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c.2004- 2007
c.2004 - 2007 - Gumball 3000 – The Road to Mykonos
About 10-15 years ago (I cannot say precisely) I first heard about the Gumball 3000; a cross continent rally for the glitterati. It reminded me of the movie The Cannonball Run, with Burt Lancaster and Roger Moore, a film I adored as a child.
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c.2007
c.2007 - The Dream Starts
In 2007, I completed my Bar Vocational Course at Nottingham Law School. But then I had a dream. And that dream was to take part in the Gumball 3000 rally, a seven-day feast of exotic motor vehicles, piloted by their owners and co-drivers through cities all over the world
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Aug2018
Aug 2018 - What’s In An Email?
I’d made up my mind. I was going to apply to take part in Gumball 3000. As I wrote the email, I realised there was a distinct possibility I would be rebuffed, so I looked at it as a shot to nothing, pressed send and waited . . .
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Sept2018
Sept 2018 - Great News!
So, having taken the plunge and emailed my contact, it was a waiting game. I can be very impatient sometimes and although it had been over a decade since I first made it a goal to enter the Gumball 3000, it was as if every hour that went by waiting for a response felt like forever.
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Sept2018
Sept 2018 - It Costs How Much?
I received all the Gumball 3000 documentation the next day. It included the ‘terms and conditions’, the ‘waiver’ and, last but not least, the brochure setting out the confirmed route for 2019: Mykonos to Ibiza.
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Sept2018
Sept 2018 - Making A Decision
I evidently had some thinking to do. And so did my prospective co-driver. We organised a meeting to discuss our possible entry into the Gumball 3000 and had to make a decision as to whether, now we knew the costs involved, this was something we still wanted to do.
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Sept2018
Sept 2018 - Sponsors Part I
In attempting to justify the price of entry to the Gumball 3000, I had to try something, but the question was what. Reading through the brochure I had noticed that, whilst each team car is covered in branded livery, including the rally’s logo and its main sponsors, there are also two spaces for individual backers.
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Sept2018
Sept 2018 - Sponsors Part II
Having made my suggestion to the watch company HYT, the ‘hydromechanical horologists’ about a possible collaboration regarding my Gumball 3000 ‘team’ for the rally next year, I then thought clothing should be the next avenue worth exploring.
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Oct2018
Oct 2018 - What Car To Drive?
The Gumball 3000 is, after all, a motorcar rally. 100 cars being piloted by businessmen and women, royalty, bankers, lawyers, stars of film, screen and sports. The kinds of vehicles that have been driven in the past defy belief; from Ferraris and Lamborghinis, to Rolls Royces, Bugattis and Paganis.
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Oct2018
Oct 2018 - Your Very Own Bespoke HYT Watch
Following my lunch meeting with HYT, the Swiss watch manufacturer, I went away and did some serious thinking. How could I convince this company to back my team’s entry into the Gumball 3000? What would be in it for them?
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Nov2018
Nov 2018 - A Race Suit
Following my meeting with Ermenegildo Zegna I was hopeful that something would materialise regarding possible sponsorship of my team for the Gumball 3000 rally. On top of that I had had the amazing news that HYT wanted to make a watch for me and were inviting me to Switzerland to create the design.
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Dec2018
Dec 2018 - Meeting Mr Gumball
So, having entered the rally, the next question I asked myself was when was I actually going to meet the founder of Gumball 3000, Mr Maximillion Cooper? 2018 marked the Rally’s 20th anniversary and, to commemorate the occasion, a book had been commissioned.
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Dec2018
Dec 2018 - HYT Watch Design Ideas
Following the email from HYT that they wanted to make a bespoke watch for me to wear on the Gumball 3000, I had a telephone conversation with them about some initial ideas. I explained the philosophy behind The Peaked Lapel and, specifically, The Road to Mykonos.
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Jan2019
Jan 2019 - Cigars and Watches Anyone?
When the idea of the Road to Mykonos was conceived, it was initially with a view to sharing the experience and journey to the start line of the Gumball 3000 2019. I really didn’t know what that journey was going to hold, but sometimes when you put yourself out there, unexpected things just happen.
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Jan2019
Jan 2019 - A Day at HYT Part I: Fluid Time
When HYT, the watch manufacturer currently shaking up the industry of haute horology, kindly invited me to travel to Switzerland to meet with them and view their facilities, I was elated. It was one more step towards what I had set out to achieve with the Road to Mykonos.
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Jan2019
Jan 2019 - A Day at HYT Part II: The Technical Part
An HYT watch uses liquid to tell us what hour of the day it is. To do so, it uses a specially developed manually wound movement to power two bellows. It is these bellows that contain two immiscible (they do not mix) liquids; one coloured and one transparent.
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Jan2019
Jan 2019 - A Day at HYT Part III: Are They Worth the Money?
HYT watches are expensive; ranging from £33,000 to around £300,000. So how can a company, started in 2012, convince people their watches are worth that amount? Why should you choose them over the more established maisons?
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Jan2019
Jan 2019 - A Day at Bovet Part I: The History Of Artisanal Horology?
I first met Christophe Persoz at the VIP opening of Salon QP at the Saatchi gallery in November 2018. As the Project Manager at Bovet, he was on hand at the brand’s presentation to answer any questions one might have had about the incredible timepieces they make.
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Jan2019
Jan 2019 - A Day at Bovet Part II
To start my tour of Bovet, I first had to understand how the pieces are made. Touring the workshops at Dimier was like stepping back in time but, simultaneously, remaining in the 21st century. It is one of the very few watch manufacturers that produces all of its own components.
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Jan2019
Jan 2019 - A Day at Bovet Part III
Having completed the tour of the Dimier manufacturing facilities in Tramelan and after a delicious lunch including locally sourced fish and lamb, I was driven to Fleurier and, specifically, the Château De Môtiers. I had no idea what to expect but, if I may say this; even my wildest expectations were met.
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Jan2019
Jan 2019 - Finalising my HYT Watch Design
Having spent the morning in the HYT laboratory in Neuchâtel to try to understand just how incredible their technology was, and having had lunch with the team, it then got to the juncture that I had been looking forward to more than anything else: finalising the design of the watch I will be wearing on the Gumball 3000 rally.
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Jan2019
Jan 2019 - Parmigiani Fleurier Part I – An Unexpected Journey
Having travelled to Switzerland primarily to meet with HYT, the Hydromechanical Horologists, to view their facilities and finalise the design on my watch for the Gumball 3000 rally, I wanted to maximise my time in the land of haute horology.
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Jan2019
Jan 2019 - Parmigiani Fleurier Part II
Parmigiani Fleurier watches are manufactured by Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier (“VMF”), both of which are owned by the Sandoz Family Foundation. From the outset, VMF was keen to point out just how transparent they are in terms of production numbers.
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Feb2019
Feb 2019 - Coffee With Don Cochrane – Part I
I first met Don Cochrane, the owner of Vertex Watches, at an event in November 2018. I had heard of the Dirty Dozen and 'www – waterproof wristlet watches', the pieces created by watchmakers for the armed forces during the war but, despite being a watch enthusiast, Vertex was a name that had escaped me.
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Feb2019
Feb 2019 - Coffee With Don Cochrane – Part II
In 2016, Don Cochrane, great grandson of Vertex watches founder Claud Octavius Lyons, re-incorporated the company with a humble vision. Having met him at a watchmaking event, I was captivated by his story and wanted to know more.
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Feb2019
Feb 2019 - An Afternoon of Fabrics and Cuts at Ermenegildo Zegna
When I made the decision to enter the 2019 Gumball 3000 Rally, I promised myself I would try to create something that anyone who had ever dreamed about doing so could share and experience. I wanted to convey not only my excitement at being a part of the world’s most glamorous motorcar rally but also, perhaps more importantly, my journey to the start line in Mykonos.
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Mar2019
Mar 2019 - The 2019 Geneva Motor Show (Part I)
Attending shows like this, whether it’s in relation to watches, cars, or anything else, is always so much fun. I love making my way around the manufacturers’ stands and drinking in all the details of their latest creations. It shows that there is still an incredible amount of room for imagination and innovation.
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Mar2019
Mar 2019 - The 2019 Geneva Motor Show (Part II)
Here I take a look at three cars on show at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show - Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, Aston Martin Vanquish Vision concept and a rare Mercedes 300 SL Roadster from 1958.
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Mar2019
Mar 2019 - Aston Martin Vanquish Volante
The Aston Martin Volante is a beautiful car. Muscular, taught, brutally simple. It’s also one that looks just as good as a coupe as it does a convertible.
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Mar2019
Mar 2019 - An Afternoon with Jorn Werdelin
When Pietro Tomajer of The Limited Edition asked if I would like to join him at The Laslett to meet with Jorn Werdelin, of Linde Werdelin, I gratefully accepted.
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Mar2019
Mar 2019 - An evening with Bovet at Watches of Switzerland
Life, whether personal or professional, is about building relationships, so when Bovet invites you to a special evening at Watches of Switzerland in Knightsbridge, you ensure your diary is clear.
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Mar2019
Mar 2019 - Discovering A. Lange & Söhne and the Datograph Perpetual
Let me introduce to you A Lange & Söhne and, specifically, the Datograph Perpetual; one of the few watches I have ever had the pleasure of wearing where I wished the case back was actually the front.
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Apr2019
Apr 2019 - Attending Ermenegildo Zegna for a Suit Fitting
I wanted the suit to have a slightly more structured, formal look. I decided on a lovely light blue, with contrasting bronze half lining to compliment and contrast the watch HYT are making for me.
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Apr2019
Apr 2019 - The Peaked Lapel HYT Rally Watch
After many months of waiting, I am incredibly excited to finally be able to reveal the watch I will be wearing on this year’s Gumball 3000 Rally.
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Apr2019
Apr 2019 - Piloti Driving Shoes
As anyone who has driven a performance car, feel is the most important thing, both through the steering wheel to your hands and the pedals to the balls of your feet. That’s where I am so happy Piloti came in.
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Apr2019
Apr 2019 - Collection Day – the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
It is not often you get to experience days like this. When a good friend of mine asked whether I wanted to travel to Lamborghini Bristol to collect his brand new Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, it was too good an offer to turn down.
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Apr2019
Apr 2019 - Talking Live with The Limited Edition
In April, I was invited to a live chat on Instagram and Facebook with Pietro Tomajer at The Limited Edition as part of their horology Collectors Perspective series. For those that missed it, here's the recording.
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May2019
May 2019 - How much does it cost to run a classic supercar?
There are so many rumours about just how much it costs to run a classic supercar, so I thought it would be a good idea to give an owner’s perspective on just how much it really sets you back. The example I am taking is a Ferrari F355 Spider, which I have owned for a year.
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May2019
May 2019 - Choosing a Car for Gumball 3000
One of the major decisions when participating in the Gumball 3000 Rally is which car to drive. The first decision for me was whether to do it in my own car or, like many who take part in the Rally, to rent one. But I've now made my decision!
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May2019
May 2019 - Just how much does the Gumball 3000 cost?
The Gumball 3000 is a world-renowned event, attracting the super wealthy and celebrities, as well as millions of enthusiasts who turn out to see the ‘Gumballers’. It’s also well known to be an expensive event to participate in . . . but just how expensive is expensive?!
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May2019
May 2019 - My HYT Rally Watch Being Made!
It was only when I saw an actual photo of my new HYT rally watch did it strike me what a great job they have done turning our imagination into reality. It comes together in such a way I think it absolutely encapsulates the essence of HYT, the personality of The Peaked Lapel and, of course, the spirt of the Gumball 3000 Rally.
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May2019
May 2019 - Collecting My Gumball 3000 Car
With something as major as the Gumball 3000 and, of course, that many miles in seven days, I had to ensure the car I am driving, a Ferrari F355 Spider, was not only ready, but in the best possible condition. It also meant it needed some upgrades too.
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May2019
May 2019 - The Day I Collected My Bespoke HYT Watch
Anyone who has been following me on The Road to Mykonos will know this was a day I had been anticipating for months. The day had finally arrived when I was due to collect my very own bespoke HYT watch, made especially for Gumball 3000.
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May2019
May 2019 - Collecting My Ermenegildo Zegna Gumball 3000 Rally Suit
When my Ermenegildo Zegna rally suit was finally ready and I tried it on for the first time, it blew me away. The colour and weight of fabric chosen by the team was absolutely perfect. And the fit and finish is exceptional.
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June2019
June 2019 - My Perfect Day – Oliver Al-Falah
Just one of the amazing things about doing the Gumball 3000 Rally is it opens you up to so many different experiences. One of those recently was being interviewed by Urbanologie, a luxury travel essentials guide.
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June2019
June 2019 - Creating The Peaked Lapel Driving Glove
When I decided to create The Peaked Lapel, I wanted to do something that, in my opinion, had not been done before; to effortlessly marry horology and motorcars with a gentlemen’s lifestyle journal, all of which inspired by the Gumball 3000 Rally.
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June2019
June 2019 - Gumball 3000 Live Tracking
As Ollie makes progress on the Gumball 3000, you'll be able to follow him with our unique tracking solution. With live updates every few minutes, you'll be able to see exactly where he is as he drives the 3000 miles from Mykonos to Ibiza in his Ferrari F355 Spider.
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June2019
June 2019 - A Day at Millbrook Proving Ground with Aston Martin
When you are offered the chance to drive the complete range of newly launched Aston Martins, you don’t say no - and what a day it was. Not only the perfect preparation for the Gumball 3000 rally but it also revitalised my interest in Astons. They don’t all have to be for you, but if you find one, it will live with you forever. I NEED that V12 Vantage S!
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June2019
June 2019 - The Limited Edition, HYT, Louis Moinet and Armin Strom
There are many things Pietro Tomajer of The Limited Edition is excellent at, but he particularly excels at bringing watch enthusiasts and brands together. To this end, he organised a fantastic gathering of HYT, Louis Moinet and Armin Strom so that a handful of us could learn about and admire their new time pieces.
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9June 2019
9 June 2019 - It’s Gumball 3000 2019 Week!
It's finally here. After weeks, months and years of waiting, thinking and dreaming, I am actually taking part in the Gumball 3000. I am officially a Gumballer, along with my Dad (who is also my co-driver) and my Ferrari F355.
7-15 June 2019
