Monte Carlo Rallye Historique poseurs

[billg]

 

 

Bill G ( the pointy hat one) and Colin McL ( older type Harry Potter) at the start of the Monte Carlo Rally Historique leaving from Paisley Abbey on Thursday night, flagged off by no less than Paddy Hopkirk, who drove an identical car in the real 1958 Rally.

 

There were 80 classic on various runs, with about 20 going to Monaco, we plan to go next year, on a tag along tour basis, unless I can find a sponsor for all those Euros!

 

We could not afford the €4500 entry fee ! so just went on a local night navigation run to Luss on Loch Lomond side. Still we did cover 282 miles and averaged 33mpg.

 

Roads were quite icy as we crossed the Campsie Fells to Fintry, which was wintry and really we should not have passed the gritter lorry!

 

All systems worked well and we did not get lost, the NOS Marchal spots and roof lamp were great The old fashioned Lucas screen heaters plus the ducted demisting from the Revington type heater meant not misting up even in the torrential rain we encountered early on Friday morning.

 

Saturdays job, hose off all the salt! Need to do some proper rallies though....

 

Kind regards

 

Bill G @ NB

Edited January 24, 2014 by billg

[Don H.]

Lookin' good!

 

I have a place to stay, a copilot, a probably-acceptable car, and maybe a connection or two. RMCH here I come. Oops... There is that small point about fees and oceans...

 

A tagalong tour sounds super.

[billg]

Hi Don,

 

I have made friends with the Consul for Monaco via my work connections, plus I kid you not the aristocratic lady I sit next o at my office is related to the The Monagasque Royal Family ! so I must go! next year, as some interesting things could happen!

 

Someone in Scotland organises this tag along tour and it sounded a great deal, I was very tempted this year.

 

Cost is £500 pp includes 7 nights B&B , all ferry fares there and back, plus a celebratory Dinner in Monaco.

 

They planned to follow some of the same stages as the Rally cars, but only doing 200 miles a day so its not a competitive event.

 

I'll try and find the link and post if enough people are interested.

 

Its a pity you have an ocean to cross with your car, perhaps you could find UK co driver who would take you?

 

Regards

 

BillG @ NB

[jimcwestie]

Great photo Bill, the car looks fantastic kitted out as a rally.

 

Jim

[Don H.]

Bill, yeah, you should go!

 

I'm a member of the ACM, and always a place to stay with a family I'm almost adopted into. My best friend's son lives nearby with his family and is eager to be my codriver. I need to look at this tagalong business a little harder -- it sounds like a blast.

 

And of course, there's always the GPH every May of even-numbered years...

[billg]

 

The first car away was a Standard 10 souped up as per a Works Standard spec with twin carbs etc

 

 

It was given the number 0 as it was the Course car from Scotland and was clearing the course for the real entrants, the crew were driving overnight to Folkstone to pick up the EuroTunnel train.

 

Plus they were going all the way to Monaco as well where they were going to meet up with Paddy Hopkirk and Rosemary Smith who was also there, she was going in an Imp, which used to be made near Paisley.

 

There were about 10,000 people seeing the cars go off and the atmosphere was great, just as good if not better than last years departure from Glasgow Green.

 

Its 7000km there and back so an oil company would be a good sponsor!!

 

looks like a TR7 on the ramp, there was a green TR4 there too but I did not see the crew.

 

Regards

 

Bill G

Edited January 24, 2014 by billg

[billg]

 

I attach a pic of the Standard Ten

 

and the rally lamp rig on the TR3A plus note interesting Monte Carlo British Entrants car badge( on the right) bought on Ebay for a song.

 

Will start saving for a set of Mud and snow tyres for my set of steel wheels!

 

Regards

 

Bill G @ NB

[BrianC]

There are plenty of videos and stills on Facebook, Youtube, etc. Rosemary raised some good-natuured laughter by stalling the Imp on takeoff. It's interesting seeing the variety of cars running and I'm having trouble identifying many which were commonplace models in their day. My personal favourite is the Standard which brings back happy memories of my first car - I learned so much keeping that thing running.

[roybr]

Brings back memories from the Fifties of the excitement of standing alongside the A.49 in darkest Lancashire, in the middle of the night, with my big brother holding my hand. The Monte Carlo rally actually coming through our village,that nostalgia is a real killer.

[stuart]

Saw one of the starts of the Monte in Carlisle 1959, Always remember it as it was in a snowstorm Lots of MK2 Zodiacs MK9 Jags and Auntie Rovers. Brave boys in those days on skinny Cross plies!

[billg]

I can remember as a student in the mid Sixties going to see all the Rally cars lined up round Blythswood Square in Glasgow next to the Royal Scottish Automobile Club . The Clubhouse is now the 5 star Blythswood Hotel and hosts the pre Historic Rally Dinner, this year hosted by Paddy Hopkirk and Rosemary Smith.

 

There's a tag along tour run from Glasgow which follows the Rally cars and is affordable, just £500 for all the ferry fares+ 7x nights B&B pp plus you have to make your own way home. Then there's the small matter of about £400 of fuel! Plus some for the casino chips!

 

Regards

 

Bill G @NB

 

Ps see other pics and postings in the Rally Forum