Syd Stelvio, Peking to Paris 24 | Day 34 – San Marino to Genoa – 486km

The microstate of San Marino hosted our travelling band of adventurers, once we had left the confines of our ferry across the Adriatic. The welcome was convivial, and despite the weather not being quite so good as we have been used to, there were still plenty of people out on the streets on the climb up to the republic, but then what could one expect, after all petrol flows in the veins of people from this part of the world.

Close by, there are the circuits of Imola and Misano, homes of the San Marino Grand Prix on four and two wheels respectively, and our route on day 34 would also skirt close to the home of Ducati in Bologna and pass nearby to the circuit of Mugello as well, motorsport is almost inescapable in this part of the world.

The enthusiasm continued into the morning after our arrival, when onlookers gathered to watch the cars compete in a test on the narrow streets of San Marino, including state dignitaries and a film crew that interviewed each driver in turn at the finish of the test. Unfortunately, the authorities seemed to have mixed up the words ‘test’ and ‘procession’, perhaps thinking that our cars would be driving the ancient streets in the fashion of the reprised Mille Miglia. Sadly, this meant that the test could not be run as designed, and was cancelled, with the cars driving the planned route one by one and enjoying the fanfare at the finish. The first car to the finish, was car 1b, piloted by a lone Tomas de Vargas Machuca, who has returned to the rally in a Bentley to finish the last few days with us complete with molten passport, after the demise of the LaFrance.

Tomas would be returning to a full-on workout, as today would feature very little highway, with long sections on winding mountain roads that worked car and driver hard, especially those in pre-war machines. For the most part, these roads flowed well, but there was certainly no hiding the fact that we were back in amongst the more populated parts of the world, as we shared the sinuous ribbons of asphalt with cyclists, walkers, learner drivers, tractors and everything in between. It was frustrating at times, but somewhat unavoidable as we get closer to our goal.

The two regularities of the day did take place on quieter sections, the first occurring on the old roads that ran beneath the motorway that had superseded them, and a second regularity that may as well have occurred in the dark, as it ran up hill in a dense woodland. The track for this was part dirt, part old cobbles, but rather than slowing people down, most penalties were incurred for early arrival on a long run to the timing point.

The regularities ran mostly without incident, although the leaders in the Classic Category and top of the table overall, car 93 of Matt Bryson and Mike Pink, did pickup a hefty amount of time penalties on the first reg, 1 minute and 42 seconds to be precise, which spies tell me was down to a case of fat fingers on the road book and turning over too many pages at once – causing them to follow the reg 2 instructions. Of course, Matt is one of our Antipodean cousins, and as we know everything down under is upside down, so maybe they just had the Aussie road book today. Whatever the reason for the error, it allowed second placed Lars and Annette Rolner to close the gap between them considerably heading into the final couple of days of competition.

During the afternoons road section there was another round of hospitality for the competitors, as they travelled through the town of Camporgiano where the residents and organisers of the La Parata del Sogno, or the Dream Rally, had laid on a welcome party, complete with people in traditional dress and gifts, in the town square. It was getting late in the day now, and after so many miles of intensive driving the energy of the townsfolk was a welcome pick me up for the final run into Genoa.

Tomorrow, we begin the day with a test, and, more significantly, cross our final border as we reach the last country of the rally on the penultimate day of competition. Tomorrow evening will be spent in Aix les Bains, or Aches and Pains, its more appropriate nickname. Just three more days now to put up with those aches and pains, before glory awaits in Paris.

Syd.