RTG Hanoi Daily Dispatch - for website 2 - Flipbook - Page 26
day 13: Chiang Mai to Nan, 9 February 2024
Peter and Louise Morton, 1972 Rover P6
with the Pethlanna time Control gave the crews a chance
to compare notes, take on some refreshments and admire a
dead snake which Jim mclaren had uncovered somewhere
along the route.
We’d dropped down from the hills now and, via a tinderdry landscape of scorched shrubs and skeletal trees, we
crunched through thick carpets of desiccated teak leaves
and pushed on to the lunch time Control located some
85km away in the Chidlom restaurant on the shore of the
Kwan Phayao. this large, shallow lake boasts 50 species of
fish; one of which appeared on the menu with a delicious
garlic, ginger and chilli dressing!
if the morning’s drive had provided an overture then surely
the crescendo of the day came with the long and challenging
regularity beginning at the mae rong sak reservoir which
bounced the crews for 12km alongside rubber, mango and
banana plantations. Concrete, gravel and tarmac were all
represented through this section with a couple of timing
points and a speed change thrown in for good measure. this
meant both crew members had to be fully engaged in this
test of driving prowess and cerebral fitness. John and gill
Cotton were responsible for stopping the clocks after which
the rally enjoyed something of a break at a Passage Control
in the love t Coffee station which proved to be very popular
along the last sinuous section to the night halt.
the provincial town of nan subscribes to the “slow life
philosophy” of this beautiful region and the nantrungjai
Boutique hotel, in which we’re billeted, certainly proved
to be an ideal place to unwind after an exhilarating day.
unfortunately, hans-martin and mahnaz schneeberger’s
mercedes found the day to be slightly too taxing. the big
red 350sl arrived at the hotel on the back of a truck after
suffering once again from mysterious ignition problems.
the crew, along with Charlie neale and andy inskip, sat
down to a very late dinner.
Hans-Martin and Mahnaz Schneeberger, Mercedes-Benz 350 SL
Tony Rowe and Mark Delling, 1939 Ford Coupe V8
David and Jo Roberts, 1929 Chrysler 75 Roadster
Photos: gerardbrown.co.uk
www.rallytheglobe.com
