11th Classic SLS Rally

[Z-point]

Hi Guys,

The result after a very busy weekend. Last weekend we took part at the 11th Classic Scheveningen-Luxemburg-Scheveningen. A rally, 1350km long driven in three days.

After the start at Friday 12.20 we drove, guided by ‘Bol/Pijl’ map, to the direction of the Haringvliet/Zeeland. It was mainly a quick route to get out of the busy ‘downtown’. There the rally really begun.

I did not know the province Zeeland had so many roads. We stayed on track although we missed some markers. Along the route, the organisation pointed markers, time controls, and ‘self’ stamp markers. If you are good, you have them all, if you are less good……….

As I said, we drove on a time schedule and we managed to stay in time arriving at the overnight stop in Brussels.

The next morning it was an early start. Again we drove, guided by ‘Bol/Pijl’ map, to the ‘inland’ of Belgium. We started with regularity. This means a curtain distance with an average off 48kph and somewhere along the route, you are clocked. That is very precision driving I can tell!

The first we screwed up, the second one, a very spectacular route for the driver, we did great only six seconds late!

You can imagine driving though Belgium and Luxemburg will take some time and kilometres. Therefore, a big step further, we arrived at the Luxembourg. We parked the car at the main square and had for the local ‘china man’. The square stood full with all the 180 competitors, a great side!

Again, on time we started after a break of two hours. Just before the word “Go” there was Japanese family and as we where equipped with our names in Japanese we ask the person to translate. Great was the hilarity when he spoke our names in broken English. He directed his wife and son in front of the car and made pictures!!

We drove into the night. The ‘new’ four Cibie’s did their work good, a hugh pile of light stroke the road. Driving at night is always difficult but spectacular. Of course the organisation likes to confuse you, making tiny ‘de-tours’ in the route. Even the best will miss something, and so we did. Then you feel the pressure of the time schedule on you and under that pressure, you are going to make more mistakes. That is what we did. We missed our TC with at least 30 minutes. The regularity after that was also not one of the best. We agreed to go for the route (“fishbone”) and not for the time and so we did. Surprisingly we managed both until we past a muddy path, then it was over. Lost again! After all, we arrived at our overnight stop. Tired and disappointed we felt a sleep, it was two a clock in the morning.

A new day, new chances. Lost time is lost time. You cannot do anything about it. It‘s one the rules the organisation made to avoid racing at the public road. That morning was not our morning if you know what I mean. The ‘urge to score’ was probably a little bit gone and so the mistakes came. Missing a TC and regularity brought us further down in the ranks. The entrance at Scheveningen made a lot good. The warm welcome was very nice. Our result is 65 of the 86 starters. 75 cars finished.

http://www.historicrally.org/pages/sls/sportklasse-2003.htm

www.z-point.nl/SLS/SLS.htm

The car is save, sound, and ready to go for the new adventure.

[HS30-H]

Hi Guus,

Great to see that you are using your car in this kind of event. Well done!

Thought you might like to see this photo that I received recently. The driver has a funny expression on his face. Apparently he was flat-out in 5th when the picture was taken...........

All the best!

Alan T.

[Z-point]

Alan,

Great picture. It’s if Dominic is preparing for the hit.:nervous:

Can’t recall I flew that high last weekend.:cheeky:

[HS30-H]

Yes - he was certainly looking apprehensive about "touch down"! With his current gearing and tyre size, at peak RPM in 5th gear, he would have been at around 120mph or more when the picture was taken.:cross-eye

Unfortunately, a couple of corners later he went off the road and into a ditch. That's rallying for you. Not much margin for error, and quite serious damage for a slight off..............

I certainly hope you don't take it so seriously in your car. Its too nice to bend!

All the best,

Alan T.