All ready to go at the sound of the horns at 9am.
Even the paint job on this Saab paled next to the Orange
horror !
Friday 19 September
Calais-Sarnen (CH)
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Well what a day......and we thought the first day was hard work with almost 300 miles done, try almost 600 today ! We set off from the hotel after the blandest, most cardboard like Croissants we have ever tasted in our lives, put it like this, they made 'Tato' ration-pack crisps seem like Duck a L'orange in comparison. Who said the French can cook....amateurs.
The rally started at 9am in a huge car park near the ferry terminal, after about an hour or so of car chat, photos etc. Bit like a 'Max Power' car park burnout gathering but with older, less spotty car geeks and more air horns. The variety of the cars and what some people had created was just incredible, perhaps the best was a huge Bedford van, with red stripe and spoiler AKA The A Team, with a very convincing pair of BA Baracus and Hannibal driving it ! Other highlights and yes we will get more photos, were a convertible Skoda (It definitely didn't start as one!), a pair of immaculate lime green Cop cars and pretty much everything and anything else in between. We're fairly glad we made a big effort with our cars as they both attracted a huge amount of praise and there were plenty of japes ahoy on both sides.
We set off in a massive convoy that drew a huge amount of puzzled looks from the local populace...."ah eet es le crazy rosbifs again in their clapped out bangerz, it must be Staples 2 Naples again, or Run to Prague, or the Gumball etcetcetc"
The first day was rather a slog as one country blended into another France.....Belgium.....France again (oops)....Luxembourg.....Switzerland at last ! We made it to Switzerland around 7pm and amazingly, despite passing through numerous speed traps, Police checkpoints and borders, not once has any team been stopped or harrassed. we had heard vicious rumours about the Swiss and their attitude to Rallies (and particularly to camouflage cars) and sofar all we have seen is an extremely friendly welcome.
Worryingly both cars were largely problem free although Team Orange still had a flashing check engine light and some strange brake-related smells wafting through the cabin. Our troubles were largely insignificant compared to some of the other teams, one of which had been broken into overnight and had made a profit of one hammer for the cost of one dayglo vest....Team Orange have sofar denied all involvement.......
