RtG Japan Daily Dispatch - day00 - Flipbook - Page 7
Day 2: Asahikawa to Akankohan, 20 September 2025
led us neatly to a steep tarmac hill-climb and the superb
Rikubetsu Motorsports Park, for a well-signed Regularity.
The day’s finale, the Rick O’Betsu was another map-based
exercise on the most minor of tracks. The now experienced
crews took in their stride the run along an exposed ridge in
an area famed for its clean air and extreme cold in winter.
Once we’d dropped off the high ground, we struck out
towards the night halt in the Hotel New Akan in Akankohan
on the shore of Lake Akan. This crater lake has been
described as beautiful, but tonight, under leaden skies
and with heavy rain, we didn’t get to see its best side. The
weather didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits as they tucked into
another expansive Japanese buffet, featuring delicacies
from the local Ainu culture, indigenous to northern Japan.
It was quite the birthday supper for Manuel Dubs, whom
we wish many happy returns.
Richard Clark and Jonathan Round, 1940 Ford V8
Nick and Serita Sleep, 1964 Mercedes-Benz 230 SL
Ivan and Tisa Pusnik, 1939 Ford Coupe
Jorge and Ezequiel Perez Companc, 1939 Chevrolet Fangio Coupe
Photos: gerardbrown.co.uk
Smooth tarmac then delivered the cars to the Deer Gate
Regularity. This long, and occasionally rough, swathe of
forest introduced the crews to the intricacies of map-based
exercises and the art of Shinrin-yoku before Owen Turner
and Russ Smith stopped the clock and pointed them
towards the midday bento box at the Time Control in the
Ashoro Road Station.
Most crews enjoyed a trouble-free morning, but Mike
and Lorna Harrison’s Volvo suffered a broken suspension
mount on the way to lunch. The broken piece was quickly
replaced by the well-prepared crew, with help from Andy
Inskip and Charlie Neale.
After a busy morning, and the well-earned break, a Zenlike rally began the afternoon’s session with the So Kamuy
Regularity. More open and shorter than the previous
two, so as not to disturb the digestion, this gravel track
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