Launch Day

For all those unable to attend the grand send off it was a marvellous affair. Like all great British events, there was rain but the sound of Rule Britannia being belted out from the mini's external speakers soon had the sunshine and the crowds there in the thousands.

The launch started with a short live interview on Radio 5 Live and ended with A Very British Adventure being awarded the prize of 'Most Pimped' for the best car on the rally. Now I don't know how you like to measure success but I'd say by anyone's standards that it's a good start to the rally!

The launch consisted of around 250 cars lined up along North Carriage drive in Hyde Park with thousands of spectators wandering round, chatting to the ralliers and inspecting the cars. We had a spot right next to the main stage and dressed as proper English gentlemen we spent the morning with the phonebox standing upright on the roof of the car, playing uplifting British anthems and handing out cucumber sandwiches. We had a great reception and the usual looks of laughter and disbelief greeted the idea of what we were about to do.

The launch itself happened just after the midday sun which us steaming out of Hyde Park for a tour round London, still pumping out the British anthems from the external speakers. We of course made a detour to play the national anthem outside Buck House before beginning the drive down to Dover.

Overall it was a thoroughly superb way to start the rally, and as our cd suggested, it was a Very British Send Off.