RTG AlMex Daily Dispatch - FINAL - Flipbook - Page 3
27 August to
26 September 2023
Day 1
Anchorage to Fairbanks (618km)
28 August 2023
It was an early start when fred Gallagher sounded Le Réveil and dispatched the cars with a dignified
sweep of his old Glory, at a very damp and drizzly 7.31am. A Test and a regularity were on the schedule
today, getting the show on the road and some scores on the doors. we’d also reach the most northerly
point of the rally and enjoy spectacular scenery through the denali State park alongside the nenana river.
photos: Marcus rowe - gerardbrown.co.uk
Graham and Marina Goodwin and their 1927 Bentley 4½ Le Mans
A Raceway start to the adventure, Steve and Jenny Verrall, 1965 Porsche
65km from the start, an easy run down the highway, Jim
Smith and dr John llewellyn got the first Test of the 2023
Alaska to Mexico Marathon underway at the suitably named
Alaska raceway. The crews were able to blow away any
cobwebs under a dramatic backdrop of threatening clouds
and imposing mountains.
In yesterday’s briefing fred Gallagher promised a lot of
gravel and, true to his word, a long regularity section of the
loose stuff followed within an hour. It led the cars through
the Talkeetna Mountains and over the 1184m Hatcher pass
towards the first Time Control at the Sheep Creek lodge.
The pass itself is a remote and wild place giving Gill and
John Cotton a full sub arctic experience as they chipped and
logged each timecard. The lodge, in contrast, is snug and
warm and proved to be just the place for the crews to take on
some lunchtime refreshment. Manuel dubs digestion was not
helped by needing to rebuild his carburettor.
Two passage Controls were strategically placed along the
afternoon’s route. The first one was aptly named the denali
View and the second was at the unique premises of the 49th
State Brewing Company, where the original bus from Into the
Wild took centre stage in the garden.
pike’s waterfront lodge in fairbanks is our billet tonight.
over dinner it seemed that everyone had a story to tell about
what has been a thoroughly impressive first day. It became
clear that Manuel and Irene dubs knew a thing or two about
carburettors because, despite (or maybe because of) their
lunchtime labours, they finished the day leading the Vintage
Category whilst ean and Alison lewin took an early lead in
the Classics.
Sadly, neil and Thomas Smith missed the fun today.
despite the best efforts of the sweeps and band of willing
locals, their Sunbeam Tiger was unable to make the start. But
the never say die crew have arranged for an engine builder to
fly out to Anchorage to begin the necessary repairs and they
hope to join us again in a few days.
www.rallytheglobe.com