RALLY ROUND NEWS - December 2015

RALLY ROUND NEWS - December 2015 After three weeks of epic driving and unforgettable sights and encounters, all the Thunder Dragon Rally participants have now safely returned home. Whilst the experience will live with them for a lifetime, there is still time to catch up with their adventures to experience the unparalleled routes and cultural highlights and view the photos and videos in the Rally Round and participants' blogs.  If these reports and pictures have sparked your interest in our Driving Adventures, download your brochure from our website, email us or give us a call. We will happily give you further information or send you a brochure and look forward to hearing from you. 2016 Haka Classic Rally With more entries for the Haka Classic Rally in New Zealand reaching Rally Round HQ, the organisational efforts for this competitive 3-week rally in November 2016 are at an all-time high.     We have carefully selected some of New Zealand's top hotels and our Route Designer Rhys Nolan has used the Monit Rally G-200 to recce the route. He is currently putting together the comprehensive road book including spectacular drives and competition, some of which are on untarmacked surfaces. Meanwhile, the UK team are busy organising additional attractions and events which have become the trademark of Rally Round and make our Classic Driving Adventures appealing on all levels to create a truly unforgettable experience.    One of the memorable rally routes on New Zealand's South Island will include the "Forgotten World Highway", famed as the No. 1 scenic drive in New Zealandand among the top 10 driving routes in the world. It spans 150 km between Taumarunaui and Stratford, winds over mountain saddles and through the Moki tunnel. This stunning scenic road is mostly sealed and features numerous lookouts and panoramic views of Mt Taranaki, Mt Ruapehu, Mt Tongariro and Mt Ngauruhoe. Other highlights awaiting our rally crews include Mt Damper Falls and the tiny settlement of Whangamomona, which celebrates its independence every 2nd January with thousands of people flooding there to partake in traditional sheep racing, gumboot throwing, whip cracking and possum skinning. Perhaps it is a good thing that we will be there in November, instead.   In order to offer as many crews as possible the opportunity to take part in our amazing New Zealand Driving Adventure, we have partnered up with Hooters Vintage & Classic Car Hire in Napier. Hooters offer a self-drive hire option of their stunning vintage and classic car fleet, including a 1927 Buick Master Six Tourer, a 1930 Oldsmobile Model F, a 1937 Dodge D5 and 1953 Citroen Big 15. To find out more, visit the Hooters website or contact the Rally Round office. There are still spaces available to join us on the Haka Classic Rally from 30 October to 25 November 2016 and we would be delighted to receive your completed entry form. If you would like more information, simply download the brochure from the 2016 Haka Classic page of the Rally Round website. Alternatively you may send an email to the Rally Round office requesting your complimentary brochure or telephone us on +44 1252 794 100.   Haka Classic Rally - Current Entries   David Berks  /  Barbara Berks  -  1929 Chrysler 75 Karl Schäfer / Stephanie Schäfer - 1934 Rolls Royce 20/25 Jörg Lemberg  /  Petra Lemberg  -  1938 Lagonda LG45 Rapide Georg Lemberg  /  Isabel Peil  -  1960 Porsche Roadster Petr Uhlir  /  Petr Kejdus  -  1967 Jaguar Mk2 3.8 Andeas Pohl  /  Jaqueline Pohl  -  Car TBC Nathalie Pohl  /  Nicola Pohl  -  Car TBC Robert Peil  /  Gabi Peil  -  Car TBC Steven Harris  /  Hayden Burvill  -  Car TBC Justin Gan  /  TBC  -  Car TBC Adrian Shooter  /  Barbara Shooter  -  Car TBC Gerd Bühler  /  Birgit Deymann-Bühler  -  Car TBC John Horton / Jonny Horton - TBC Alastair Caldwell / TBC - TBC 2016 Paris-Vienna Rally We are delighted to announce that Fred Bent's Recce Report for the Paris-Vienna Rally 2016 is now complete and can be accessed and downloaded by clicking on the picture above right. It includes the road types and conditions, detailed route as well as culinary and gastronomical highlights of the rally, such as the stunning start location, the Chateau de Bourron (pictured above right) in Bourron-Marlotte/ Fontainebleau.    The latest confirmed entry for the Paris-Vienna Rally 2016 comes from Thunder Dragon Rally competitor Mark Robinson, whose entry form we were pleased to receive only a week after his return from Bhutan and India, where he took part in Rally Round's unparalleled tour with his co-driver Yvonne Fuller in his 1937 Rolls-Royce 25/30. Of course, Mark is no novice to the rally world - he has already competed on several different continents including the South American Challenge and Paris-Madrid Rally 2014.   Mark's entry takes the field of competitors for the Paris-Vienna Rally 2016 to 42 confirmed entries, with some competitors waiting for confirmation of co-drivers to send in their entry forms. As previously mentioned, there is still time to take part in our Paris-Vienna Competition to win a free entry for this rally worth £ 5,500, which will be drawn at the London Classic Car Show in February 2016. We will also add all current entries into the competition box to give them a chance to win.  As the latest development, we are excited to let you know that competitors of the Paris-Vienna Rally 2016 will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to book a flight in a Zeppelin airship near Lake Constance on day 2 of the rally. Operating out of the largest hangar in Southern Germany, the Zeppelin NT can accommodate up to 12 passengers and flights are offered to the rally crews on a first-come, first-served basis. Flights cost 210 euros per person for 30 minutes or 320 euros for 45 minutes, to be paid to the Rally Round office on confirmation. Further information can be found on the website of the Deutsche Zeppelin Reederei GmbH or from the Rally Round office. To enquire or confirm your interest, please contact us as soon as possible, by 15th January 2016 at the latest.   Those of you who would like to participate but do not have a suitable car ready could participate in a classic or vintage hire car from Classic Averne Vintage Car Hire. Among the  cars on offer are a Mustang, TR4 and an MGA - please see the company website for details.   Please visit our Paris-Vienna page to view or download a brochure and online entry form, email or call us on +44 1252 794 100 for any queries or to order your complimentary copy of the rally brochure and recce report.     Paris-Vienna Rally - Current Entries   Peter Roberts / Colin Beasley - 1905 Bianchi Speedster 50 HP David Royds  /  Natasha Newman  -  1917 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost John Harrison  /  Catherine Harrison  -  1917 La France Roadster Charles Bishop  /  Nellie Bishop  -  1924 Vauxhall 30-98 Mark Seymour  /  Chris Seaton - 1925 Rolls-Royce Silver GhostJeff Robinson  /  Glenda Robinson  -  1926 Dodge Brothers Tourer Albert de Mey  /  Nicolas Leonard  -  1927 Bentley Tourer John Raker  /  Melinda Raker  -  1928 Ford Model A Ken Fraser  /  Jane Fraser  -  1929 Bentley 4 1/2 litre William Brandt  /  Jo Brandt  -  1929 Chrysler 75 Le Mans Harry Jurgens  /  TBC  -  1930 Packard 740 Bob Meijer  /  TBC  -  1931 Bugatti T46 Roland D'Ieteren / Dominique Gasse - 1931 Invicta S Nicholas Phillips  /  Barbara Phillips  -  1932 Alvis Speed 20 Arthur Manners  /  TBC  -  1933 Lagonda M45 T7 Chris Evans  /  Nick Evans  -  1934 Lagonda M45 Simon Mackenzie-Smith  /  Charles Gooch  -  1934 Lagonda M45 Simon Shaw  /  Maria Shaw  -  1934 Bentley 4 1/2 litre Irvine Laidlaw  /  Christine Laidlaw  -  1935 BMW 319 John Burton  /  TBC  -  1935 SS 1 Tourer Melvin Andrews  /  TBC  -  1935 Bentley 3 1/2 litre James Mitchell  /  Anya Jackel  -  1936 MG TA Dougie Lawson /  Kate Lawson -  1936 Lagonda  LG45 DHC Mark Robinson  /  Simon Parfitt - 1936 London Talbot 105 Michael O'Shea  /  Clive Venning  -  1938 SS Jaguar MkIV Andrew Bailey  /  Philippa Spiller  -  Bentley (year and model TBC) Damian Perl  / Maria Perl  -  1955 Mercedes-Benz SL300 Coupe Steven Collins  /  Domonic Rowe - 1958 Jaguar  Pierre Hallet  /  TBC  -  1958 Jaguar Special (model TBC) Peter Holmes  /  Graham Clifton - 1960 Porsche James Fenner  /  Katja Fenner  -  1960 Porsche 356 BTS Jan Woien  /  Jan Erik Hansen  -  1962 Maserati 3500 GT Mike Chilman  /  Sally Chilman - 1964 Austin Healey Mk III Stephen Duckworth  /  Vanessa Duckworth  -  1965 Jaguar Mk2 3.4 Tom Hayes  /  Frank Donagh - 1965 Ford Mustang Michael Eatough  /  Peter Godwin  -  1966 Mercedes-Benz 230S Fintail Petr Uhlir  /  Petr Kejdus  -  1967 Jaguar Mk2 3.8 Rally Michael Kershaw  /  Marlies Kershaw - 1969 MG C GT Andrew Bailey /  Philippa Spiller  -   Bentley (year and model TBC) Gerd Bühler  /  Birgit Deymann-Bühler  -  TBC Tim Wilkinson  /  Julie Wilkinson  -  TBC Alastair Caldwell  /  TBC  -  TBC Return of the Thunder Dragons After some of the "most spectacular driving in the world" during the Thunder Dragon Rally 2015 (in the words of participant Max Stephenson and others), all the crews have now safely returned home. Much praise has been received for the Rally Round team for their vision, professionalism and tireless work and for our shipping partners CARS UK for the exceptional services they provided before, during and after the event. Another big "Thank You" goes to Mark Appleton for his excellent road book, which has been highly praised by the participants.   There is still time to follow the cars' and crews' heroic exploits and breathtaking experiences, enjoy the participants' blogs, photos, videos and stories to share their unforgettable and once-in-a-lifetime Driving Adventure to the Kingdom of Happiness on the Rally Round website and on Facebook.   Thunder Dragon Rally Competitors Max Stephenson / Julie Stephenson  (AUS)  -  1923 Vauxhall 23/60 Bill Bolsover / Biddy Bolsover  (GBR)  -  1927 Bentley 3/8-litre Chris Lunn / Nicola Lunn  (GBR)  -  1929 Bentley 4.5-litre Le Mans Sir Gerry Acher / Lady Joyce Acher  (GBR)  -  1931 Ford Model A Tourer David Cohen / Adele Cohen  (CAN)  -  1931 Ford Model A Mark Winkelman / Dorinda Winkelman  (USA)  -  1932 Plymouth PB3 Coupe Mark Seymour / Chris Evans / Louise Seymour / Sophie Evans  (GBR)  -  1936 Ford Type 68 Xavier del Marmol / Ines Bodmer  (BEL) - 1937 Chevrolet Master DeLuxe DHC Richard Cunningham / Paddy Walker  (GBR)  -  1937 Buick Coupe 40hp Mark Robinson / Yvonne Fuller  (GBR)  -  1937 Rolls-Royce 25/30 Frank Bird / Ross Oakman / Belinda Oakman  (AUS)  -  1939 Willys Sedan Jorge Ruiz / Agustin Panes  (SUI)  -  1955 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn Jose Romao de Sousa / Maria Romao de Sousa (POR) - 1956 MG Magnette Adrian Shooter / George Harding  (GBR)  -  1958 Morris Oxford Dougie Lawson / Kate Lawson  (GBR)  -  1959  Jaguar XK150 DHC   Peter McLaughlin / Jane Kitchel  (USA)  -  1965 Buick Skylark Jan van Gemert / Marion Huijbregts  (NED)  -  1965 Ford Mustang Alastair Caldwell / Snjezana Poljanec  (GBR)  -  1968 Porsche 912 Roger Allen / Maggie Gray  (AUS)  -  1971 BMW 2800 CS Alan Pontin / Carol Pontin  (GBR)  -  1973 Jaguar E-Type V12 DHC [Gerd Bühler / Birgit Deymann-Bühler (GER) - 1979 Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC]   And finally....! Now that Christmas and the New Year are almost upon us, we would like to wish you all a peaceful and joyful festive season and a happy and healthy 2016. Please read our Christmas blog here. We look forward to seeing many of you at the starting line of the Paris-Vienna Rally in June and/or the Haka Classic Rally in New Zealand in November for our next epic Driving Adventure. Happy and safe driving!