RTG Hanoi Daily Dispatch - for website 2 - Flipbook - Page 4
27 January to
23 February 2024
Day 1
Hồ Chí Minh to Dalat (361km)
28 January 2024
once these creases had been ironed out and the cars had
made their way to the start, it fell to loren Price to step
forward and wave her Quốc kỳ việt nam, the national flag,
whilst Fred gallagher looked after the timing.
david and Jo roberts were all smiles as they enjoyed their
first-ever outing as car number 1. leaving the arch they stole
carefully through the crowds of well-wishers towards the
start of the first test a few metres along the road. two laps
of a small, but perfectly formed, motor racing circuit got the
ball rolling and blew away any first-day rally nerves.
Photos: gerardbrown.co.uk
Car no. 1 for the event, the Chrysler 75 Roadster of David and Jo Roberts
Whilst we’d all thoroughly enjoyed our time in ho
Chi minh City, there was a feeling abroad that it
was time to get moving. so in the gloom of another
steamy saigon morning, we hit the road.
Plan a was a ceremonial start at the reunification Palace
but, due to extensive preparatory works for the upcoming
vietnamese new year celebrations, the risk of being snarled
up in some heavy traffic proved too great, so the organisers
went straight to plan B. this was also a ceremonial start, but
a little further out of town at the dai nam raceway, followed
by the first test of the event. it proved to be a masterstroke.
We enjoyed a cool and stress-free journey to an alfresco
breakfast under the watchful gaze of a big Buddha and the
chance to mix with the enthusiastic members of the saigon
Classic Car Club who, along with their vehicles, had turned
out in force to see us off.
there were some niggling issues to deal with before the
flag was waved. andy inskip attended to a slight fuel leak
from Philip and trish monks’ Jaguar, whilst Charlie neale
and ean lewin tried to work out why the escort was so
reluctant to start.
Kicking up the dust are Hans Ulrich Wartenweiler and Reinhard Siegfried
with their1973 Volvo 144
www.rallytheglobe.com
