RTG Hanoi Daily Dispatch - for website 2 - Flipbook - Page 31
day 16: Vientiane to Vang Vieng, 12 February 2024
Nigel Dowding and Mary Antcliff, 1934 Aston Martin Mark II
Finally the vientiane traffic delivered us to the last test
of the day at the laos stadium some 8km along the road.
this took us out of the city towards two time Controls
and one Passage Control through some dusty towns, along
some dusty roads and in amongst all manner of livestock
including a gaggle of geese.
the first Control was at somseng Farm, a perfect
opportunity to cool down and wash away some of the dust,
before beginning the largely tarmac trek towards lunch
at the long ngum time Control - overlooking the huge
reservoir of the same name.
sticky rice, chicken and fish set the crews up for a short
afternoon of interesting rural roads towards the night halt,
with the lao China expressway to our left.
a Passage Control at the mid-way point offered some
respite from the potholes and the heat as we rolled up the
nam song river valley.
Photos: gerardbrown.co.uk
Slightly battered the Chevrolet Fangio of Daniel Sauter and Severin Senn
Ean and Alison Lewin, 1973 Ford Escort RS1600
it wasn’t an easy day for everyone, daniel sauter changed
his navigator, martin ruebel’s seat is now occupied by
severin senn. unfortunately, on his first day, their Chevy
ended up a little bruised after an unexpected meeting with
a tree during the third test. at the night halt the crew,
along with the sweeps, began looking at getting the grille
knocked back into shape. gary and martin Brauns also had
some trouble, but enjoyed an interesting day in vientiane
straightening their steering. dropping a wheel into a sunken
drain - also on the third test - meant a return to the capital
for their mercedes. after shortcutting up the expressway,
the crew made it to the night halt well before lights out.
at the amari hotel, dinner was another poolside buffet,
under a sky filled with countless Chinese lanterns and,
only a couple of days from the Chinese new year, a waxing
crescent moon.
Melvin Andrews and Barry Douglass, 1936 Bentley DHC
www.rallytheglobe.com
