"There's only one sure thing in life, Blondini, and that's doubt, I think," - and that the car you were waiting to photograph will break down in Middlemarch and not end up in Dunedin until four hours later.
But in true Blondini style, a "stuffed" engine and limited time did not stop four West Aucklanders from completing the last section of a 2500km trip from Kaitaia to Bluff yesterday.
The quartet, in their yellow Mini, were one of 37 groups taking part in a re-enactment of the route taken in the movie Goodbye Pork Pie as a fundraiser for the Starship Foundation and celebration of the Mini's 50th birthday.
The journey, organised by Rod Harris and the Whangarei Mini Owners Group, started in Kaitaia last Thursday and ended in Invercargill yesterday afternoon.
But things did not run smoothly for the "Westies" when their engine started making "knocking" noises as they entered Middlemarch yesterday morning, group member Aaron Eagle said.
When the engine expired, they "threw the Mini" on the back of a trailer and headed for Dunedin, arriving about 4pm, more than four hours after the first Mini had entered the city's Octagon.
They headed to Clint's Motor Company, on Hillside Rd, where they whipped out the old powerplant and within an hour had replaced it with a second-hand engine.
Mr Eagle said that having come so far they could not bear the thought of limping into Invercargill on a trailer.
The group had bought the Mini as a shell for $600 six weeks ago and rebuilt it in time for the journey.
Brett Ireland said his children had been treated at the Starship hospital and the group could not think of a better charity to fundraise for.
"Plus, you can't have much more fun than doing something like this," he said.
Mr Harris said the fundraiser had been 18 months in the planning. He had taken part in a 1999 rally from London to Italy marking the Mini's 40th anniversary.
By the time they reached Invercargill yesterday, the groups had raised more than $90,000 and hoped to top $100,000 with an auction in the city last night.
The money raised from the run will go towards buying two tissue oxygen monitors, worth $97,000, used during surgery and treatment.
People can donate money at www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/starshipporkpie.
- OTAGO DAILY TIMES
Frantic dash to get Mini to Dunedin
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