It is CLASSIC ADELAIDE RALLY time again - the Classic Rally for Classic
Cars (gee... it doesn't seem like twelve months ago, does it)
Each year I put my hand up to be one of those marvellous volunteer
officials that make it all possible and this year I have scored a cushy
job in a Course Car. Cushy, that is, compared to my previous jobs doing
road closures and spectator control (always bad publicity when a rally
car runs over an errant spectator), and last year, timing control (where
I got to meet all the famous and not-so-famous drivers - and even get
grumped out by overly tense front runners).
Check out the website at http://www.classicadelaide.com.au
I am particularly pleased this year to see the return (some) of the MG
fraternity to this world-class rally. SURPRISE, SURPRISE... as of the
end of September, there was ONE MG registered for the COMPETITION
section of the Rally
... and it is (drum roll) a 1967 MIDGET!
In the TOUR (doing the course but not 'really' competing - just showing
off their cars) Section there is one 1948 MG TC and one 1959 MG A.
Some may remember how last year Sir Jack Brabham ran his Aston Martin
DB4 into a tree, destroying the front end... well Sir Jack is back again
and driving the DB4! Other greats include Win Percy in a 1960 Mk2 Jag;
Dieter Ritter in a Mercedes 1952 300SC Prototype from the Mercedes
Factory Museum; Paul Vestey in a million dollar 1959 Ferrari 250
Californian; Paul Osborn in a 1963 250 GT Lusso Ferrari. Lots of Jags
and a few more Aston Martins in the non-competition sections.
Most of these guys are from Europe so may be better known to our
UK/European listers, but a rumour is that we have had our first USA
entrant!
In the COMPETITION section, the usual bunch of Healeys and Mini Cooper
S; Porsches; Alfas; Lotus Elan; a Sunbeam Tiger; Karmann Ghia and a
bunch of Fords, Datsuns, Mazdas and the like.
This race gets lots of coverage on European television so I hope it
spreads further afield this year so you can all get to see some images
of my adopted home town and a great rally.
Look out for it. The actual dates of the rally are October 26, 27, 28,
30. Lots of great old cars being driven like they should be!
Drive 'em, don't hide 'em!
Eric
'68MGB MkII
PS I gotta do this rally in a 'B sometime!
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