Little Classics News: 2 June 2014
Classic Safari Challenge Sees Bentley and Ford Steal the Show
A 1928 Bentley and a 1961 Ford Falcon are bringing the silverware home in the Endurance Rally Association’s Classic Safari Challenge as the 29 crews crossed the Cape Town finish line in Africa.
After 26-days on the road, travelling 8,000 kilometres through Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia, the British team of Keith and Norah Ashworth made a final push in their four-and-a-half litre Bentley Tourer to win the Vintageant section after a hard fought battle with the second place team.
The hard-charging Bruce and Judy Washington in their 1937 Dodge Coupe D5 had set a pace, which regularly out-gunned many of the later cars in the Classics Class. However, while this car is undoubtedly rapid, the crew collected a penalty for missing a time trial following a breakdown, so had to settle for the silver medal.
Third place went to the 1934 Lagonda M45 of Peter Lambert and Linda Lotriet. The unmodified Lagonda has driven this vast loop of Southern Africa with remarkable reliability. Its troubles have been confined to a dented wheel rim - repaired overnight by ‘sweep’ mechanic Andy Inskip - and a broken headlight.
Americans Dennis and Kathy Varni won the Classics division in the 1961 Ford Falcon GT, while Brits Mike and Eunice McInerney took the in second spot, with the best drive ever seen by a Ford Mustang crew on an ERA rally according to Rally Director Philip Young. Third place was taken by the determined effort by Jose and Maria Romano de Sousa in the 1968 Volvo 142, with fourth place going to Bill Cleyndert and Jacqui Norman in the home-grown 1968 Austin 1800.
The Spirit of the Rally Award went to Nicholas Pryor and Leslie Stockwell in their venerable 1962 Volvo 544 while the ‘Against All Odds’ trophy was presented to Salome and Scott Pouroulis, who nursed the heavy 1956 Chevy Bel Air daily.
The True Grit trophy went to Andrew and Gina Long for their efforts with the ill-fated 1928 Crossley 15-7 Tourer. The sweep mechanics also presented two awards for two crews who drove such reliable cars that their help was not required - the 1973 MGB of John and Marian Crighton, and David and Julia Harrison in their purple 1956 Porsche 356.
Along with stunning roads set in a breath-taking landscape, the crews had also enjoyed several game drives in some of the best parks in Africa, seeing all of the ‘big five’, as well as staying in luxurious hotels along the way including one in the shadows of the Victoria Falls.
The Endurance Rally Association has a track-record of over 60 major international events behind them. The next event is the inaugural Alpine Trial, held in June 2014.
