As this issue of CCM goes on sale, classic car enthusiasts Nicky West and Rob Stacey will be roughly halfway through a 35-day, 11,000-kilometre journey to Asia Minor – at the wheel of a fifty year old Mini Minor.

Their aim is to reach the Great Pyramid of Giza – no mean feat for a car that had been dry-stored since 1967 until Rob discovered it on eBay. It still boasts its original 848cc engine and is in original, unrestored condition – albeit carefully prepared for its mammoth journey. But with no support crew on hand, both Nicky and Rob are taking quite a risk.

The aim is to raise £11,000 for the Willow Foundation, a charity that helps young people afflicted with terrible illnesses to live their dreams. ‘It’s going to be a really hard slog,’ admitted Nicky. ‘We’ll spend over ten hours in the car each day, with temperatures around 40 degrees, so we should certainly come back a bit thinner!’

In 2012, Veloce will be publishing a book entitled Mini Minor to Asia Minor, covering the journey in detail and packed with photographs. Forty per cent of the royalties earned by the book will go to the Willow Foundation. Meanwhile, if you want to support Nicky and Rob with their fundraising, you can donate via www.miniminor2asiaminor.co.uk.