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Around the World in 80 Days
In the Millenium year the Endurance Rally Association organised a long distance rally that was a real first, in every sense – the Around the World in 80 Days Motor Challenge was the first-ever timed-lap of the globe. The event incorporated separate shorter events from London to Istanbul and London to Peking. Cars were airlifted only where there were no roads – from Beijing to Alaska, and out of New York to Marrakesh.

The World's Longest-Ever Rally
The Around the World in 80 Days Motor Challenge was the longest rally, in terms of days, that has ever been inscribed on the FIA International Calendar. However, out of respect for the awesome acheivement of the 1977 London to Sydney rally - at the time listed in the Guiness Book of Records as the longest rally in motoring history - we trimmed the mileage by around 100 miles, in order to let the record of 1977 stand. However, since researching the 1977 event (check out www.londonsydney77.com ) we have discovered that when the organisers trimmed the Australia route to re-schedule the event and ensure it reached Sydney on time that the distance reduced by over 1,000 kms. This now ranks The Around the World in 80 Days Motor Challenge as the world's longest rally, both in terms of distance as well as days.

Syd Stelvio's Blog
In 2000 blogging was still in its infancy and we suspect that old time reporter, Syd Stelvio, had not even heard of the term when he wrote his daily reports during the epic 80 day journey around the world. This is an archive of Syd's reports that were posted on the rally website each day during the Around the World in 80 Days Motor Challenge.

 
Aix les Bains - France - Days 1-2 – The crowds were simply amazing.
Santa Margherita - Italy - Day 3 – Further adventures of rallying a yellow Rolls Royce...
Overnight Car Ferry - Day 4 – Morning Edition on the Adriatic, off Albania
Thessaloniki - Greece - Day 5 – Midnight Late Extra
Thessaloniki - Greece - Day 6 – Resting beside the Aegean
Istanbul - Turkey - Day 7 – The Last day in Europe
Istanbul - Turkey - Day 8 – Istanbul Rest-Day
Bolu - Turkey - Day 9 – On the road in rural Turkey
Samsun - Turkey - Day 10 – From Bolu to Samsun
Trabson - Turkey - Day 11 – Trabson, Black Sea
Batumi - Georgia - Day 12 – Midnight in Georgia
Tbilisi - Georgia - Day 13 – On the Road with Syd Stelvio
Tbilisi - Georgia - Day 14 – A rest day in Tibilisi
Caspian Sea Ferry - Day 15 – Aboard the S.S. Mercurie on the Caspian
Ashgabad - Turkmenistan - Day 16 – Syd crosses the first major desert
Ashgabad - Turkmenistan - Day 17 – Rest Day on the Silk Road
Chardzhou - Turkmenistan - Day 18 – Desert Songs
Samarkand - Uzbekistan - Day 19 – On the road to Samarkand
Samarkand - Uzbekistan- Day 20 – Rest-day in Samarkand...
Tashkent - Uzbekistan - Day 21 – The Dash to Tashkent...
Bishkek - Kyrgystan - Day 22 – Border Crossings Galore...
Naryn - Kyrghyzstan - Day 23 – High drama in Kyrgyzstan... the best day since Tower Bridge
Kashgar - China - Day 24 – Driving Out of Paradise...
Kashgar - China - Day 25 – Gloomy News from China...
Aksu - China - Day 26 – Easy Days in China...
Kurche - China - Day 27 – Rough going on the edge of the Taklimaken
Korla - China - Day 28 – One Wedding...and a rescue drama
Turfan - China - Day 29 – What a Difference a Day Makes...
Turfan - China - Day 30 – Rest-day in Turfan...
Hami - China - Day 31 – El Syd Rides Again!
Dunhuang - China - Day 32 – What, More Gobi Desert?
Zhangye - China - Day 33 – Through the Great Wall of China...
Lanzhou - China - Day 34 – Final Section - Peking Bound
Lanzhou - China - Day 35 – Rest Day in Lanzhou
Yinchuan - China - Day 36 – Yellow River!
Baotou - China - Day 37 – The Mille-Miglia Comes to China...
Zhangjiakou - China - Day 38 – Party Spirits...and the final Marathon Drive in China
Peking - China - Day 39 – Japanese clinch London to Peking - Bentley wins Vintageants
Peking - China - Day 40 – London to Peking Marathon Prize Giving
China to Alaska - Day 41 – Flying the Pacific
Anchorage - Alaska - Day 42 – Anchorage
Tok - Alaska - Day 43 – Heading North…
Dawson City - Yukon Canada - Day 44 – Up the Klondike
Dawson City - Yukon, Canada - Day 45 – Racing round the Klondike
Whitehorse - Yukon, Canada - Day 46 – Costly Canter to Whitehorse
Watson Lake - Yukon, Canada - Day 47 – Testing Times
Terrace - B.C. Canada - Day 48 – The Second-longest Day
Smithers - B.C. Canada - Day 49 – Upsets in the Woods
Smithers - B.C. Canada - Day 50 – Rest-Day in Smithers
Prince George - B.C. Canada - Day 51 – Ripping Biggles Stuff ... by George!
Kamloops - B.C. Canada - Day 52 – Fraser River Run
Banff - Alberta, Canada - Day 53 – Major Upset
Banff - Alberta, Canada - Day 54 – Day Off in Banff
Shelby - Montana, USA - Day 55 – The Leaderboard Changes - Again
Bozeman - Montana, USA - Day 56 – What a Day!
Billings - Montana, USA - Day 57 – Chasing Yogi Bear in Yellowstone Park
Rapid City - South Dakota, USA - Day 58 – Custer Country...
Jamestown - North Dakota, USA - Day 59 – Across the Badlands
Duluth - Minnesota, USA - Day 60 – The Longest Day
Duluth - Minnesota, USA - Day 61 – Streuth! Duluth!
Marquette - Michigan, USA - Day 62 – Rescue for the Hunter
Bay City - Michigan, USA - Day 63 – Between the Lakes
Niagara Falls - Ontario, Canada - Day 64 – To Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls - Ontario, Canada - Day 65 – From the Sheraton Hotel Basement...
Binghamton - New York, USA - Day 66 – Leaving Niagara
Newark - New Jersey, USA - Day 67 – East Coast Dramas
Newark - New Jersey, USA - Day 68 – From the Big Apple
Marrakesh - Morocco - Days 69-70 – Dash to Marrakesh
Marrakesh - Morocco - Day 71 – Poolside Gossip
Ouarzazate - Morocco - Day 72 – Furthest South
Erfoud - Morocco - Day 73 – The Heat Goes On....
Tangiers - Morocco - Day 74 – Where's the Pool?
Murcia - Spain - Day 75 – Spanish Nights...
Terrassa - Spain - Day 76 – If Only's...
Clermont Ferrand - France - Day 77 – Nearly There...
Laon - France - Day 78 – The Party Begins...
London - England - Day 79 – The Final Drive