Category: Endurorally

It’s getting better…
The run today was 692kms with 140kms of it on gravel. What a difference! Denise was in her element Doing what she was designed for. Hit the road running and just kept going taking a few scalps on the way. We got back into contention as we got past cars that were highway designed and left us for dead on the freeway.
The country is vast and scenery fantastic but on the regularity gravel section we had little time to sight see. The dust coming from cars in front made vision almost obscured with the exception of a large stone thrown up into the windscreen and leaving a crazed break. Thank goodness for the laminated glass screen. It didn’t break up like a tempered glass would have.
At mid morning we stopped for tea at a small Welsh village called Ty Gwyn Casa De Te.

A nice break and with Welsh food being served. Wonderful fresh food. They also put on a children’s folk song and some local “Welsh” dancing. Nice.

We had a track race at a place called Mar y Valle, a long circuit and we did two rounds then off. A great run for Denise but there was no way we could beat the “bogey” time.
Still, good fun and we enjoyed.
We had to plan our fuel carefully today as the availability of fuel was inconsistent. There was one fuel station closed on route that we had planned on using. Luckily we had sufficient fuel until the next available stop.

Otherwise a good day including the things that we like to do so let’s hope the off-road sections increase and we can earn some points.

Some pics of the scenery

 

Short day tomorrow of 374kms.
Must add that we appreciate all the good work from those that helped to get Denise up to such a high standard before she was shipped. It has paid off and the car just hums along at speeds in excess of 110 when required but she cruises easily at 105kms mile after mile.
Will keep you all informed..

We were anxious about today with the high mileage to be covered. Nothing we could do about it so we clocked in and got underway. Denise started up fine. No problems here.
The route for the day included about 4 “fruit checks” by authorities to prevent the spread of some sort of fruit fly. So we’re advised not to take any fruit or ham.
A waste of time as the agents just looked at the cars and waved us through.
The first activity was based 261kms away at the Autodromo Viedma.
Quite a large sealed track which was set up for two separate circuits, and we could do them both at as fast as we could.
Really great. Denise continued to perform so well.
Then a 127km trek to the regularity of the day, 35kms of which were on “gravel”.
The Regularity is named Moby Dick? Don’t know why but it was on gravel and was 53kms in duration.

Scenes from the regularity section on gravel, what we had been looking forward to.

There was only one time check and we had to average speed to 80 kms per hour. We were checked 20kms on and covered the distance in 15 min and 11 seconds, 11 seconds slower than the required time. Not bad.  The rest of the gravel road could be traversed at any speed so we did. The area was close to the beach and the surroundings were really nice.

Then back to the reality of driving the last 270kms of distance to the final destination of the day.
Straight long Tarmac roads that disappeared into the distance, shimmying with the heat mirage.
On and on, the wind becoming cold and increasing in intensity to the degree that driving became hazardous. We were all over the road and passing vehicles was dangerous.
We arrived at our accommodation well within the required time schedule so we were not unhappy.
Weary, we showered and headed off for some refreshments and dinner. I don’t think that many will have a late night.
The next two days are rest days to attend to what may be needing attention on our cars.
The area is in a bay right on the sea and apparently whales are the tourist entertainment. So I guess that will be in the order too for the next days. Otherwise I don’t think there will be much to do.
Will report again when back on the road.
Adios for now.

Day one results have elevated Denise and her crew to 21 in the Classic car section. So far so good.
518 kms to cover today and we have to include lunch, a visit to the Fangio museum and a race around the Juan Manuel Fangio race track.
We commence a little earlier today at 8.00am and fuelled up at the first fuel station and headed south through the early morning traffic to get clear of the city and travel 77kms to the Fangio museum. The countryside is verdant and the little townships along the way reek of real poverty. There are incomplete multi-story buildings and houses from which the owner has just walked away. They must have had a serious economic storm here and it shows.
Further along towards the museum the poverty disappeared and very prosperous regions appear with beautiful buildings and homes became more abundant. These are farming regions where arable crops are growing in what can only be described as gigantic farm operations consisting of thousands of hectare ranches. Wheat, corn grains etc as far as the eye can see.
The sizes of these operations would leave NZ farmers for dead; I hope they don’t start growing Kiwifruit or putting up dairy farms.
At the museum the tale of the famous racing driver Juan Manuel Fangio is told and the car collection of so many race cars are displayed. A most valuable visit.

 

 

Car art made from mechanical scrap.

We then drove to the Juan Manuel Fangio Autodrome where we were tested for speed on two tracks, one quite compact and the other like an International raceway. We don’t know how we got on points wise but we went as fast as Denise could go. Neat!

Then onto the highway again for the next 98kms to a small cafe on the beach for lunch called Sotavento Mar Del at Necochea on the coast.
Hereafter the highway of 239 kms opened up before us in a seemingly endless straight road that just didn’t end.
The wind became stronger and stronger and the temperature increased so open windows were in the order of the day but uncomfortable in the incessant trade like winds.
Denise was purring and she performed magnificently. Cruising on the highway at 110 easily with few  competitor cars passing or catching up. A good ride but really monotonous. Tedious.
We had to be in at the time control station at 1840 hours but due to the planed extra speed in anticipation of heavy traffic in the city at this time of day that didn’t eventuate. Got in at 1741 hours.
Good hard day. Fades into insignificance though with 769kms to be covered on day 3!

This report is short due to the authors incompetence with technology.
Having written it out twice the reports have “disappeared ” miraculously.
So quickly, before we commence the second day this is how the first day eventuates.
Denise has the chance to show off her ability today after so many hours of preparation. She looks good and rearing to go. We’ve been allocated a slot to start at 9.30am and it’s raining. We are both ready to get underway and being Sunday the traffic is minimal.

The flag goes down and we head south for a couple of hundred kms on Tarmac out of the city to a race track at Autodrome Mouras. A sealed track we were required to get around twice as fast as we could manage. We did ok and Denise performed really well. Plenty of power when required though we weren’t going to push her too hard when just starting out.
Then onto a Regularity section of 30kms on a sandy dirt road that was dry and had lots of large ruts in the surface.
Good going and we did good times traveling at the average of 70kms. With one speed check.
Then onto lunch at Estancia Las Viboras, a large cattle ranch in the middle of nowhere like you would see in the movies. It’s about 30kms square.

A spit roasting large slabs of meat was to be lunch and we were all entertained with some horse corralling.

A good break in the day and on with rallying.
A Regularity at Old Macedo Station with a dirt rutted track but with more bends and interesting configurations. Again we thought we did well and Denise performed.
The flat lowland on the plain here are just huge with grasslands as far as the eye can see for hours and hours. All beef stock and populated on the land like we in NZ stock sheep. Unbelievable.
Then the stretch home on straight sealed roads to the Sheraton hotel at 1840 hours.
We all had a good day. The only points we could earn today were in the competition sections and not for getting to any point in particular time.
We hope that the next day’s will be more interesting as driving the Tarmac is somewhat boring. We’ll make the most of it and we are so glad that Denise can now keep up with the more sophisticated cars on the rally.
Reliability though is key and we’ve just started out. So watch out!!

Today, Saturday 12th Nov was a prep day after receiving the cars from the docks.
We fitted the electronic equipment into the cars and tested.
Denise is all well. No broken bones or seeping wounds (leaks of any kind).
Attended scruitineering at 9.00 am. Passed with flying colours as expected. All was in working order and were certified (The car).
We then formally registered at the desk and issued with our driving instructions. Two relatively thick route books and a map/chart folio showing basically how to get out of the city and onto the main roads. We read these in the hotel lobby to get conversant with rules and regulations.
Whilst sitting there a couple of contestants asked if we would like to go to a traditional cooking class in the Palermo area in the city as the original couple couldn’t make it. Free to us of course.
We had the time so hopped on a bus with six others, that took us on a tourist loop doing some sight-seeing on the way. Nice day and a good way to learn something about BA and Argentina and its culture and traditions.
At the cooking venue we were greeted somewhat belatedly as they had the timing confused but got underway with a wine tasting.

The workshop, the chefs fitted out and some culinary creations. We look more like sailors than chefs or rallyiers!

 

Then to make empanadas a traditional snack made from a pastry of flour water and butter and looks like a curry puff when baked. We were all had to make our own empanadas after being shown how and some interestingly shaped products were produced. Tasty when cooked and was an appetiser to the main meal of fillet steak. Then some tiny traditional sweet deserts.

Good fun and a little better informed of some of the Argentinian food traditions.
And not bad for some rally nuts.
Then back to the hotel at 3.00 to attend an information briefing detailing some of what was expected on the rally and formal meet and greet of the ERA personnel of the organisation including 2 emergency doctors. What are we expecting? Probably for some of the older competitors.
Not us.
Any way we finished and negotiated our way to a petrol station some 2 1/2 k’s away to fill up. Petrol is the same price as in NZ.
All done. Some final tweaking and parked up ready go.
Dinner and bed is in the order of the day for a fresh start.
The first day of the rally commences on Sunday morning, 13th at 9.00am allowing time to check out of the hotel etc.
We are the 30th car out of the blocks to start, allowing 1 minute for each of the cars to get underway so we actually depart at 9.30.
Will keep you informed!

On Thursday evening, all of the participants of the Trans America Rally were invited to celebrate Marco Halter’s birthday at a Tango club where he kindly shouted dinner and a traditional dance, tango and national song fest. Really great with beautiful dancing and entertainment. Most memorable and much appreciated by all. Beginning with a wine tasting exhibition and learning the art of how wine ought to be drunk. Like we don’t know how. Still, interesting stuff, then a three course meal and champagne.

Most generous considering nearly 25 people attended.
Home by bus at midnight, well past many people’s bed time.

The next day, Friday, began relatively early, 6.00am with breakfast and meeting up with the ERA sweeper team boys that served us so well on the previous two rally’s.
A walk around the city of Buenos Aires revealed a very colonial style city that boasts early Spanish architecture, beautiful to behold.

Unfortunately there is also much of the infrastructure that has been left unkempt and poorly maintained. Broken footpaths with road and verge repairs not done. Pity. Such a vibrant city.
We travelled by bus in the early afternoon to uplift the cars from the port.
Most cars had arrived with one or two not available due to shipping delays. So holding our breath and hope they arrive in time for the start on Sunday morning.
All cars in good condition though the process of clearing and officialdom was very lengthy with the last cars leaving the port around 6 pm.
Frustrating.
Still everyone was happy to get into their cars and drive them back to the hotel. Some beautiful cars. Denise started very easily and the sound of her motor was warming to the heart.
So on the way back to the hotel we spotted a couple of guys cleaning cars on the side of the road and we gave Denise a really good wash and polish. She gleamed and looked great. All for the price of NZ$8.00.
People over here do want to work and they get stuck in.
Tonight we have a briefing at 8.00pm and will receive our driving instructions and directions.
We’ll fill up with petrol tomorrow morning (NZ$1.80 per litre) and tweak a few things before getting ready to get underway on Sunday morning.
Itchy feet. Can’t wait to get underway.

One of the tango dancers and Stephen. She couldn’t resist him!

Some of the cars ready to be released from the port. There’s Denise in the corner.

 

A brief message to all of you who may wish to follow Stephen and Corgi on their exploits on the Rally of the Incas through South America.

We will both be on our way to Buenos Aries, Argentina, at the beginning of November to join nearly 60 other cars and their teams to undertake what looks like a very adventurous and hardy rally, much of it off road and exciting.

We  have asked Brooke to put up a website so that he can broadcast daily reports of our experiences and antics, as per the past two rally’s, the Peking to Paris and the Trans America Challenge.

It should make interesting reading, if you are so inclined to take the time to follow.

Our blog is: http://www.graveltravel.nz

I will post photos and what we think are interesting events for you to enjoy.

Thanks for taking interest.

Stephen and Corgi