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The 2nd Alpine Trial 2015

6th - 9th September 2015

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The 2nd Alpine Trial 2015 – The Alpine rally for pre-war Vintage Cars

The 2nd Alpine Trial was again based in Annecy for three days of rallying over what the magazines described as the finest driving roads in Europe. The Participants met up for pre-start formalities on Sunday, September 6th, before driving three days of fabulous Alpine roads, finishing on Wednesday September 9th. The move to a September date combined with Keith Baud’s carefully chosen route and mid week rally days made for fine driving on quiet roads…. wonderful weather made the whole experience even better.

Click the links below to see what the motoring press said about the 1st Alpine Trial.

 

Read the Classic & Sports Car article

Read the Octane article

We are again going to base ourselves in the Imperial Hotel overlooking Lake Annecy. Our first recce-team has just returned and we are assured of a number of improvements by the hotel management… with the mid-week finish-date meaning that we can use the grand ballroom for our gala prize-giving dinner so we dine altogether in the hotel. Last time, we drank the bar dry – the hotel running out of beer! We have been assured this time various upgrades will ensure the hotel is better prepared and able to provide better service.

Keith Baud is again our route-maestro and he is hard at work on the maps. Keith worked with us on the Monte Carlo Challenge and Classic Marathons, in at the birth of historic rallying – nobody has more experience of creating brilliant rallying in France.

Three days of glorious Vintageant motoring lie ahead.

 

Contact the Rally Office on [email protected] for more.

The 2nd Alpine Trial 2015 – Participants

Updated 28th August 2015

Num Participants Motorcar Engine size
Vintageant (pre ’41) up to 1500cc
6 Brad Mottier(USA) / Barry Mottier(USA) 1936 – Riley Bigley Special 1498
7 Alan Beardshaw(GB) / Tina Beardshaw(GB) 1934 – MG K3 1271
11 Richard Cunningham(GB) / Rory Cunningham(GB) 1937 – Riley 12/4 1500
16 Clint Smith(GB) / Brad Smith(GB) 1933 – MG K3 1086
17 Michael Kershaw(GB) / Marlies Kershaw(GB) 1947 – HRG 1500 1497
23 Phillip Haslam(GB) / Yvonne Haslam(GB) 1933 – Aston Martin Le Mans 1496
30 Robert Kieffer(LU) / Michele Thiry(LU) 1935 – Riley 12/4 Special 1496
31 Bernd Dannenmaier(D) / Christiane Dannenmaier(D) 1935 – Riley Sprite Prototype 1496
37 Peter Kappeler(F) / Gary Gwerder(CH) 1935 – Fiat 508 MM 995
38 Richard Joseph(GB) / Antony Joseph(GB) 1930 – Austin 7 Ulster 750
Vintageant (pre ’41) up to 2000cc
4 Peter Lovett(GB) / Zoe Lovett(GB) 1937 – Frazer Nash BMW 328 1991
9 Peter Kite(GB) / Terry Thorp(GB) 1934 – Frazer Nash TT REP 1997
27 Tony Mather(GB) / Pauline Mather(GB) 1937 – Citroen Traction Avant 1911
36 Simon Skelding(GB) / Judy Douglas-Boyd(GB) 1938 – AC 16/80 Sports 1991
Vintageant (pre ’41) up to 3000cc
1 Bill Ainscough(GB) / Jason Dearden(GB) 1931 – Alfa Romeo 8C Zagato 2300
3 Richard Jeffcoate(GB) / Tom Jeffcoate(GB) 1938 – Riley 16/4 Special 2400
21 Michael Joseph(GB) / Philip Joseph(GB) 1934 – Alvis Speed 20 2500
29 Robert Frankcom(GB) / Julia Frankcom(GB) 1933 – Talbot 105 Alpine 3000
42 Dominic Manser(GB) / Jack Manser(GB) 1924 – Bentley 3L Speed Model 3000
48 Andrew Boland(IRL) / Ann Boland(IRL) 1934 – Talbot Roche 105 2998
Vintageant (pre ’41) up to 4000cc
5 Bill Cleyndert(GB) / Matthew Abrey(GB) 1928 – Ford Model A 3286
8 John Whitelock(GB) / Dyl Thomas(GB) 1938 – Ford Coupe 3700
12 Martin Aaldering(NL) / Josephine Aaldering(NL) 1937 – Alvis Speed 25 3498
34 Keith Wickham(GB) / Brian Spearman(GB) 1924 – Rolls Royce Boat Tail Roadster 3200
35 Bob Compiet(NL) / Minouche den Doelder(NL) 1936 – Alvis Special 3.5ltr 3500
46 Peter Weigelt(CH) / Vroni Weigelt(CH) 1935 – Bentley Derby 3½ 3500
47 Philip Lindsten(SE) / Paola Galletti(I) 1939 – Chevrolet Master Deluxe 4000
Vintageant (pre ’41) over 4000cc
2 Paul Gregory(GB) / Katherine Gregory(GB) 1936 – Invicta S Type 4500
10 Ian Fyfe(GB) / William Fountain(GB) 1936 – Alvis 4.3 Tourer 4387
14 James Gately(USA) / Tony Brooks(GB) 1937 – Cadillac 60 Series Coupe 5670
15 David Little(GB) / Julia Little(GB) 1927 – Bentley 3-4½ 4497
18 Jan Roosenburg(USA) / Johan Hora Siccama(NL) 1936 – Railton Fairmile II DHC 4200
19 Richard Nicholl(GB) / Neil Lawson-May(GB) 1936 – Buick Series 40 Roadster 4467
20 Roy Hatfield(GB) / Grant Hatfield(GB) 1924 – Bentley 3-4½ 4497
24 Mike Thompson(GB) / Julian Riley(GB) 1926 – Bentley Super Sports 4500
26 Martin Egli(CH) / Anne Egli(CH) 1933 – Lagonda M45 4453
33 Chris Abrey(GB) / Sara Banham(GB) 1937 – Lagonda LG45 4553
39 Francis Galashan(GB) / Cosmo Galashan(GB) 1938 – Alvis 4.3 Tourer 4387
41 Alan Brown(GB) / Suzy Black(GB) 1931 – Invicta Low Chassis ‘S’ 4457
45 Chris Moss(GB) / Paul Sharp(GB) 1924 – Bentley 3-4½ 4497
49 Lieven van Hoylandt(B) / Dirk van de Velde(B) 1922 – Bentley 3-4½ 4500
50 Beat Hirs(CH) / Elisabeth Hirs(CH) 1930 – Rolls Royce Phantom II 7663

The 2nd Alpine Trial 2015 – Route Outline

With the exception of a brief foray over the border into France on Day Two, the whole of this years Alpine Trial takes place in one of the least known countries of the world – The Kingdom of Savoy. Yes, I know the French regard the Alps as theirs, but ask any patriotic Savoyard and they will tell you the vote was rigged when the decision was taken to join their larger neighbour in April 1860.

The event itself is divided into three distinct daily “loops”, each one designed to give you the full flavour of this beautiful and spectacular region of France (sorry -Savoie). Where possible we have tried to include enough time in the schedule to allow at least one short halt morning and afternoon, plus lunch. All of these are in small traditional village establishments which we feel helps add to the period character of the event, as well as giving welcome trade to many of these remote mountain communities.

Day 1: Monday 7 September – Massif de Bauges and Massif de la Vanoise – 316km

Today we head south, firstly over Semnoz, the 1600m high ridge that dominates the west side of Lac d’Annecy, and then deep into the lanes of the Massif de Bauges. After a dizzying descent into the valley of the Isere, a welcome morning coffee break awaits before an Alpine section through the lanes of the Chaine des Hurtieres.

An easy run towards the Italian border brings you to one of “finds” of the event – a near vertical “staircase” of 17 hairpins to rival anything in Europe. Relatively unknown until recently, this dramatic road takes you through a string of Alpine villages and over a remote mountain pass to lunch at the highest point on the event, the 2000m high Col de la Madeleine.

After lunch, the route descends into the dramatic Tarentaise valley before turning north to the Olympic town of Albertville and further sections through the Alpine pastures of the Beaufort Valley. Afternoon “tea” will be taken at a lakeside café before the final sections of the afternoon in the foothills of the Chaine des Aravis and the home run alongside the blue waters of the Lac d’Annecy

Day 2: Tuesday 8 September – Jura and Cotes du Rhone – 270km

Today we head west out of Annecy, into the pre-Alps bordering the Rhone valley.

The first 20km or is through the country lanes of the Albanais, an area of pleasant rolling farmland once famous for tobacco growing. After continuing west you eventually come within sight of the Rhone valley, with the southernmost ridge of the Jura mountains rising like a great wall on the far side. Once on the western bank of the river, the road climbs through vineyards to morning coffee on the infamous Col de la Biche.

By Alpine standards, the Jura Mountains aren’t particularly high or spectacular, but they hide a maze of lanes ideal for rallying through the forests that gave them their name. Navigators will have their work cut out today. The morning ends with a climb of the Grand Colombier, with its amazing views stretching from Lake Geneva to the north, Lac de Bourget to the south, and Mont Blanc smack ahead as you crest the top. After re-crossing the Rhone into Savoie, lunch is taken at possibly the most stunning location I have ever seen in the Alps.

Because we are giving you this evening off to enjoy Annecy at your leisure, we are keeping the afternoon relatively short with just two testing regularities over some little known cols before the run back into town.

Day 3: Wednesday 9 September – Bisanne and Chaine de Aravis – 264km

The massive snow-clad peak of Mont Blanc will be your constant companion today as you explore nearly every mountain road at its feet.

To start you will climb high above Lac d’Annecy before continuing south over a relatively easy “col” into the Arly valley. However, the next climb to morning coffee at a remote mountain refuge right under the towering peaks of the Chaine de Aravis will definitely test your engines! From the top you will get your first view of the day of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps, before starting the long descent back into the valley below. After another stiff climb, the next Alpine section to the ski resort of Les Saises will test all of your skills before a long, but very scenic, road section over the Col des Aravis brings you to lunch at a roadside restaurant.

The afternoon kicks off straight out of lunch with a hilly regularity, before the driver has a chance to try his skills on a special test. A final regularity up a little used mountain climb brings you to the afternoon tea halt in a mountain lodge high on a hidden plateau. After a short run on gravel roads across the plateau, a final section through gentle lanes brings you back to the shores of Lac d’Annecy for the ceremonial finish.

PAUSE PLAY

The 2nd Alpine Trial

Pre Start – The Grid Assembles

Sunday 6 September

Annecy, the capital of Haute Savoie, sits peacefully on the shores of the eponymously named lake at an altitude of something like 450 metres. Dating back to Roman times, it’s fair to say that this charming town has seen more than a bit of history both ancient and modern. Today it saw a bit more and in a slightly sharper relief, as the Endurance Rally Association’s second Alpine Trial rolled into town bringing with it a field of almost 50 vintage motorcars.

The old cobbled streets of Annecy le Vieux were packed with Sunday strollers, roller bladers, cyclists and runners enjoying the warm late summer ambiance. Whatever they were doing though or wherever they were, those very same Annecians took a minute to watch, listen to and appreciate what was rolling along beside them shortly to park up by the lake for the all-important scrutineering checks and any last minute fiddling and fettling which may have become necessary on the way there.

Keith Baud is once again the route master, the course designer, the Alpinist in chief for the event and, as he outlined the Rally to the competitors assembled for his pre-event briefing in the splendid surroundings of the Imperial Hotel there were some nervous glances from the novice crews along with the more knowing nods and mutterings from those who had done the inaugural event last year.

A quick glance at the start list shows that the field is wide open this year. Last year’s winners, Gareth Burnett and Jez Haylock have excused themselves as have the second placed crew of Paul Carter and John Bayliss which means Bill Cleyndert and Matthew Abrey or Bill Ainscough and Jason Dearden – third and fourth respectively – must surely fancy their chances. Both of these crews are vastly experienced and have brought very suitable machinery for what could well be a tight and twisty route to the podium.

Peter and Zoe Lovett will be feeling confident as well having won two ERA long distance rallies this year, the Road to Mandalay and the Trans America Challenge in a couple of their signature Porsches. Now, as last year, though they’re in a nimble little BMW Fraser Nash and have brought along some support in the shape of Peter’s Peking to Paris co driver Tim Smith who’s in Europe helping with the prep for their next P2P car.

James Gateley has teamed up with Tony Brooks, the winning navigator from this year’s Flying Scotsman, to guide his imposing Cadillac through the highways and byways of the Savoie and will be hoping for a better result than last year where he came in 31st.

In addition to the classification prizes there are also the coveted Alpine Cups up for grabs as well. Securing one of these is difficult but well worth the effort. Only one was awarded last year!

The flag drops at 8.01am tomorrow mornng, with Rally Director Fred Gallagher sending the cars on their way.

Jean Jacques Rousseau, the philosopher, is one of Annecy’s more famous sons and we can’t help but wonder what he’d think of all of this.

Day One – Annecy – Col de la Madeleine – Annecy

Monday 7 September

Annecy was cool and clear this morning and as the ERA flag dropped Bill Ainscough and Jason Dearden blasted their way down the driveway of the Imperial Hotel to lead the Rally out of town and up to the Semnoz Ridge where we actually finished the Rally last year. This impressive mountain road saw the crews take on the first test of the day before descending through the rocky hairpins to the Col de Leschaux for a regularity section. Following a swift coffee break in La Carouge one of the highlights of the day reared its head.

he Lacets de Montvernier are a set of 18 hairpins which, coincidentally, were used for the first time this year in both the Tour de France and the 2015 Alpine Trial. With barely 100 mtrs  between the corners the Lacets led the Rally to the little known but very pretty Col de Chaussy and another regularity before lunch atop the mighty Madeleine.

The Col de Madeleine was indeed the high point of the day (and the entire Rally). We were booked for lunch at the Restaurant les Deux Mazots where the lady proprietor was celebrating her birthday. She was probably hoping for a quiet day in the sun with a good book and a glass of wine but then we arrived. She and her team however did us proud and at the dizzying height of 2000 m the Rally refuelled and relaxed with the snow-capped peaks of the versant Tarentaise forming the perfect backdrop. Green salad, tartiflette and good coffee always taste better when they’re well earned.

Disaster befell Bill Ainscough and Jason Dearden though just before they managed to eat when they broke the differential of their Alfa Romeo Zagato whilst pulling into the carpark at the top of the Madeleine. They’ve retired from the Rally as a result and we’re sad to see them go.

Once we were back on the road we plunged down the hill via a Special Test in Celliers to a Regularity on the Cote de Beaufortaine to the north of Albertville. This was a tricky navigational section and caught many crews out on the narrow approach to the Fort du Mont. The final, slightly easier Regularity over the Col de l’Epine was a welcome respite before the run to the hotel along the eastern shores of the Lac d’Annecy.

The carpark was buzzing as the crews pulled in for the night. Everyone had something to say as spanner checks were made and fluid levels were checked. Alan and Tina Beardshaw relayed that they very much enjoyed the open top life today as they toured the highways and by ways around the rally route in a sprightly MG K3. Sensibly stopping when they saw the Italian border looming they rejoined the Rally just in time for lunch.

As far as the leaderboard is concerned, the Marsabit Road effect was very much in evidence today. The notoriously bad Kenyan highway was a severe obstacle to overcome during the ERA’s  London to Cape Town 2012 World Cup Rally and, as such must have been an ideal proving ground for two of our crews.

Dominic Manser drove an MG Rover in the event so he knows what a tough Rally is like, he’s here with his son Jack, in a Bentley 3L Speed and tonight they’re lying in an excellent fourth place. Martin and Josephine Aalderling however were also with us on the London Cape Town Rally in a Volvo but are here in an Alvis Speed 25. Tonight they’re our new leaders and the only crew left who are able to win an Alpine Cup.

The ‘Chain Driven Cup’ however, according to Peter Kite and Terry Thorpe should go to them with their Fraser Nash TT Rep’. They’re sitting in third place overall in the only chain driven car in the event. Mike Thomson and Julian Riley in a Bentley Supersports hold third place.

James Gately, benefitting from the services of a top navigator in Tony Brooks was unique today in being early on Reg 1.3 and had a fantastic day ending with his 6th overall place in the Cadillac 60 Series Coupe..

The smallest car in the Rally, the Austin 7 Ulster crewed by Richard and Anthony Joseph is in 13th place whilst the largest car in the Rally, the huge Rolls Royce Phantom II of Beat and Elisabeth Hirs is in a very creditable 24th place. Piloting such a behemoth around these narrow roads is a demanding job and they obviously do it very well.

As the evening light sank lower in the perfect blue sky we noticed a slight commotion in a dark corner of the carpark. Two surgeons were hard at work, clothed in gowns and rubber gloves the crew of car 10 grabbed whatever tools they need to complete the operation. Their patient, an elderly one had been overdoing it slightly over the course of the day and was in need of some attention. Thankfully this story has a happy ending and the Alvis of Dr Ian Fyfe and Dr William Fountain will be up and running tomorrow.

How could the 307.6 kms of the day pass so quickly? A question being asked around the dinner tables and the bar this evening. Tomorrow there’s more of the same but we’ll be taken in a slightly different direction. The sun shone brightly all day and after day one Keith Baud has certainly left them wanting more.

Syd Stelvio

Day Two – Annecy – La Chambotte – Annecy

Tuesday 8 September

Bridging the gap.

As dawn broke and the Rally awoke it became obvious that not only had the cars been well and truly lubricated the night before but by the look on some of the faces over the coffee and croissants so had many of the crews. The civilised 8:01 start time was appreciated by many however and gave the mist a bit more of a chance to burn away from the lake and the valley sides where it hung like a veil.

Once down in the carpark engines were coaxed into life with varying degrees of success. The Austin 7 Ulster, the smallest car in the Rally was one which didn’t feel quite as sparky as it needed to be and received a bit of attention from the sweep crew for a problem with the rotor arm. They’d worked the car hard yesterday but had thoroughly enjoyed themselves despite spending most of it in first gear. By day’s end today this story will no doubt have been repeated.

As per the rules the crews had received their route books only 30 minutes before the day’s start so there was some frantic plotting and calculating going on from the navigators while the drivers checked and rechecked those all important staples of motoring life such as tyre pressures, water, oil and washer fluid.

We grabbed one of the drivers, indeed one of the form book favourites, Peter Lovett as he attended to his Fraser Nash BMW to find out why he’d dropped so much time yesterday and he told us that he’d been baulked by a lorry on one of the sections but was hoping to make up the lost time today.

Josephine and Martin Aaldering, the overnight leaders stood at the head of the line of cars waiting to leave with maps and road book spread out on the bonnet of their Alvis. They were obviously enjoying the occasion but did their body language betray a slight nervousness and will this affect their performance? We’ll know soon enough.

Once on the road though and away past the inbound Annecy rush hour traffic we pressed on to the first regularity around Clermont via the old bridge in Seyssel which was first used by Philip Young and the ERA on the very snowy Monte Carlo Challenge in the mid 1990’s.

There are in fact two bridges which cross the Rhone here within close proximity and the sight of the big modern one – the wrong one – proved too much for some crews, but we can report that at the very least Mike Thomson and Julian Riley and Jim Gately and Tony Brooks made the right turn at the right time. Well done gentlemen.

From the bridge there was an exhilarating and steep climb through the meadows to the Auberge de Lyand for coffee in the same restaurant where we took Sunday lunch last year. We can report that this morning break was no less agreeable than the midday meal had proved to be. On the way there we saw Brad Mottier, Bill Cleyndert, Martin Aaldering and Jim Gately trading places through the turns as their engines strained and their gearboxes whined. One missed gear change through a corner was nothing more than an invitation to overtake. Driving old cars is an art and, if I may mix my metaphors, this was poetry in motion.

So, fully re-caffeinated, the Rally took to the road again and was thrown straight into a self start regularity up and over the Col de la Biche, which also featured on that same snowy Monte Carlo Challenge, through early autumn woodland, alpine meadows and short broken Tarmac climbs. This was a tough test of car control and navigation but was nothing in comparison to what was to come.

The Alpine Cup Section, hard on the heels of the Regularity proved very tough once again and the last remaining contender for one of these ‘Holy Grails’ of Alpine motoring, Martin and Josephine Aaldering dropped out of the running as well. After whatever navigational nightmares the crews had suffered through the early part of the morning they had all earned their break at another Time Control with coffee in a small Relais in Virieu le Petit. The ham and cheese sandwiches were superb and the coffee packed more of a punch than Mike Tyson but it was getting close to lunchtime so some restraint had to be exercised.

To get to that lunch it was up the Col de Colombier, the southern tip of the Jura where the views from the top, at 1501 mtrs, were staggering on such a day as this and, as there was no timing through this section many crews took the opportunity to park up and take those all important pictures. Once down the other side of the Colombier it was over the Rhone into the town of Ruffieux and then up a dramatic road cut into the rock for lunch at the Belvedere Restaurant at La Chambotte overlooking the Lac du Bourget, the deepest in France.

This was another superb catering effort and gave the crews a chance to relax and take in their surroundings from the private terrace high above the lake. The sweeps, Andy Inskip, Jamie & Owen Turner and Rob Kitchen never far from the action even managed to sit down and grab a bite to eat themselves and had time to reflect on their workload so far. When pressed to sum it up the response was ‘we haven’t had to work on many cars but we’ve done our fair share of repairing marriages’.

From La Chambotte, the afternoon Regularity Section was a sheer delight. The detailed map books took the Rally through long open corners and the wide sweeping views over Semnoz and the Massif des Bauges were interspersed with tight twisty woodland excursions. We were well and truly into the endgame of the day here but the drive back to Annecy was punctuated with another final Regularity over Cols various, including and in no particular order – because that’s how they were driven – the Sapenay and the Clergeon.

After such a tough day we have a new leaderboard and top of the tree tonight are Peter Kite and Terry Thorpe in the Frazer Nash TT Rep’ who have also tightened their grip on the Chain Drive Cup they so very much covet. Mike Thomson and Julian Riley are still sitting pretty in second in their Bentley Super Sports whilst James Gately and Tony Brooks in the Cadillac Coupe have moved to third. Has a big American cruiser ever been so well placed in an Alpine Rally? Answers on a postcard please.

Martin and Josephine Aaldering slipped a few places to fourth by the end of play but with another day to come with we’re not will to call the result just yet.

Syd Stelvio

Day Three – Annecy – Col de la Croix Fry – Annecy

Wednesday 9 September

The Chain Gang

After our short but very sweet flirtation with the Jura Mountains yesterday we were well and truly back in the bosom of the Alps today. This, the last day of the 2015 Alpine Trial was absolutely jam packed with action from the very beginning. In 254 km there were four Regularities, an Alpine Section and two Special Tests.

With two leaders in two days and the overall classification being shaken up every night this last day of rallying was sure to be as intense as anything that had gone before. Peter Kite and Terry Thorp were sitting pretty in top spot in their Frazer Nash with everyone else snapping at their heels waiting for them to make just one mistake. If they felt the pressure they weren’t showing it as they gunned their engine outside the Imperial Hotel and waited for the restart.

The navigators were busy from the off this morning also, as for the first time in three days we turned right as we pulled out of the car park and made our way down the lake and then up to the Col de la Forclaz via a secret check point. With the ink just drying on the time stamp, the crews then set a course for the first Regularity over the Col de Tamie before turning their thoughts to a little refreshment.

The refuge atop the Col de l’Arpettaz was the venue this morning for coffee. We used this lovely and little known hill last year, but today we ran in the opposite direction climbing steeply out of Ugine on a single track road – of variable quality – through dense and ancient woodland before breaking out into the sunshine and continuing to the summit. Walled in on two sides by steep bare cliffs the terrace of the refuge was an idyllic sun drenched spot to take in the 360 degree panorama underneath Mont Charvin.

Soon after though a self start Regularity section gave the crews as much fun going down the other side as they had on the way up but instead of thick woodland this section was played out in full view of the Mont Blanc.

Once over the second Col de la Forclaz of the day the final Alpine Section of the Rally loomed large in the windscreen. As reported yesterday, nobody could actually win an Alpine Cup this year but the way that some of the crews tackled it made us think that they were already practicing for next year. The air around Bisanne rang with the sound of revving engines, the squeal of brakes and the frantically shouted instructions of the navigators.

By now we’d worked up an appetite and headed to the Col de La Croix Fry by way of the Col des Aravis for some lunch, this being the last day there was a slight end of term impression given by some of the crews whilst those still in with a shot at the podium ate with a slightly more deliberate air.

The road back to Annecy and the gala dinner still had some twists and turns for the crews to negotiate. The third Regularity in the Val de Manigod, an entertaining blast round the Kart track in Thones and a final Regularity up the Cote des Glieres to the plateau and a very welcome afternoon tea break.

The results at the end of all of this were close. Almost too close to call so Chris Bruce along with his results team had to check and double check to ensure their accuracy.

Despite this though they were posted in double quick time leading an astounded and delighted Philip Haslam to comment ‘that they were posted before the engines had barely cooled down’. He and Yvonne had taken 2nd in class and were rightly proud of their achievement.

Over a fabulous meal of risotto, veal and local cheese the silverware was handed out by Fred Gallagher, Keith Baud and Georgina Clark and a few corks were also popped to mark the occasion.

A full list of winners is listed elsewhere but a few notables include the biggest car in the Rally. The Rolls Royce of Beat and Elizabeth Hirs took a class win whilst the smallest, the Austin 7 Ulster was presented with the Spirit of the Rally Award. Tony & Pauline Mather in their Citroen Traction Avant took the Concours d’Elegance prize.

Peter Kite the winning driver in only his third ever rally offered some words of advice to his competitors. “If you’re serious about winning a Rally then bring a navigator. If you’re serious about having fun bring someone else’s wife. If you can combine the two you’ve landed in heaven”. He went on to thank two people, “Archie Frazer Nash for building the best motorcar in the world and Terry Thorp my navigator”.

Even before desert was served three entry forms had been filled in and returned for next year’s event and we look forward to travelling once again with Bob Compiet and Minouche den Doelder,  Lieven van Hoylandt and Dirk van de Velde and Mike Thompson and Julian Riley.

Syd Stelvio

Overall Results

Num Crew
Car
Day
Total
Overall
Total
Overall
Pos’n
Cls pos
/Cls
Alpine
Cup
9 Peter Kite / Terry Thorp
Frazer Nash TT REP
0:04:04 0:08:28 1 1/c2
14 James Gately / Tony Brooks
Cadillac 60 Series Coupe
0:03:44 0:08:52 2 1/c5
24 Mike Thompson / Julian Riley
Bentley Super Sports
0:03:57 0:09:00 3 2/c5
12 Martin Aaldering / Josephine Aaldering
Alvis Speed 25
0:04:55 0:10:28 4 1/c4
3 Richard Jeffcoate / Tom Jeffcoate
Riley 16/4 Special
0:05:00 0:14:22 5 1/c3
16 Clint Smith / Brad Smith
MG K3
0:03:58 0:14:34 6 1/c1
5 Bill Cleyndert / Matthew Abrey
Ford Model A
0:04:43 0:15:18 7 2/c4
42 Dominic Manser / Jack Manser
Bentley 3L Speed Model
0:06:18 0:22:18 8 2/c3
50 Beat Hirs / Elisabeth Hirs
Rolls Royce Phantom II
0:06:32 0:25:31 9 3/c5
23 Phillip Haslam / Yvonne Haslam
Aston Martin Le Mans
0:08:05 0:25:49 10 2/c1
41 Alan Brown / Suzy Black
Invicta Low Chassis ‘S’
0:05:18 0:26:46 11 4/c5
15 David Little / Julia Little
Bentley 3-4½
0:17:04 0:28:33 12 5/c5
27 Tony Mather / Pauline Mather
Citroen Traction Avant
0:06:19 0:28:43 13 2/c2
2 Paul Gregory / Katherine Gregory
Invicta S Type
0:06:44 0:31:36 14 6/c5
45 Chris Moss / Paul Sharp
Bentley 3-4½
0:07:30 0:31:51 15 7/c5
39 Francis Galashan / Cosmo Galashan
Alvis 4.3 Tourer
0:06:44 0:31:58 16 8/c5
26 Martin Egli / Anne Egli
Lagonda M45
0:08:52 0:32:05 17 9/c5
34 Keith Wickham / Brian Spearman
Rolls Royce Boat Tail Roadster
0:11:19 0:45:42 18 3/c4
49 Lieven van Hoylandt / Dirk van de Velde
Bentley 3-4½
0:05:13 0:48:32 19 10/c5
38 Richard Joseph / Antony Joseph
Austin 7 Ulster
0:39:46 0:51:47 20 3/c1
33 Chris Abrey / Sara Banham
Lagonda LG45
0:04:20 0:52:58 21 11/c5
4 Peter Lovett / Zoe Lovett
Frazer Nash BMW 328
0:09:04 0:59:48 22 3/c2
20 Roy Hatfield / Grant Hatfield
Bentley 3-4½
0:07:12 1:05:52 23 12/c5
6 Brad Mottier / Barry Mottier
Riley Bigley Special
0:08:23 1:06:39 24 4/c1
11 Richard Cunningham / Rory Cunningham
Riley 12/4
0:05:04 1:09:14 25 5/c1
31 Bernd Dannenmaier / Christiane Dannenmaier
Riley Sprite Prototype
0:06:39 1:15:02 26 6/c1
30 Robert Kieffer / Michele Thiry
Riley 12/4 Special
0:11:47 1:33:39 27 7/c1
7 Alan Beardshaw / Tina Beardshaw
MG K3
0:07:14 1:40:20 28 8/c1
19 Richard Nicholl / Neil Lawson-May
Buick Series 40 Roadster
0:16:26 1:56:23 29 13/c5
47 Philip Lindsten / Paola Galletti
Chevrolet Master Deluxe
0:18:50 1:58:13 30 4/c4
35 Bob Compiet / Minouche den Doelder
Alvis Special 3.5ltr
0:10:56 2:32:16 31 5/c4
10 Ian Fyfe / William Fountain
Alvis 4.3 Tourer
0:10:00 3:24:22 32 14/c5
17 Michael Kershaw / Marlies Kershaw
HRG 1500
1:13:06 3:58:25 33 9/c1
21 Michael Joseph / Philip Joseph
Alvis Speed 20
3:04:00 5:05:24 34 3/c3
36 Simon Skelding / Judy Douglas-Boyd
AC 16/80 Sports
3:03:25 5:42:44 35 4/c2
46 Peter Weigelt / Vroni Weigelt
Bentley Derby 3½
3:12:15 9:46:37 36 6/c4
29 Robert Frankcom / Julia Frankcom
Talbot 105 Alpine
O.T.L. Retired ~
18 Jan Roosenburg / Johan Hora Siccama
Railton Fairmile II DHC
O.T.L. Retired ~
37 Peter Kappeler / Gary Gwerder
Fiat 508 MM
O.T.L. N.L.C. ~