Spanish Rally

[ajackson]

Dear All,

I'd like to say that this is a great idea of Moises and I would personally be keen to join!
Certainly for a shorter 3-4 day trip.

All the best
Andy

[Chris Spencer]

Asturias has a base for a rally would appear to work well - link to a online guide for the area below - you would need to take in to consideration the distances from the ferry terminals and the timing of the ferry arrivals / departures to factor if you could cover the distance to the rally venue within the same day that you arrive / depart - Santander is 120 miles, Bilbao is 175 miles

http://www.asturiasguide.com/

[Forumadmin]

Whilst some might prefer a few days in one place others would like to see more places in the area whilst there. Tours such as the very popular Jupitours and others run by classic car clubs and organisations offer more extended events over longer periods.
This topic is here to see what interest there is in having such in this area. We may well choose to have a 4 day event concentrated in one location but suggest, and perhaps even organise, tours before and after such an event.
Please continue to comment and discuss with others . It may well be that groups will form to plan ways to get to and from this event. It would be good if those groups shared their plans so that others could join in.
My plan is to take the opportunity to explore this area over an extended period and will share those plans with others. I might well go down through France joining those coming from other European countries.
In 1998 Amy and I went from Paris, through the Dordogne , Andorra and down to Algerciras in my Jupiter. Then Jenny and I went up along the Atlantic coast to Lagos. An unfinished journey as I had hoped to go up through the rest of Portugal and Spain but sand ingested in the Sahara destroyed the gearbox. We met Moises and Mele not only on the way down through Spain but also in an oasis in the Sahara and in Portugal.

[Chris Spencer]

So long has you have a rally base duration of 3 to 4 days for the members whom don't wish to partake in an extended tour - anything less than 3 - 4 days makes the effort of getting there & back hardly worthwhile - hotel & location hopping is not best suited to everyone especially having travelled several hundred miles over 3 to 4 days to get to the location in the first place - the Asturias area suggested looks to be ideal in providing suitable locations / scenery & coastline to support a non exhaustive but equally demanding drive & return on a daily basis for the main rally duration. I am aware that several members whom own pre war Jowett's trailer their cars to the south coast of the UK and then leave the tow vehicles & trailers parked in the UK and take the Jowett to the ferry terminal for the crossing - it may be possible that the same arrangement could be made to accommodate this facility - at the very least I can offer secure parking for tow vehicles & trailers at the barn in North Hampshire but I am still 50 miles from the ferry terminal

[Chris Spencer]

Keith - Would your plans work with meeting up with any of the North & East European members (dependant upon their travel plans / time commitments) to make the journey down through France - although would you start your trip from further North / Netherlands ?

[p.p.]

i would drive via: Geneva, Lyon, Bordeaux, Santander..... with a trailer- depending a secure place for it....so will have the holiday with Ruth extendet to drive to Portugal and back.... Port Wine calling me
a 4 day Rally with all the others i find a wonderfull ideea !! so everybody have ther own travel ideea, 4 or more days joweettering in the south

[Keith Clements]

If we assume that the same people who came to Switzerland would come to Spain then one possibility would be for some to join together say in Peer, Belgium (perhaps looking at Spa Classic racing or the Coffee and Classics in Peer itself). Then the few French and Swiss members may join with them in Bordeaux (perhaps stopping by the Angouleme classic racing). The possibilities are many so we will wait and see how things progress. There could well be members who did not go to Switzerland who will go to Spain.
I tried to set out my thought process but there will be many iterations on when, where and how long. The main thing is to gather as soon as possible expressions of interest.

This is almost like organising the Monte Carlo Rally with starts in Edinburg, Oslo and Madrid.

[Dhbangham]

Hi everyone, sounds a great idea, I only wish I could think of committing. At present, I doubt if I will be able to.
Having undertaken a 2000 mile tour in a 1929 7hp I think that 80 miles a day is achievable. The longest run I did in one day was 200 and it was tough. 60 gives you time for stops on the route. Other thoughts is to stop at any one location for at least 2 nights at a time, that way you can unwind a bit, do some local walking and fix car problems without the pressure of time. Near the end of the trip I returned to a couple of the same b&b's I used on the way out, that way I knew what your to expect when I and the car were getting tired. Finding the goo places to eat is always a problem, unless you do a lot of research, I know very little about Spain, when I have been, it is visiting locals and the most rundown backstreet bars had the best fresh food. Researching lodgings (mainly b&b's) that are also classic or vintage car enthusiasts, proved a great success on my French trip. I wonder if there is the same network in Spain. My way of gauging the place was to email them asking if they had secure or garage parking or a vintage car, often they would respond enthusiastically, with an anecdote and you were onto a winner. One guy when asked if he had an extra bed for a friend who was joining me with an Aston Martin replied: Of course there is a bed, he can use mine, I will sleep in the Aston and keep it safe. I will keep looking at the forum to see how things shape up. Have fun planning it. Daniel

[Forumadmin]

Thanks Daniel
Scott and I employ the same strategy in 'planning' our long trips. ... time for servicing, time to enjoy the places we visit and use of airbnb or internet for accommodation.
Whilst some may not want to tour in this way...i would like to get together those who would with the added benefit of doing it together.
Five or six cars might be the limit for a successful venture as more needs a lot more organisation.
Jowett Bradfords have already done a similar route from Santander to Porto a few years ago and your adventures show that there is no impediment for prewars to take part.
It is the owners looking for such an adventure that need to say what they think they can or would like to do. Moises Senior and Moises Junior are working on our suggestions but we can all assist by doing some research and making more suggestions.