RTG Hanoi Daily Dispatch - for website 2 - Flipbook - Page 5
day 1: Hồ Chí Minh to Dalat, 28 January 2024
Melvin Andrews and Barry Douglass, 1936 Bentley DHC, before
breaking and temporarily fixing a manifold
From the track there was then an easy run towards the
hills and two successive time Controls, the first in the
Panorama Cafe set amidst a working rubber plantation.
Coffee was served overlooking trị an lake and then, some
70km further down the road, the rally enjoyed a traditional
lunch at suõi hõng.
the postprandial regularity, the tram dùng, was
perhaps the day’s highlight running through a red earth
maze of banana and coffee plants. We were climbing all the
time and, on rejoining the tarmac to the night halt, we were
hovering at around 1300m. the road rose and fell through
the forests of southern vietnam’s Central highlands and,
just as the sun was setting, we slipped into the car park of
the magnificent dalat Palace heritage hotel. this French
colonial throwback had maintained its charming ambience
sat high on the lang Bian plateau. the rooms were declared
to be superb, the wine list was more than adequate and
Photos: gerardbrown.co.uk
Keith and Norah Ashworth enjoying the breeze in the Bentley 4½ Le Mans
Clive Hopkins and Charles Gooch, 1965 Ford Mustang Convertible
Mick and Grace de Haas, 1966 Mercedes 230 SL
the dinner of asparagus, steak and artichoke proved an
exquisite way to end a very satisfying day.
manuel and irene dubs sadly missed this old-world
splendour. their rockne suffered gearbox failure shortly
after the morning test. it’s now back in ho Chi minh City
looking to repair and rejoin at the soonest opportunity.
there were mechanical dramas for another two crews today.
richard everingham and Judy Becker’s Bentley got jammed
in reverse after backing up to let a local truck get past during
the regularity. Jamie turner and russ smith removed both
the top and bottom of the box and, like a pair of automotive
osteopaths, skilfully manipulated the delicate internals back
to working order. melvin andrews and Barry douglass’s
Bentley broke its manifold thanks to a rougher section of
regularity. andy inskip and Charlie neale set about effecting
a running repair whilst melvin wasted no time arranging to
have replacement parts shipped out.
www.rallytheglobe.com
