With our annual trip to Monaco for the Rallye Monte Carlo Historique fading in our memories and looking forward to new rally adventures in Ireland and Switzerland, now is the time to pay a personal tribute to my excellent number one navigator and friend, Willy Cave. Willy recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of his first participation on 'the Monte' with a dinner at the Royal Automobile Club in Epsom, Surrey. I was hoping to speak in tribute to him at the time, but a constant stream of people wishing to do the same (including such great Mini drivers as Paddy Hopkirk and Tony Fall) meant that I didn't get the chance. So here is the speech I would have given, complete with irreverent references to some of the more bizarre aspects of our five journeys to Monte Carlo in my Mini Cooper. Imagine a glittering dining hall, lots of people in their posh suits and gowns and you have the general picture.
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