From Peking To Paris
An Epic Challenge
The 5th Peking to Paris Motor Challenge is currently in progress, with 96 vintage vehicles taking part in the race. The month-long expedition kicked-off on 28th May, and will finish in Paris by 29th June.
Peking is the original
name for Beijing, and contestants will travel through China, across the Gobi
Desert in Mongolia, and along Russian back roads. They will also traverse the
Ukraine, Slovakia, Austria and Switzerland, before arriving in Paris. All in all,
they will cover around 15 000 km.
Back in Time
The Peking to Paris Motor Challenge commemorates a car race that took place in 1907, after a French newspaper, Le Matin, wrote on the 31st of January that year: “What needs to be proved today is that as long as a man has a car, he can do anything and go anywhere. Is there anyone who will undertake to travel this summer from Peking to Paris by automobile?”
There were originally 40
entrants, but only five ended up shipping their vehicles to Peking. Prince Scipione
Borghese, an Italian, won the race in his seven litre engine, and received a
magnum of Mumm champagne for his efforts.
The 2013
Edition
Some of the vintage vehicles taking part in this year’s event include
• 1913 Ford Model T
• 1917 La France Tourer
• 1924 Rolls Royce
Silver Ghost
• 1930 Rolls Royce
Phantom II
• 1928 Packard Phaeton
• 1928 Vauxhall 14/40
• 1927 Bentley 3-4 ½
• 1929 Ford Model A
Speedster
• 1929 Chrysler 75
Roadster
• 1934 Dodge DR Special
• 1934 Packard
Convertible
• 1939 Chevrolet Coupe
• 1939 Cadillac La Salle
• 1940 Pontiac Deluxe
• 1955 Citroen 11B
• 1957 Porsche 356 A
• 1969 Volkswagen Beetle
• 1958 Morris Oxford
Teams consist of pairs,
ranging from spouses, to siblings, and parent-child combinations. Entrants come
from 26 different countries. According to the Endurance Rally Association, this race is “The longest and toughest challenge
anyone can drive in a vintage or classic car, an extraordinary adventure
driving through some of the remotest places on earth”. The drivers cover
several hundred kilometres each day. Some are competing simply for the joy of
it, whilst others are driving for charitable causes – among them environmental
conservation and brain research.
The ERA website is
updated daily with competitor rankings and rally reports on the day’s race.
Currently, in the Vintageant category (pre-1941 models), Phil Garrat and Kieron
Brown lead the pack with their Chevrolet Fangio Coupe. In the Classic category,
meanwhile (pre-1975 models), Gerry Crown and Matt Bryson are in first place
driving their Leyland P76.
The Next Event
Planning for the 6th Peking to Paris Motor Challenge is already in the works, and will take place in 2016. This edition of the race will traverse some of the highest mountain roads in the world, and journey across Tibet, the foot of Mount Everest, Nepal, Kathmandu and the foothills of the Himalayas.
It’s certainly great to
see these vintage beauties still getting out onto the open road after all these
years!
Author Bio:
Grace Matthews is a London-based lifestyle blogger who relies on dent repairs on assist 247 when her car is in need of some TLC.
Grace Matthews is a London-based lifestyle blogger who relies on dent repairs on assist 247 when her car is in need of some TLC.