RtG Japan Daily Dispatch - day00 - Flipbook - Page 32
18 September to
16 October 2025
Day 16 Fuji to Shimoda (208km)
4 October 2025
Photos: gerardbrown.co.uk
Nigel and Sally Woof, 1971 Datsun 240Z
David and Jo Roberts, 1929 Chrysler 75 Roadster
Fujisan, a UNESCO World Heritage site and ‘sacred
place and source of artistic inspiration’, was still
sleeping under a blanket of cloud this morning as
early morning rain fell on the rest of us. Today we
set a course for the Izu Peninsula, an area famous
for its wasabi and rugged beauty.
Blinking into the daylight, the rally found itself at the
West Izu Skyline Passage Control, where Loren Price and
Into Japan’s Jamie El-Banna were waiting in the wind and
rain with clipboards and time stamp.
The following Yes Right Regularity balanced out the
tricky Yes Left one we’d enjoyed on day five. Thanks to
eleven days’ practice, it was heartening to see how much
better communication between driver and navigator had
become! Any blame laid squarely on the shoulders of the
Tripmeter. Any disagreements and recriminations that
might have arisen were left at the door of the Time Control
Green Hill Toi, where, despite the cool and damp weather,
the tea-flavoured ice cream was a popular choice.
A wet and foggy climb to the Kazehaya Pass Regularity
followed, where we were assured that the views would have
been superb if the weather had been on our side. Rain or
shine, nothing could take away from the quality of the roads
and the 56km to lunch took in countless switchbacks to a
Time Control at the Irozaki Ocean Park on Cape Irozaki, the
most southerly point of the Izu Peninsula.
The nearby lighthouse was built in 1871 by Richard
Henry Brunton, known as the “Father of the Japanese
lighthouse” and the short walk there was the ideal way to
The organisers had bestowed an easy start, with a 55km
expressway dash to a Time Control in the Café Umi no
Stage. Elevated sections flew us over whatever rush hour
traffic lay beneath, whilst deep cuttings rushed us through
the rugged mountains towards the north eastern quarter
of Suruga Bay and a welcome cup of coffee at the mouth of
the Kouchi River. Having collected their refreshments, the
crews made their way through a flower bower and past an
orange grove towards Owen Turner and Russ Smith, who
had pulled up a couple of garden chairs on the terrace.
A run along the coastline of the Izu Peninsula followed
before the Regularity from Heda took the cars through
another steep section of long-forgotten forest. Here the
bright green Joro spider reigns supreme under a thick
canopy of tall, light-blocking trees.
www.rallytheglobe.com
