WEVO engineering smartypants Hayden Burvill, and his Porsche-road-trips-for-the-soul cohort Steven Harris, have been given the thumbs up to take part in the 2010 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge.
Carrying the same DNA that spawned the Paris-Dakar, Peking to Paris is perhaps the ultimate test of ingenuity and endurance, communicated through the medium of classic cars. A friend of a friend took part in this ’59 356 a while back but sadly didn’t get very far:
This year’s event starts on the 10th September in – you guessed it – and finishes 37 days later in – yes, right again. With just four days off in the planned schedule, the rally name is a masterstroke of understatement.
Driving any car from Peking to Paris in 32 days would be a test, let alone something like David Ayres’ 1907 Itala 40, or Jonathan Turner’s 1918 Stutz Bearcat. The participants’ willingness to inflict potentially terminal punishment on these innocent and valuable old cars shows the strength of the torch competitors carry for the spirit of the event. It is breathtaking.
The vehicles to be used represent a stunning cross section of vintage, historic and classic: 13 cars from the pre-1921 era, 75 from the ’20s to the ’50s and 23 pre-’68 machines. The average age of the cars may well be higher than the average age of the drivers.
Though Hayden and Steven will be competing in a 1964 356, and thus (we assume) in relative comfort, there are still huge challenges to be faced. Not of least of these will be getting a 46 year-old 1600cc car, carrying two full-grown guys and a substantial amount of kit and fuel safely and reliably across some of Asia’s highest roads, back to the bosom of genteel European society.
Drag out your atlas and tell me this trip is not going to give our intrepid pair a lifetime’s memories. Following the historic Silk Route, they start with two days driving in China, before entering Mongolia via a border post that was closed by Chairman Mao and reopened by a rally organisers’ passion.
The drive across Mongolia – itself the size of mainland Europe west of Stuttgart – takes the cars through epic terrain: the Khangai mountains and Gobi Altai. Russia is next, followed by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkey, Greece, Italy and France; an expected total of 14,600kms.
Mexicar is Steven’s short wheel base 911 built especially for classic rallies, but Mexi is sitting out this trip. Seen here wearing ‘Namste’ plates, new arrival Lola is currently enjoying a makeover, to set her up for what the boys say ‘ should be a whole lot of fun’. Methinks she doesn’t know what she’s in for. Namaste for sure!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I am very much looking forward to following this trip. Any thoughts of doing this yourself?
If you need a sherpa to manage your luggage, I am sure I could arrange 38 days off
A trip of a lifetime, and with fond memories of seeing those 2 belgian lads (post on pelican) head off across Asia Minor, into Asia Senior, and Junior and all the rest, including Iran, it really does give you silly ideas about what is possible etc.
Would be cool no?! We would have a proper laugh. The Belgian guys came past my house on their way to China, stayed a few days at Tuthill's place having some work done (sumpguards etc). Few pics of their visit on Pelican.