RTG Southern Cross Daily Dispatch low-res - Flipbook - Page 3
Pre start & scrutineering: Hemingway’s Watamu, 15 February 2020
Photos: gerardbrown.co.uk
times and can boast 10 East African Classic Safari starts
along with three outright wins, sat alongside legends of
the sport such as Juha Kankkunen, and Bjørn Waldegard.
For this trip though Fred has got the pleasure of sitting
beside Loren Price, the events manager and logistics
supremo for RtG who today is celebrating her birthday.
As the day progressed, the sun dipped over the palms and
the mercury dipped a little and Gallagher formally welcomed
everyone at the competitors briefing. Here he explained that
whilst Carrera Iberia had set a very high bar for Rally the
Globe, this event was going to be very different. Not least
because there was going to be a lot less tarmac and, given
the recent rains, there was going to be a lot more mud!
Plenty of rest days, relaxed timing, and scenery second
to none were going to make this unique event one to
remember. With as much luxury as could possibly be
squeezed into three short weeks, special permission had
also been given to the rally to bring their cars right into the
National Parks to give the crews the best seat in the house
for the inevitable wildlife watching.
As well as raiding his atlas and plotting an epic route
however, Fred has also pillaged his contacts book and,
from his dust filled glory days, he has brought in some
extra special local help in the form of veteran Safari Rally
luminaries such as John Lockhart-Mure, Ramesh Bhalla and
Malcom and Lloyd Destro. They’re going to help out with
anything that might crop up along the road and rumour
has it that they know their way round a tool box as well.
Next up at the briefing was Professor Mansoor Khan who
gave a useful medical briefing emphasising the importance
of good hydration, frequent hand washing, the benefits of
long trousers, sleeves and stout footwear.
And, even though we’re on safari he warned everyone
against petting anything strange and furry.
Jamie Turner wrapped up the afternoon’s lecture circuit
and set out the common sense, mechanical service protocol.
Especially if a breakdown was to occur in a game park!
There were a couple of extraordinary announcements also
made this afternoon, one was an apology for absence. Long
distance rally regular, Ian Milne will now be sitting next to
Ricky Proffitt for the duration in an organisation Toyota
lending a hand as a marshal. Sadly, his regular partner in
crime and fellow Datsun 240z enthusiast, Andrew Laing,
finds himself indisposed back at home. Naturally we send
him all the best and look forward to welcoming him again
very soon but we thank Ian for stepping up to lend a hand.
Stephen and Jenny Verrall on the other hand we heard
are on their first ever long distance event and were warmly
welcomed by the grizzled old veterans amongst us. They’re
very much looking forward to getting their immaculate
white 911 covered in some good, honest, African dirt.
An evening BBQ wrapped up a great day with much
excited chatter to be heard over the rush of the incoming
tide and the live band.
Paul Heal and Dick Appleton sadly missed the evening’s
social as they have left us already. They’re once again
manning the 48 hour car sending back useful intelligence.
They’ve made good progress so far but reported that they’d
suffered many hold ups today... because of elephants in
the road.
Tomorrow there’s a civilised start at 10am for day 1
Watamu - Watamu, a straightforward shakedown...
Gerardus Mercator, Dispatch reporter
www.rallytheglobe.com
