Report from London - England - Day 79
Tappet Chatter: Day 79, Around the World - Syd Stelvio
The Final Drive
Across the Channel - traditional breakfast on the P&O Ferry - a drive to re-group at Brands Hatch circuit, and then.... Tower Bridge at last. With a day to spare, the Around the World in 80 days made it back to where it all began on May 1st.
Stirling Moss who flagged them off to crowds of thousands of cheering onlookers, was there at the end to hand out the trophies. "This is something truly incredible.... we waved off 42 cars that had Around the World Rallyplates on the front. And 40 have come back!"
The day saw cars park up and finally turn off the trip-meters, and put away the route notes, for the last time.... amid crowds of happy families, friends and enthusiasts as the sun shone down on the final resting place, the courtyard of the Royal Mint Court.
The evening saw a long narrow restaurant of the Quayside overlooking St. Katherine's Port transformed for the prizegiving by former B.M.C. public relations supremo Alan Zafer, who has witnessed first-hand the golden-era of rallying in the Sixties. Who put on a good show. The evening was broken by the most amazing fire-works display, with a barge sailing just short of Tower Bridge. Nearly 500 who attended the dinner had filed out to line the north bank of the River Thames to watch a breathtaking display. Then it was back in the restaurant for the prizegiving ceremony.
Over 70 silver trophies were awarded (see Result's List).
The remarkable rededication of the team of officials who have kept the event on the road - with its record 24 different nationalities taking part - were also thanked with a moving tribute from the competitors themselves.
And so ends the longest rally ever organised in the history of the motor-car.... and the first ever timed event to circumnavigate the globe.
And finally: Syd Stelvio signs off with a thank you to all those who have sent him messages during the past 80 days... and the truly amazing 40,000 readers who have been hitting the Tappet Chatter page daily. Syd will be back soon - watch this space.
Syd Stelvio