be running number 2!

I've decided to withdraw the Scalextric Mercedes 300SLR '658' and the Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar D-Type, as we seem to be doubling or tripling up on them.

The static collection of Tazio Nuvolari's Grand Prix cars will, however be coming. Maybe they'll get a run at some point but the idea is to have them as a tribute to the greatest Mille Miglia driver of them all, and they are:

1934 Bugatti T59 (Pink Kar) - Red car driven at the Spanish GP

1936 Alfa Romeo 8C/35 (Scratchbuilt) - The 1936 Monaco GP car

1937 Alfa Romeo 12C/37 (Scratchbuilt) - As debuted at the 1937 Coppa Acerbo

Due to the change in job my travel arrangements have got a bit complex. The weekend prior to the MMM I will be at the WRC Rallye Poland. While there I have several commissions for stories based around buying a Polski Fiat 126 and driving it back to the UK - although this is now back to the UK via Perugia! However the weekend after the MMM is the Rally Russia with the IRC, so my schdule is now:

Fly to Poland for WRC and buy a Fiat 126

Drive from Poland to the MMM in the Fiat 126

Fly from Italy to Russia for the IRC

Fly back from Russia to Italy and pick up the Fiat 126

Drive the Fiat 126 from Italy to the UK (stopping for coffee with friends in Zurich)

Arrive at Brands Hatch for the WTCC

So that's a fair amount to look forward to. Meanwhile I'm still trying to sort the media out (beyond my own jottings for a few magazines here and there).

Happy slotting!

Please don't withdraw your Jag base d on the photo of mine. Most of the photos that I sent were just eligible cars. The only cars I've sent are the Allard and the Ferrari 166 Touring Coupe. My C Type is not coming over.

Greg Petrolati

Mmmm...  "Drive from Poland to the MMM in the Fiat 126"

Best send the cars in advance !! 

"Arrive at Brands Hatch for the WTCC" - Is the 126 eligible for the WTCC ??

Leo

Great to have an update Nick.  Thanks for that and looking forward to your contribution.  Pretty hectic life-style, and I thought mine was bad!

Leo, try singing Olivia Newton-John's song 'Let's get Physical' to the following words - Let's get cynical, cynical, I want to get cynical....Nothing wrong with a Polski 126 that a nuclear bomb wouldn't put right.

Ha ha... erm, yes it is a bit daunting. There are a lot of Alps to cover with nothing but two cylinders and 23hp under my right foot.

Nevertheless it's good for the media exposure of the event. I'm thinking positive here!!