Mishaps with Minis, Turin traffic lights, bemused Italians and millions of lira at stake. Ringing any bells? Well, I’m sure many among you will recognise that as a (very poor) plot synopsis of The Italian Job, but the escapade I’m actually referring to – although it shares more than a few coincidental similarities with Troy Kennedy Martin’s crime caper – was one born of much more pure intention.
Eight years after Sir Michael Caine made his daring on-screen escape from Turin with a bus full of bullion, classic motorcycle enthusiast Jon Fraser was winding his way through those very same city streets on his Velocette Venom: “I remember it well. It was 1977. I’d decided to take the Venom on holiday to northern Italy. I was in a small town called Asti about 30 miles east of Turin sitting at a set of traffic lights, when a crazy-looking young man sprang out of his Innocenti Mini and ran towards me, arms waving, gesturing for me to stop.
“In his haste, he’d forgotten to pull on his handbrake and before being able to explain his purpose, had to dash back to his car which was now making its own way down the crowded street! Fortunately, he managed to jump in and apply the brake before it hit anything or anyone.”
