Rallying to the Cause

Take a very old car and drive it to the ends of the Earth. The increasingly popular phenomenon of classic-car rallies is opening up a whole new world of adventure motoring, as dedicated participant Paddy Walker reveals

- Paddy Walker

A Briefing note to the author from Country Life’s Travel editor ends ‘and is it like The Wacky Races?’. i grew up on a Scottish hillside where grampian  TV’s tea-time staple was endless repeats of the wonderful Hanna-barbera slapstick cartoon. The Wacky Races ran on America’s CbS in the late 1960s. it involved 23 characters (some people, but, i recall, quite a lot of animals) spread among 11 race cars, all whizzing through the badlands of America in search of glory. Is there really any connection between Muttley, the Ant Hill Mob and, of course, Penelope Pitstop with the growing hobby sport that is long-distance adventure driving?

Of course there is. The TV show might have finished in 1969, but, nearly half a century later, any would be Dick Dastardly now has several ways to take part in his or her own endurance rally. Long or short, fearsomely How to blend competitive or simply a leisurely tour, in (at high rallies of all shapes and sizes now speed) in offer classic-car owners ways to use the Gobi their machines all over the globe. Desert

Founded in 1987 to organise the first Pirelli Classic Marathon to Italy and back, the Endurance Rally Association (ERA) (01235 831221; www. endurorally.com) is the daddy of the sport. ERA director Nikki Bannister reckons that she has some 3,000 names from 26 countries on her database and these enthusiasts have multiple vehicles sitting in their garages, so the universe of participating classic cars is considerable.