Syd Stelvio - London to Lisbon Day 11
Curia to Lisbon – 297km
The sky above the Curia Palace Hotel was an unfamiliar grey this morning, the Art Deco building looked no less magnificent for it though, and the gloomy weather would do nothing to dampen the spirit of the rally, as the cars departed for their final day of competition. Champions elect, the Baines, left last in the Silver Porsche, one minute after their nearest rivals for the prize, and the current London to Lisbon champions, Graham Platts and Neil Ripley. Three regularities and a test remained for the chasing Healey to eat into the lead of the Silver Porsche, and three regularities and a test remained for the Baines to defend their lead. Who would triumph?
The final step of the podium wasn’t settled either, with 3rd, 4th and 5th spread across 19 seconds, with the MG B of Dave Maryon and Henry Carr fighting off the Porsche 911 of Evandro Gueiros and Ivo Tavares, and the Austin Healey Mk 3 of Richard Bowser and James Bowser. Further down the table, the individual class results were looking a little more settled, but with the best part of 300km to go, and plenty of difficulty built into the regs, it pays to remember that it doesn’t take much to upset the apple cart.
The Baines were out of the traps like they meant business, dropping only a second on the first reg, putting a little bit more of a gap between them and second. Other cars managed better though, with zeros across the timing points for the third placed MG B and the Bentley of Oliver Treutlein and his novice navigator George Barrett, the MK2 Jaguar of Roger and Rosa Maria Hermkes, Jan and Hannes Malmgreen in the Datsun and Agnete Segalstad and Rasmus Robak.
The final test of the rally was up next, with a circulation of the Funpark Kart Circuit. If the Baines have had one Achillies heel it has been the tests, and they would indeed finish fifth in their class, and lose 5 seconds to second place, but still held a 20 second cushion heading into the final pair of regularities of the rally. There was a slight delay at the test, due to a three wheeled Escort blocking the circuit. An unusual occurrence for this rally, I know, but for the third time Pete Brunton and Pete Chudleigh had lost a wheel. This time though, it was a tyre rolling off the rim that had caused the Ford to buck, and then eject the opposing wheel clean off of the hub. Not that it stopped either of them smiling.
Down to the final two regs then, and surely it was going to take a terrible mistake or a mechanical to switch things around now. The regularities were to be no procession though; they were long and included plenty of elements to keep the navigators on their toes. The penultimate reg in particular would be the one to do any sorting, if any were to be done.
There would be problems as well with time incurred all over the field, including one of the top two and this regularity would prove to be the deciding point of the rally. It was a tale of two halves for those fighting for the win, as one pairing dropped just one second on the regularity, whilst the other dropped time, and lots of it. Graham Platts and Neil Ripley would be the victims this time round, losing 1:30, sealing the victory for the Baines. It must be said though, that even if the Healey had scored perfectly, it would not have been enough to close the gap to the Silver Porsche, the father and son team of Dick and Harry were imperious again, saving their best ‘til the last. Victory was theirs and well deserved. In the end the margin was 1 minute and 5 seconds. On their second win in this competition navigator Harry spoke for both parties at the finish, “It’s great to be back here, it’s our third time and our second win, though the first in this car. We’ve had heat, mountains and all of the usual issues but we’ve made it, and very happy to be in first place! Well done to Graham and Neil and Dave and Henry.”
Graham Platts and Neil Ripley then finish second and pass the baton of victory back to the Baines, after a nightmare regularity at the end. Thankfully, their joker removed some of the pain, and at the end of it all the pair were pleased but somewhat rueful. Graham offered his thoughts, saying: “We’re a bit disappointed as we were competitive until yesterday, but they’re so good we had to be perfect. Congratulations to them and on balance we are happy to be second.” Neil added, “We’re great right up until day 10, so if HERO are planning any 9-day rallies, we would be very interested in entering!”
In third place were Dave Maryon and Henry Carr, one of the most experienced crews on the event, having competed in countless London to Lisbon rallies, and many others together. Dave declared it had been fantastic fun and Henry passed on his thanks to all of the competitors and crew for a great event.
So now we reach the end of the adventure, another rally is concluded, and we will go our separate ways. But not before we celebrate the achievements of everybody this evening and our winners receive their trophies. Huge congratulations to Dick and Harry Baines, who are becoming perennial winners. They have once again been the team to beat, and we offer them hearty congratulations. Until the next time…
Syd.