HI John
Thanks for the update, let us know more please, I for one would like to hear
about your experiences when they reach you, (you did say you were a service
team didn't you).
Graham.
2500PI MKII
Sprinted Dolomite
2000 MKI
Toledo
1300 Front Wheel Drive
http://members.tripod.co.uk/TriumphIW/index.html
----- Original Message -----
From: John J. Black <transmancat@bbnow.net>
To: Aston List <aml-lovers@egroups.com>
Cc: Rolls list <owner-rolls-bentley@autox.team.net>; morgan list
<morgans@autox.team.net>; mg list <mgs@autox.team.net>; healey list
<healeys@autox.team.net>; Carl Musson <musson@chekhov.arts.usf.edu>; british
car list <owner-british-cars@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2000 9:08 PM
Subject: Around the world, where are they now.
>
> Hi Guys
> Sorry for the delays but pressure of work etc has led me to drop the rally
> reports for a few days.
>
> In the meantime the rally is now within the USA. In Alaska to be precise.
> The London to Peking event is over and so some more competitors have left
> the event, only the diehards stay with the rally back to London.
> So what has been going on? Well if you think that finding parts is hard
work
> in the USA try finding a stub axle for a Aston DB2/4 in China!!!
> No problem, a man who knows a man will make you one for the price of a
meal
> and letting him put a copy of the Aston logo outside his shop (just in
case
> another few Astons go by looking for stub axles!)
> The Astons are generally having a hard time with suspension breakages, so
> much so that if the event has an Aston in it they would do well to look at
> this area of the car.
> Fuel quality, or the lack of quality is giving most of the engines a rough
> time of it. Even the speed six Bentley with a 5.1 compression ratio! The
V12
> Phantom Rolls had to dump a tank full it was so bad.
>
> Tire and rubber mount problems has plagued everyone with stories of
broken
> mounts and shredded tires over the rough terrain. The MGB is not having
any
> problems at all it would seem. The tire it is using are 14" 8 plies (seems
> like a good idea that has paid off!) The Rolls has 21" tire and needed
them
> badly but the hotel manager sent them away by mistake, it took the
> intervention of the British Embassy to get them back and delivered to the
> hotel in time for the car to continue, without those tires the car was out
> of the event!!!
>
> The Porsche 356 got a tow to a checkpoint after a breakdown (against all
the
> rules) but was let off with a warning. The Facel (Team Healey car) has
> trashed the front shocks and bashed the sump up into the crank so that the
> crank hits the sump all the time, repairs were made locally in Baotou.
>
> In Zhangjiakou it would appear that a great party developed and ended with
> the Dutch Bentley crew dancing on the tables after a Melon fight, this
> amused the Chinese so much that they joined in. It is rumored that a film
> crew is offering a cash reward to anyone that will talk to them about the
> incident, nobody is saying anything but they get lots of smiles when they
> ask questions!
>
> The very same Dutch dancer also had a very verbal argument with the
> officials after his Bentley was stolen whilst he was taking a pee behind a
> tree. Now for those of you that don't know a Speed Six Bentley is not a
car
> that just anyone can get into and drive away (If you ever get the chance
ask
> Gerhard Berger of F1 fame, he had the same problem on in Monaco once!
> Another story for another time!) So another Bentley driver was the chief
> suspect. Just the Bentley boys at play.
>
> Some results for you.
> London Peking
> The 1914 Rolls Ghost won the Against all odds trophy, a well deserved win
> fort such an old lady. The Spirit of the rally award went to the table
> dancing Dutch crew of WallenKamp and my old friend Foppe D'Hanne.
> The event winner was the Browns Bentley MX with the Roll Phantom in 2nd
> place.
> The classics were led by yes you guessed it the Japanese crewed Datsun 410
> !!!!!!!! with the Peugeot taking second place and the Jones Jaguar XK140
> third, the Alvis missed the class win by only 4 seconds. The MGB finished
in
> 9th place and the Morgan 21st.
>
> All the cars and crews are no in Anchorage waiting to start the USA
section.
> I will give you a breakdown on the standings as soon as possible.
>
> Regards
> John J Black
> Waterloo Drivetrain Systems
> http://www.waterloo-dtr.com
>
>
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