IN Motoring

Indulge your inner car lover with a European trip which is all about driving, racing and a touch of glamour.

When Paul Blank started telling people about his holidays to Europe visiting car factories and going to the Monaco Grand Prix, they demanded he share his motoring passion and knowledge with them.

So he did just that and set up a guided trip to highlight some of the best motoring action available in Italy and France.

Based in Perth, Paul has been a motoring enthusiast since he was a kid and a motoring journalist and well-known classic car rally organiser as an adult.

He was also the first person in Australia to run car events exclusively for women, which now happen twice annually.

“There are a lot of women getting interested in driving in motor sport and having a go,” says Paul. “Many of the events don’t require special gear as they are one car at a time in a race against the clock.”

He’s visited the Monaco Grand Prix many times. Friends and associates were entranced by his stories and convinced him to share his passion and enthusiasm by being their trip guide.

Paul took his first group in 2005 and they have become an annual event with a maximum number of 16 participants.

The trip starts with Italy’s Mille Miglia, the world’s most famous road race which began in 1927. It attracts more than 360 cars which have to be the same models as those which competed in the early years. Celebrities and famous racing drivers are known to be part of the event.

You’ll also visit the supercar homeland – the Galleria Ferrari and Lamborghini’s factory and museum.

What’s cool about the trip too is the chance to drive your own convertible sports car – like a BMW, Mercedes-Benz or Audi – rather than sitting in a tour bus being shuttled from place to place.

Paul provides a comprehensive and custom-created roadbook packed with directions and tips for sightseeing on the way, local road rules and etiquette plus personally-tested great places to eat.

Other highlights include going to Cannes, Monaco and the Grand Prix, Lake Como and an exclusive, can’t buy lunch with motoring expert and veteran F1 commentator Bob Constanduros.

It’s also not just a trip for the boys either. Paul says there are usually an equal number of women on the trip, not all of whom are car enthusiasts. He says the buzz and beauty of the places visited create an entertaining trip for all ages.

“The trip takes two-and-a-half-weeks and the driving is leisurely. All the cars have satellite navigation and people love having everything organised. They just have to worry about being somewhere by the end of the day.”

The Ultimate Grand Prix Experience costs $8,600 per person double or twin share and doesn’t include airfares and Grand Prix tickets. The next trip is May 2011.

For more information, check out
www.classicrally.com.au