On the road again

The next day, when we received our results, it was clear that we were not really in the race anymore with 80.000 points at once! It was very different from our ranking after the 1st day (76st!). But we nevertheless took the road again on the Tuesday to go to Monaco. Different conditions, much less snow, good ZR's and magnificent places to drive through. Lakes, mountains, and as usual friendly people on the road to cheer us up.
A last CH in Eze to regroup and Monaco, here we are! First arrival on the podium, collecting the gifts, the places for the dinner the next day. A short break in the hotel - very different from the previous ones ;-) and back on the harbour to have a meal and see the others go off for the famous "Nuit du Turini". But that's for tomorrow ...

Photos!

At the left side, the photos of the blog in a dioparama, more photos of our Monte Carlo.

Other very nice photos of the 2008 edition on Olivier's blog

Where it goes wrong ...

Start from Valence again for the "étape commune". The first RT of the day is a well-known one: le Col de l'Echarasson, a forest road opened only for us. Going up to the top is usually, I said usually, not a problem at all. But this time it was ... At a certain moment, in a straight line the car starting gliding towards the ditch and nothing to do, it gently went into it! Fortunately, no harm, we are ok, the car is ok. We are just out of the car and we hear a "bang". 200m higher a Volvo is also out. We run all ways to try and see whether someone could get us out but we have to wait for a truck. It takes time because they are quite busy, or at lunch ... In the meanwhile, we improvise a little pick-nique with the Austrians, putting together our reserves: chocolat, apples, snaps, ... And all together, the photo shows we looked quite "a happy bunch". We also have help from Belgian fans who came and helped out. Even the truck had problems to get the car out, it had to be fixed on a tree and finally we can go. But too late to do the other regularity stages of the day and we go immediately to the CH of Serre-Chevalier where we arrive in time. We go in and out the ice-track and to Briançon, the parc fermé, to check the car and prepare for the next day.

Etape de classement

First regularity stages on Sunday, after a good night of sleep.
We start again, with the car fixed by our assistance.

After the 4 regularity stages, we are doing well and are 76th at the end of the day.
Up to there, we meet our goals!

The concentration: Reims - Valence

We arrived in Valence on the Thursday and had a first official dinner - the first social event of the rally, not the last - offered by the local authorities and automobile club. It's already the moment to meet again competitors of last years, see new faces and make the first small chats. After a good night of sleep, 22 hours of driving were foreseen between Reims and Valence before the actual regularity stages would start. This means that after having completed the administrative and technical control Friday late morning and afternoon, a second social event took place at the city hall of Reims before the start of the first car at 19h00. We started just after 20h00.
A strange organisation in a CP (contrôle de passage) in Cézanne where the locals didn't make the difference between a CP and a CH (contrôle horaire) and only let in one car per minute ... This means we lost about 20 precious minutes as time is always quite tight. And then we met the snow for the first time. Normal will say "those who know": the "plateau de Langres" is well known for this. And we go from CP to CH with local organising committees who very kindly foresee coffee, soup, breakfast, lunch, ... not sure any more in which order ;-)
Nothing really special to mention untill the car begins to lose power. Just before Valence, no power at all any more, the motor gives the impression to stick as soon as we try to give gas. Lots of people look, give their opinion - they always know better - and after discussion with the assistance, we try to get to Reims, thanks to a helpful service car of another team. Some more trying just in front of the CH and we get into the "parc fermé". Fortunately, we are allowed to have a look and Jean-Pierre finds that there is no grease at the rotor, the "vis patinées" stay open. He can fix it and we know we can start again the day after...

We're back

We'll come back in the next few days with more report but it wasn't as good as expected ... you'll see!

Last evenings ...

Anna arrived yesterday in Brussels, some checks and a nice evening in Retromobilia - thank you Marc - restaurant and home of the Ecurie du Val d'Or (photos to follow).
Tonight viewing of "Asterix aux Jeux Olympiques" to get into the Olympic mood, something Gary must remember very vividly!
And tomorrow, start to Reims for the first official part of the rallye: the dinner offered by the local Clubs.
At the time we'll then go to dinner, we'll think of Hans Sylvan - the only other Swedisch participant - and all the crews that start from Copenhague.

Weather forecast

Those who want a "real" Monte will be delighted! The weather forecast already gives snow in Reims for Friday night ... snow in Briançon as well, of course and rain in Sospel for the last night. Would that mean snow at the top of the Turini?
OK weather forecasts are never very accurate but I think we'll gonna take our snowchains in the car, you'll never know. Much more real conditions that the ones of the "real" Monte, although with so few cars, is it still that one that is the real one?

Thanks for the translation!

For those who don't read French, look at Gary's comment to the previous blog entry, you'll have a full translation of the article on the Monte.

We are so proud ...

To be mentioned in the same article as Vic Elford, winner of the 1968 edition the Rallye Monte Carlo and who will participate this year with the same navigator David Stone! Thanks to Carchannel and Etienne Visart.
Read the article on the Carchannel Blog

More blogging from Anna's fans

And more info for passionates on different continents:

Gary Faules: Here at Team California's Best Racing we are all very excited for you gals and wish you all the best speed and safety. Wow, two gals and a fast car... what more could we ask for? Good luck and please send us some reports as soon as you can.

Check out Gary Faules' blog

George Sullivan: Anna
I just found your site from Gary Faules site.We are coming back the the La Carrera in 2008 with the volvo.
Hope to see you in Mexico.

Check out George Sullivan's blog

The 60 anniversary of the Porsche 356

Yesterday evening Pat was invited, together with the Classic Club, to the Porsche stand at the European Motor Show in Brussels. Very pleasant evening and a new challenge to meet: the Porsche 356 is turning 60 this year! We'll do our best to wish it a very happy anniversary!

Time for more regular contacts

In a little bit more than 2 weeks, we'll start for Reims but in exactly two weeks Anna will already be flying to Brussels to that we can have a look together at the preparations we both made.
In the meanwhile, the e-mails and phone calls get more regular.
We received yesterday from the Association Reims - Champagne Véhicules Historiques Sportives our hour to present us and the car at scruteneering: 11h40 which means that we will be able to enjoy a long night and a late breakfast before driving a full night the day after!
The programme for Friday the 1st of January is:

• 11h40: scruteneering in the Parc des Expos in Reims,
• 16h20: convoy to the Town Hall,
• 18h00: cocktail offered by the Mayor,
• 19h00: start of the first car.

We will start around 20h00.
If you want to come and join us before the start, don't hesitate!

More Anna's fans!

Our blog is really on the World Wide Web, comments coming from all continents!
Thanks to all of these participants in the La Carrera Panamericana, Carson + Shields OPN (class car #433) and Francisco (Datsun 510 # 299).
Check out Francisco Ortiz blog.

Anna's Fanclub!

Gary Faules found what to do after the Carrera ... Cheering for us ! Thanks!
Have a look at After the Carrera

Happy new year - Gott Nytt År - Gelukkig nieuwjaar - Bonne année

Although everybody is telling us "Happy new year - Gott Nytt År - Gelukkig nieuwjaar - Bonne année", it actually seems as if the new year will begin with the Rallye Monte Carlo Historique!
Some have great celebrations on the 31st of December, we'll start ours on the 31st of January. Some elements will be the same: champagne (of course, we start in Reims), friends, shared passion, ... some will be different: no extensive meal to start with, cars, driving, calculating, ...
But the most important shared element is "enjoy"!
So we wish you to enjoy every moment of this new year!