Frederique Constant Vintage Rally Collection A tribute to the legendary automobiles from a bygone era

Frederique Constant New Vintage Racing Collection

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Swiss Watch Manufacturer Frédérique Constant, known for its classical and refined timepieces of exceptional value, is proud to present the new Vintage Racing collection. In line with marque’s involvement in various classic car events around the world in past years, this new collection was created in particular to celebrate the latest edition of The Ultimate Driving Adventure: Peking to Paris.

Under the premise of its slogan 'Live your Passion', Frédérique Constant encourages people around the world to pursue their passion. Having been the official timekeeper of numerous events celebrating classic Austin Healey cars since the beginning of this century, the brand recently announced its role as the Official Timekeeper of the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge. During this fascinating and challenging motoring event, 100+ passionate crews competed in a 9’000 mile long race, driving their extraordinary cars from Peking to Paris.

Frederique Constant succeeded in capturing the vintage feel of the participating cars in an exciting new collection of highly attractive timekeeping instruments.

As an admirer of the strong passion that reigns around the world of these classic & vintage cars, Frédérique Constant managed to combine all the elements which characterize these legendary cars in the three new automatic chronographs of the Vintage Racing collection: refined elegance and technical durability.

The Frederique Constant Vintage Racing timepieces are distinguished by a generous, hand-polished 43 mm case in 316L stainless steel and feature three different dial options. Elegant versions come with a silver dial, animated by blackened steel or rose gold plated indexes and hands. The more sporty version offers a silver dial decorated by black chronograph counters and a black outer-ring.

The Vintage Racing Automatic Chrono is equally impeccable from a technical standpoint. Its new mechanical self-winding chronograph calibre FC-396, beating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour is visible through the transparent case-back which shows the special rotor engraved with the Peking to Paris logo.

For each version, production is limited to 1’888 pieces. Every timepiece comes in an attractive gift box, alongside an exclusive commemorative plate, showing the route driven by the participants of the latest Peking to Paris Motor Challenge.

Live your Passion

Paris Rendezvous...… Day 37 Troyes to Paris Finish

OCTOBER 16TH, 2010

Peking to Paris Motor Challenge update. More about the race here

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Pioneer category victors Charles and Nellie Bishop - Vauxhall 30/98

The Peking to Paris rally ended on Saturday with a parade through the streets of Paris celebrating the end of this remarkable 10,000 mile event.

A large crowd including many friends and family greeted the cars when they entered Place Vendome after roller skating marshals cleared their progress round the Arc de Triomphe and down the Champs Elysees.

It is 37 days since a total of 98 cars set out from the Chinese capital, coming from 26 different countries, thought to be a motorsport record.

With ages ranging from the oldest, a 103 year old six litre Itala to a 1970 Vauxhall, the competition was divided into three leaderboards.

Winner of the Pioneer category for pre 1926 models is Charles and Nellie Bishop in a Vauxhall Prince Henry, who overhauled early leader Max Stephenson in a similar model in the final stages. Winner of the Vintageant Category was Steve Hyde and Janet Lyne in a 1938 Chevrolet Fangio Coupe who led from the start and beat all the later cars on the time trials.

The Classics Category saw a remarkable effort by the oldest driver in the event, with Australian Gerry Crown, driving a 1974 Holden, wining in convincing style. At 78 years old Gerry was regarded as too old to be given a Chinese driving licence so his navigator, 33 year old Matt Bryson, drove the first few days. Matt is the son of John Bryson who accompanied Andrew Cowan to several Australian rally wins including two victories on the Southern Cross.

Second in the Classics category was the former Turkish rally champion Ahmet Omgun, with Erdal Tokcan, in an Anadol 1600 ahead of third placed crew, Andrew Godsen and Andrew Honeychurch, in a much more powerful Aston Martin DB5.

William and Victoria Medcalf - Bentley Super Sports - celebrate at the Paris finish

Since leaving Beijing every crew has lived and accumulated a lifetime of memories… fraught and frustrating border crossings… the remarkable friendliness and hospitality of complete strangers… the pain and despair of breakdowns and the triumph of miracle repairs and camping under star-laden skies in Mongolia where the Organisers, the Endurance Rally Association, ran a fleet of petrol tankers and trucks to provide a Dakar style back up of chefs cooking meals each evening.

"This has been beyond doubt the hardest event we have ever staged," said organiser Philip Young.

Crossing Italy....… Day 35 Viareggio to Aix les Bains

OCTOBER 14TH, 2010

Peking to Paris Motor Challenge update. More about the race here

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Clive Dunster and Cecilia Agger - Chevrolet Fangio Coupe

A glorious day in bright sunshine saw the Peking to Paris drive from Italy into France over the classic mountain roads of Italian Championship rallies.

There were four time trials held over some of finest tarmac roads in the hills overlooking the Mediterranean coast, organised with enthusiastic help of local motor clubs.

Narrow tarmac tracks threaded between trees all on the turn with sunlight dappling the yellows and golds up and down steep mountain climbs.

Clive Dunster in his blue Chevy Fangio Coupe was going great guns, keen to close the gap on David Park ahead and by the end of the day he achieved his goal, rising to 9th place in the Vintageant category.

The roads started off misty and damp but warm Autumn sunshine soon revealed a stunning landscape that saw the event thread it's way through numerous tiny villages out of Italy and into the French Alpes.

George Howitt and Monique Rombouts - Rolls Royce Phantom I

Aix les Bains, known in the 1950s as “Aches and Pains” by British rally crews, is just two stops from our finish in Paris. The excited buzz in the hotel bar this evening is a clear indication of a memorable day of rallying for the competitive crews and just how close we are to Paris for those whose primary aim is to cross the finish line.

Cars will enter Place Vendome on Saturday and drivers will turn off their engines for the last time at 1.00pm when they line up in front of the Ritz Hotel. As the Official Timekeeper of Peking to Paris, Frederique Constant will be welcoming the brave and passionate participants of this historic rally in the pop-up Frederique Constant VIP Area on Place Vendome.

Best performance on the time trials today was achieved by Rudi Friedrichs who blasted his Alvis round the tight mountain roads, more than 2 minutes quicker than the next best.

From Campsite to Comfort... Day 16 Usharal to Almaty

SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2010

Peking to Paris Motor Challenge update. More about the race here

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Bruce Selbie and Bruce Washington - Rolls Royce 20/25

It promised to be an uneventful day… all that was necessary was to drive a main-road route of some 500 kms to Almaty, and after a night of camping in a field, bask in a warm soapy bath of the Almaty Intercontinental. Nothing, however, goes to plan – it wouldn’t qualify as an adventure if it did so.

Dick Disaster, however, is a constant riding companion. Car 22, the 1922 “Bonnie and Clyde” Chevrolet Roadster of David Clements and Russell Stevenson, burst into flames yesterday. The crew jumped out but were unable to rescue their bags of personal possessions. They lost everything except their passports as they watched the car turned to a pile of ashes.

The dark red Alfa of Alastair Caldwell and Catriona Rings pulled up in front of the glass revolving doors to unload their luggage, still with two spare wheels on the plastic see-through home-made hardtop, but now looking rather the worse for wear. There are large “lumps” appearing in the alloy wings from the battering of stones – the inner wings have no protection – and the car had been mighty sick of late, first with muck in the petrol tank giving acceleration of a kangaroo quality, and then more worrying, a wheel-bearing failure provided an added headache. This was cured by drilling holes in a wheel-spinner to turn it into a hub puller in order to replace the offending item with a spare carried in the tiny boot. The driver has looked worried and totally unapproachable for days, is now cheerful again, after a spot of encouragement from Peter Banham.

Here’s a run-down of what we have heard from crews on arrival here in Almaty: Car 43, Jorg Lemberg and Rene Mueller, in a Lagonda, report a failed head-gasket, but reckon they are going to sort this themselves; Car 9, the Dodge Tourer of Jeff Robinson and Rob Blake, is to sort out a duff bearing in the generator; Car 38, the Alvis of the Wilkinson’s, has a leaky radiator and a jammed starter-motor due to too much sand; Car 70, the Dodge of Bill Shields and Daniel Day, has a broken engine mount and needs a new steering arm; Car 11, the Vauxhall of Max Stephenson and Carl Watson, reports a minor oil leak and problems with the starter-motor, “otherwise everything is happy,” and Car 76 David Smith and Anne Marie Smith, in a La Salle, have a noisy clutch release bearing; and the Hickling’s MG SA has a cracked differential, and the radiator has a fan blade stuck in it… (that’s been a common problem).
Driving the Impossible

Alex Howard and Dominic Collins - Rolls Royce Phantom II

Car 75, the Bolsover’s Chevy, needs a change of a half shaft and repairs to a cracked radiator; the La France, Car 6, is sorting a holed radiator and a broken spring; the Rolls Phantom of Alex Howard and Dominic Collins, in a Rolls Phantom, has a broken fan, slipping clutch, dodgy brakes, the running boards are falling off, and no lights; Car 101, the Holden of Frank Bird and Ross Oakman, say they have had no problems since Ulaan Bataar when they fitted a new camshaft.

All seem optimistic of running repairs as we are here for the next two days, and after a spot of fettling in the network of workshops here will be back on the road again, fighting-fit.

The Peking to Paris is surely all about the masochism of a faithful re-enactment of the kind of hardship, endurance, and test of tenacity that the pioneers of 1907 displayed on the world’s first ever inter-Continental rally, and most crews are stuck into the spirit of things, knowing that surely when it comes to the pain-threshold, nothing could get much tougher than this, and with no back-up when things go wrong. However, this column can exclusively reveal that there is another side to life on the Peking to Paris.

How about this – we understand that a private plane was chartered to enable a bunch of competitors to fly into Almaty from Semey. Our sleuth reckons the culprits, who explain themselves by the need to either get to the hotel first in order to bag the Penthouse Suite, or, ensure a workshop is lined up to work on their car before everyone else, (traditional Terry Thomas regulations being applied here), called up a private aircraft. Well, you could not make this up… a plane load of rally-crews with cars that have spent a great deal of time crossing whole countries on the back of trucks have arrived here as the rally jet-set. We are reliably informed they are crews of Cars 31, 29, 89, 99, 43, and 56, and so large was this bunch, the pilot had to be persuaded to take a few on one opening leg, and then return to pick up the rest, so twice flying what the rest have driven the hard way… Cheating? How could the rule-makers possibly have forseen such cunning initiative as this?

Yep, you couldn’t make it up. Must go… the bubble-bath is over-flowing.

Another Country... Day 14 Belokurikha to Semey

SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2010

Peking to Paris Motor Challenge update. More about the race here

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Marius Winkelman and Victor Silveira da Conceicao - Plymouth PB3 Coupe

We crossed out of Russian into Kazakhstan today, with slick border-formalities thanks to the prior planning of our agents, Kyrgyz Concept, we were across the Russian exit, and through the Kazak customs and immigration formalities in a matter of minutes. An easy run on good tarmac roads for most of the day, with no timing, has ensured everyone has been able to plan their day to get into Semey by mid-afternoon.

Rally HQ is in a run-down large concrete hotel that has seen better days, a hang-over from the Communist era of some years ago, and out in the dusty car park, Scott Greenhalgh is fretting over a water leak from the bottom hose of the Alvis, but as it hasn’t actually lost any water all day co-driver Patrick Walker is minded to carry on until repairs are actually needed. Donald Howard and Andrew Collins in a Rolls Royce Phantom have a slipping clutch; the MG SA of Maurice Timms and John Hastie is running well with few problems other than broken shockabsorber mountings – his list of repairs since the start can be written on the back of a postcard, including losing rear brakes, hole in the petrol tank, severe axle oil leak, cracked chassis and the need for a new water pump…. ”we are having a brilliant time,” said the driver.
Driving the Impossible

Clive Dunster and Cecilia Agger - Chevrolet Fangio Coupe

The Alvis of Michael and Anne Wilkinson has the bonnet up receiving adjustments to the engine timing and reports only minor bothers in what has been a remarkably reliable run so far.

Saddest news of the day is that it looks like the end of the road for the BMW Coupe of David and Sarah Rayner who are retiring from the event with engine problems.

We hear that the La France is back on a truck after unsuccessful welding in Khovd, and going to Almaty, so too is the Renault 4CV of the Drinkwaters. Car 60 remains something of a mystery as we have not heard from Douglas Mackinnon and Anastasia Karavaeva for over a week but we hear that the Chevrolet Speedster had an under-bonnet engine fire at some point and was on a truck to catch up. Car 77, Vilnis Husko and James Kabrich in a Dodge D11, failed to re-start this morning and we are also awaiting news.

As some crews were arriving into the Belokurikha hotel well into the early hours, after a delayed border crossing and very long drive, it was decided to make today a relaxed transit day. It has been another day of glorious sunshine and mostly traffic-free empty roads. The Turist Hotel has no bar, and neither does the restaurant where we are having dinner later this evening, a test of initiative for thirsty travellers. However, the crew of Car 51, the Stutz M Convertible Coupe of David Berks and Robert Bradfield, has arrived with a bottle of Russian vodka presented as gesture of goodwill from a traffic-cop who had stopped the car in order to take a photograph of himself with a Peking Paris entrant. If only every roadside policeman was as generous…

Coupe des Alpes... Day 13 Border to Belokurikha

SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2010

Peking to Paris Motor Challenge update. More about the race here

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Border frustrations before a long drive to Belokurikha

Now for something different. We left Mongolia today, and after hassles with the borders for the exit of Mongolia, and rather longer frustrations with the entry into Russia – some cars were in border-land for most of the day, despite the prior planning with all the information customs and immigration officials could require supplied well in advance – we finally left Mongolia behind.

We were welcomed into Russia by the local motor-club, who had a roadside display of Volgas, Moskovitches, and other Russian classic cars, dating back to 1949, including a Russian 4x4 jeep powered by a pre-war Model-A engine. More important, a modern van racked out in the back with rally service items and a small trailer, and, in addition, 50-kms further up the road, a truck capable of carrying a vintage car. They have thought of everything to ensure we had full back up for our two days in Russia, and we are to enjoy this kind of support all the way to the Kazak border.

The road changes dramatically once into Russia, we found ourselves driving on smooth tarmac. The scenery was also changing fast, leaving behind the dry barren landscape of Mongolia, and now we were driving down roads lined with trees all changing into autumn colours of yellows and golds.

It could have been the Dolomites, or the Alpine Rally. Lofty craggy peaks, snow-capped mountains, mountain streams, twisty roads that climbed and dipped, it was a dramatically different day.
Driving the Impossible

A money changer swaps Mongolian notes for Russian

Alas, we were given a re-route by officialdom which added an extra 120 kms to an already long day, now making it well over 700 kms, on top of the border delays, so by the time cars reached Belokurikha, a spa resort, the chefs were having to keep the buffet heated for late-comers expected to be arriving at well past midnight.

Among the first to arrive, Max Stephenson in the Pioneer Category Vauxhall, David and Karen Ayre in the Itala, George Howitt in the Rolls Royce, and the Vauxhall of Nellie and Charles Bishop.

We heard that the last car left the Russian border at 5.0pm, but car 6, the La France, and car 60, the Chevrolet Speedster, were still in no-man’s land, playing catch up, and the crew of car 99, the Vauxhall Viva, had taken over the driving of their truck in order to get it through to the border of Russia, and were now pondering the question of how to get the Viva onto a Russian truck, and how to return the Mongolian truck back to Mongolia, all on a single-entry visa.

We saw Tim Scott for the first time in what seems like ages today – the solo motorcyclist was in good spirits, sitting in the sun on a grassy bank by the roadside, his 1923 FN Motorcycle having seized a piston due to the strain of a long mountain climb. The rider seemed unfazed, “I’ve got a spare, all I need is a workshop.” He is with friends, as it’s just the sort of job the local motorclub will relish.

So, a demanding, frustrating day, and as this is being tapped out there was even more frustrations for George Howitt, having parked his Rolls Royce he has walked into the hotel with a bottle of whisky under his arm, but no glasses can be found… so he has to drink it all on his own.

The first car is due to leave here at 7.0am tomorrow morning for the drive to the Kazakstan border – and yet another round of adventures on the long road to Paris.

Frederique Constant teams up with Actress Eva Longoria for the prestigious Par Coeur Gala 2010

Frederique Constant at Par Coeur Gala 2010 Aletta & Peter Stas offering a Frederique Constant watch Love Heart Beat to Eva Longoria

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Annual Charity Gala September 20, 2010 in Paris

Frederique Constant, one of Switzerland’s leading watch brands, is honored to be the official sponsor of the Par Coeur Gala 2010.  This Gala event, hosted by the founders of the Par Coeur Association, actress Eva Longoria and NBA star Tony Parker, was once again in Paris at the beautiful Cambon Capucines Pavillon by Potel and Chabot. The Par Coeur Association, a French foundation, seeks to bring attention to fiscally responsible charities that continuously make substantial differences in the lives of countless families and children worldwide.

This year, the gala benefits “Toutes A L’Ecoles,” a non-profit organization that operates to create schools and educational programs for young girls in developing countries, as well as “Eva’s Heroes,” a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of those with developmental challenges by creating environments in which they are free to interact, grow, learn, and love.

The annual Par Coeur Gala is meant to be a night of hope and inspiration, attended by prestigious guests and celebrities, with the sole of aim of benefiting Par Coeur Association’s charity partners.

“We are proud to be the official partner for this year’s Par Coeur Gala,” said Frederique Constant CEO Peter Stas. “We are committed to celebrate and support those passionate charitable organizations that go the extra mile to improve the lives of less fortunate people worldwide.  Thus, Frederique Constant and the Par Coeur Association form a perfect match.”

Frederique Constant’s company motto is “Live your passion” and it is true passion that made CEO Peter Stas and his wife Aletta Bax evolve from lovers of fine watches into the reputable founders of one of the main success stories within the Swiss watch industry.

“Each year, the gala gains more and more attention and attendees, and we are so honored to have Frederique Constant participate as our official sponsor,” said Eva Longoria.  “This year’s Par Coeur Gala will bring together individuals who are dedicated to making a contribution to improving the lives of young girls.”

Live your Passion

Click on the pictures to enlarge

Farewell Mongolia... Day 12 Khovd to Border

SEPTEMBER 21ST, 2010

Peking to Paris Motor Challenge update. More about the race here

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A stunning view for David and Sarah Rayner - BMW 321 Coupe - on the final day in Mongolia

Our final full day in Mongolia, and the scenery has been breathtaking, one of the finest days rallying since we left China. The punishment has been relentless, and the Volvo PV544 of Nicholas Pryor and Lesley Stockwell are limping into camp with axle failure.

Several crews are staggering on to the Russian border as “walking wounded”. We know that Car 6, the big La France, is on a truck, so it car 3, Daniel Ward’s 1919 Lancia Theta, The Shooter’s Ford, Car 29, lost its gears today and is on a truck but spares are lined up later down the route, the Renault 4CV, Car 89, had a temporary fix of its front suspension but it didn’t last long. The Vauxhall Viva GT has suffered electrical problems, diagnosed as a failed condenser.
Driving the Impossible

The handsome lead achieved by Gerry Crown in his Holden was maintained today, despite the fact that Gerry has finally decided that driving one-handed is just too much. He has his left wrist in a splint, and he is on doctor’s orders to give the arm maximum rest... he reckons its just an old war-wound of too much gearchanging in too many past rallies, so today, he handed the steering wheel over to young Matt Bryson, his navigator.

We suspect this meant that Matt had to work the GPS, on top of driving. Matt looked as if he was under pressure when we pulled our tent-pegs out of the frozen grassland first thing this morning. The son of John Bryson, top Australian navigator who sat alongside the likes of Andrew Cowan to win the Southern Cross Rally more than once, Matt was realising he had rather a lot on his shoulders.

Michael Thompson and Andrew Davies - Chrysler 75 Roadster - splash through another river crossing

However, he rose to challenge by setting the best times on all three tests, and delivering an extended lead in the Classics Category for the Holden over the second placed Anadol of Ongun and Tokcan. This unusual car was made in Turkey with the help of Reliant – it has an “over heavy” Reliant chassis, according to its driver, a fibreglass body, with a rear design similar to a Gilbern or Alfa GTV, and a Ford Mexico Kent engine of 1600cc.

Today’s final run to our camp site consisted of several glorious valleys with far reaching views, some horrendous roads, and five river crossings. The final Time Trial had a maze of roads wandering off at angles to the main track, and at times, looked totally confusing, as nothing was very clear which was the main track….the navigators for sure decided the best results on this one, as it took an agile ability to mix trip-meter with Tulip road book and GPS while trying to read the road to chose the best course.

Tomorrow, we are off to the Russian border. Another country, and another stack of adventures in store, now awaits. At 9.0pm, all are accounted for, except that the Rolls Royce of Richard Auchincloss is on a tow-rope with Simon Ayris in attendance, and the Volvo is awaiting a similar rescue. Their dinner is going cold…

The Struggle for Survival… Day 8 Tariat to Uliastay

SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2010

Peking to Paris Motor Challenge update. More about the race here

Among many with problems on Day 8, Daniel Schlatter & Rabia Tarzi have a broken differntail on their Bentley

What’s the best way to end a terrible day? A row of square cubicles has been set up on a river bank, overlooking another vast open plain, and it’s here that you can snatch a hot shower. Burning logs under a large round drum heat the water and it comes out the shower head at just the right temperature. After a day of grinding over back-jarring pot-holes, deep ruts, and washaways, this has been the hardest day so far.

Max Stephenson in a Vauxhall, competing in the Pioneer Category, started his day with two broken front springs. These were fixed in the morning, Charles Bishop lending one, and the car was soon on its way. It’s been so punishing today even the La France has been in trouble – a cracked chassis and a holed radiator, but it made the camp site under its own steam.

Rachel Vestey and Susie Harvey in a Plymouth had made a good start, up to 15th in the Vintageants, but today were sticken with sheared shackle pin in their rear suspension, it was bodged up enough for them to limp on for a bit and they have yet to make camp as dinner was served… it sounds as if they are in for a long night.

Bill Bolsover in a Chevy had been up with the leaders but today hit mechanical maladies. David Rayner was performing brilliantly in the little BMW Coupe but suffered steering failure due to the rough roads this afternoon. Hugo Upton and Nigel Gambier in the Lagonda have changed the clutch thrust bearing, and there was sad news for Garry Staples Senior in the white VW Beetle who collected a 12 hour lateness penalty after mechanical problems, which dumps him right out of contention for the time being in the Classics Category – his son, however, had a great day, arriving at the final time control bang on his minute, and beaming that it had been a wonderful day, driving his VW Cabrio.

The two MG SAs from Australia took it steady today, the crews arriving totally exhausted but both cars sounded far healthier than most.

Marco Rollinger in a Bentley suffered gearbox failure, and was being towed in. Ralph Auchinshloss has had a torrid time with electrical bothers with his Rolls Royce, they came in last night with no lights. The pretty silver Tatra Coupe air-cooled V8 disappeared off the radar after a timing chain came loose, causing enough chaff to damage a big-end, but this was repaired in Ulaan Baatar and re-joined us this morning, having got to the camp at around 3.0am…. we hear however they have been in trouble again during the day.

Saddest sight of the day was the pretty little blue Renault 4CV, which was parked forlornly on a truck with the front nearside wheel missing, having suffered suspension failure again.

We have driven through some truly fantastic scenery, the sort of stuff you only see on a film set for epics such as Lord of the Rings, but for most of us, we have bigger things on our minds. Such as our quest for reaching the far side of the Moon.

The Land That Time Forgot… Day 7 Kharakorin to Tariat

SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2010

Peking to Paris Motor Challenge update. More about the race here

Chevrolet Fangio Coupe bow wave - Steve Hyde and Janet Lyne leading the Vintageant category

The landscape had regained its clear sharp colours by the time the final crews tumbled down the wooden steps of the old village hall where breakfast had been hastily served. The line up for a cauldron of hot porridge, with salads in the centre, and fried eggs and omelettes coming out of two frying-pans at the far end of the queue had started at 5.30 am.

At this time of the morning, the horizon was nothing more than a brown smudge where the far mountains join the sky, changing gradually to a purple streak as the rising sun climbs over the dark summits, presenting yet another big sky across a vast plain. Like a shoal of iron filings being pulled by a mysterious magnet, we seem compulsively drawn further and further down into Middle Earth. By the time the first car fires into life, the dusting of frost across 500 miles of grass begins to thaw.

Robert Kitchen and Alan Page in one of the mobile-workshops were bracing themselves for another hectic day. Their final job before finding their bed before midnight had been to fix two punctures. Earlier they had sorted out a small electrical fire in Car 81, Jean and Anne Stenhauser’s monster La Salle Cadillac, and rebuilt the valve-gear of the pink Chevrolet Coupe of Toby Kilner, who happened to have a spare rocker arm…just what you need when you’ve just broken one.

Highlight of today has been three river crossings. The first was a real sort-out, as it was wider, and deeper, than anything found on the original route survey due to recent freak rains. The day was shorter than the last two days at a mere 320 kilometres, and contained two Time Trials – sections timed to the second, otherwise known as Selectifs, on dirt tracks.

We continued our way down a vast wide valley fringed with mountains on either side, and ended up pitching our tents beside a large tranquil lake. The final run into camp was an appallingly rough road and it was enough for Daniel Ward’s Lancia Theta to again break a front stub-axle. We hear he has managed to find a local blacksmith to weld the two halves back together again.
Driving the Impossible

Chevrolet Fangio Coupe bow wave - Steve Hyde and Janet Lyne leading the Vintageant category

Others, however, have bigger problems. Car 101, Frank Bird from Australian in a Holden is back in Ulaan Bataar, engine parts have arrived and they hope to catch us up by Sunday. Tim Scott on the motorcycle is on a truck and hopes to meet us at the Russian border. Bruce Washington from New Zealand in a 1929 Chrysler has failed to sort the big-end problems so they hope to buy a local car and catch us up to tour the route, and Roger Allen and Maggie Gray have bought a local car through a local mining company, and also plan to play catch-up having given up on their La Salle. The Stutz of Andrew Bailey and Micky Gabbett ran out of petrol at the end of the day today, succeeded in getting a tow to the petrol station they had missed, only to find that all supplies of petrol had run out. The second Stutz of David Berks and Bob Bradfield hit one of the river crossings with just too much gusto, causing the fan to be pushed through the radiator. This becomes the second incident of a stuffed radiator caused by a fan. The Rolls Royce Phantom of George Howitt arrived at the camp site with a broken front spring and an exhaust downpipe squashed flat – Andy Actman and Ian Langford of Lenham Sportscars are grafting in a section of fresh pipe. The spring can wait, says George, until he finds a village. Leaf-spring repairs by local “trucksmith” are everywhere.

The last half of today has been down appallingly rough roads. It seems to have suited the big La France with its tractor-like tyres on big wooden wheels as it was the 10th car into the camp tonight, arriving ahead of the Porsche 356 of American Steve Harris.

Steve Hyde in the yellow Chevy needed a tow out of a river and dropped a lot of time, but made up for it by setting good times of the two Time Trials to retain his lead in the Vintageants. Michael and Anne Wilkinson in their Alvis SA are second with the Chrysler 75 of Michael Thompson and Andrew Davies in third.

Gerry Crown leads the Classic Category but Garry Staples Junior in the red VW Beetle Cabrio took some time off the Holden, and was ten minutes quicker than his dad – the white VW however arrived at the camp looking immaculate, their only problem being a missing hubcap.