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Bugatti Sardinia Rally - Superb first outing for Gentry Restorations restored cars

Bugatti specialists Gentry Restorations were once again invited to provide technical support for the most important event of the Bugatti calendar: The International Bugatti Meeting (5th to 11th June, 2017).  

Hosted this year by Bugatti Italia in Sardinia, the rally covered just under 1000kms over five days, during which the participants experienced the most breath-taking scenery, glorious food – and extremely hot weather.  The extensive itinerary included visits to the archeological site at Tharros, the castle at Sanluri and the mine at Montevecchio.
 
Gentry Restorations was asked to provide a support crew for all 103 rally participants - all but two of them vintage Bugattis.  A comprehensively-equipped support van with spare parts, tools and equipment was transported from the UK on 31st May. Joint managing director Stephen Gentry, along with head technician Ian Pavely, flew out from Heathrow in preparation for the rally on Saturday 3rd June.

Owing to the number of times that Gentry Restorations has given their help and support at these type of events, the Gentry team already knew most of the rally participants and their cars.  Over half of them are previous customers of Gentry Restorations, having either bought parts, contracted routine servicing and maintenance or undertaken complete restorations since the business started 17 years ago.  Two of the cars participating have been completely restored by Gentry Restorations recently, and completed the course without a hitch. 

Right from the outset it was a very relaxed and sociable rally.  The Gentry team were kept reasonably busy and were asked to carry out a total of 41 different jobs on the participants’ cars.  The problems ranged from repairing phone chargers and checking tyre pressures, to replacing a broken half shaft on a 1924 Type 30. 

Commenting on the rally Stephen Gentry said; “Sardinia is a wonderful island and despite the relentlessly hot weather the rally participants had a really great time.  It was a pleasure to catch-up with so many of our customers and it was warming to know that over half of the rally participants have put their cars through our workshops at some point in the past.  Just recently, two of those cars have undergone complete, major restorations by us and this rally was their very first outing. In total, we were asked to assist with minor problems on just twelve of our customers’ cars. Needless to say, the two cars that were completely restored recently weren’t amongst them.”

 

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