RtG Ypres-Istanbul Daily Dispatch - complete - web - Flipbook - Page 38
Tony Rowe and Mark Delling, 1939 Ford DeLuxe V8 91A Coupe
John and Nicole Whitelock, 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL
The slightly crumpled Rover P5B of Barry Nash and Malcolm Lister
Our “band of brothers… and happy few” then set a course
for the mid-morning Time Control in the Greenhouse Cafe
in Panichkovo where the schedule allowed the crews to
take on some restorative refreshments. The third and
fourth Regularities around Zhenda and Bosilitsa came
in quick succession and saw us climbing once again into
the Rhodope Mountains. The first of the two was a 15km
wriggle through a series of spectacular hairpins and
ravines, all the while keeping an eye out for the many wild
tortoise, mobile chicanes, along the way. This was hard
country with rocky outcrops and gravel aplenty.
No sooner had the crews emerged from this airless and
dusty sun trap, they were straight into the last Regularity
from Bosilitsa. This all tarmac section allowed the drivers
in particula, to relax a little, the road was wider and the
views were incredible, a fitting way to celebrate our last
timed section on Bulgarian soil.
The MTC and lunch halt was around 114km away in the
Mosta Restaurant in Svilengrad. Here we formally said
goodbye to Bulgaria, over a very substantial lunch. Damian,
Victor and the army of volunteers have made our time here
very special but, the Ypres to Istanbul Challenge, is a press
on type of event and, this afternoon we had a date with the
eighth and final country of our odyssey, Turkey.
As we pulled into the border area, and began making our
way through formalities, it was great to see Melvyn Palmer’s
crack team of operatives from Cars Europe. Their friendly
assistance meant the rally was soon free to make its way
to the night halt at the Ramada Hotel in Edirne. With the
finishing line in sight the crews were now getting “demob
happy” which was reflected in the excited atmosphere
around the bar area.
www.rallytheglobe.com
Text & photos: gerardbrown.co.uk
Jean Vincent and Marcel Peumans, 1934 Bentley Speed Six
Design: K-Design
Day 18: Plovdiv to Edirne, 1 July 2022