Every third Sunday of the month for the past 25 months, Allen and Lucy Mill have made the 420km round-trip from Mosgiel to Highlands Motorsport Park for the Track Laps Breakfast.
They have not missed a session of the pace-controlled, two laps around the Cromwell circuit — faithfully driving their Mini Cooper to Cromwell and back each time.
The 9.30am start means the couple are on the road before most people are even awake on a Sunday morning, with Allen behind the wheel for the nearly three-hour drive there and Lucy taking over the driving duties for the return journey.
Allen, who has Parkinson’s, says the monthly fixture gives him ‘‘something to look forward to’’.
A regular Highlands’ attendee at race meetings, Allen has also sampled every hot lap opportunity on offer at the 4.1km track, describing it as ‘‘a bit like a second home’’.
He was able to add the resident Ferrari to his list recently, as he won a scorch around the asphalt in the passenger seat last month after he and Lucy attended their 25th consecutive Track Laps Breakfast.
Allen estimates he has completed 60 laps of Highlands in his own vehicle and about another 13 being driven at pace by the track’s professional drivers — giving him comprehensive knowledge of its twists and turns.
‘‘I could just about do it blindfolded,’’ he joked.
The couple will be heading to the track tomorrow for their monthly laps and will continue to do so for ‘‘as long as I can’’, Allen said.
- by Catherine Pattison
Photo: Supplied by Highlands Motorsport Park
