Whanganui Mini drivers are heading north this week to join the Pork Pie Charity Run when it leaves Kaitaia next Friday.
Brian and Margaret Johnson will travel in their 1979 Mini as Team Bejae and will be sharing the road with Kai Iwi couple Almira Gil and Phil Wilkinson.
Ms Gil from Paris and Mr Wilkinson from the English county of Somerset have been inspired by both the 1981 and 2017 versions of the Goodbye Pork Pie movies.
They will travel as the Partners in Crime team in their 1994 Mini Cooper.
The annual Pork Pie Charity Run supports three important causes - fundraising for charity; showing off the popular compact cars; and paying tribute to the popular Kiwi road movie.
Both Whanganui teams are very pleased to be putting their efforts behind raising money for KidsCan, the children's charity that supports 621 low-decile schools across New Zealand, 60 of which are based in the Manawatu-Whanganui region.
The Johnsons also organised a quiz night fundraiser for KidsCan which was held at Stellar on Sunday night.
Mrs Johnson said she will not make the journey to Kaitaia with her husband but will join him when the cars stop in Whanganui next Saturday.
The convoy of 60 cars will stop at Upokongaro where other Mini drivers will join them and drive to Whanganui for lunch behind the old Chronicle building in Taupo Quay before they head to Wellington.
Ms Gil and Mr Wilkinson will be making their first visit to the South Island and say they cannot think of a better way to make the journey to Invercargill.
Charity run organiser Murray Hemsley said the oldest car registered for the run this year is a 1962 Mini Cooper and the charity run is not for the faint-hearted.
"After six days and seven nights on the road, only the best prepared, the fittest, the strongest, the desperate, cunning, and the most courageous, will arrive in Invercargill."
Both Whanganui entrants said they were confident their cars would make it to the finish, as both are in tip-top shape.