Rally the Globeʼs first event of 2024 was the ambitious Road to Hanoi Marathon, which took 26 crews around 4200 miles from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam to the countryʼs capital, Hanoi, from 27 January-23 February. It was the third attempt at running the rally, after COVID-19 and then unrest in Myanmar thwarted previous efforts. Crews aboard cars built prior to 31 December 1976 were competing for Classic glory, while those in pre-31 December 1945 vehicles vied for Pre-War honours. But it wasnʼt all sightseeing: there were 15 tests and 40 regularities to grapple with along the way.
The Saigon Classic Car Club gathered to flag the teams away and into the first test at a race track. Sadly, it was soon after this that Manuel and Irene Dubs in their 1932 Rockne Six 75 suffered gearbox failure. There were first-day woes, too, for the Bentleys of Richard Everingham and Judy Becker (1953 R-type), whose car became jammed in reverse, and Melvin Andrews and Barry Douglass (1936 Drophead Coupé), as Daniel Sauter and Martin Ruebelʼs 1938 Chevrolet ʻFangio Coupeʼ enjoyed a trouble-free run to top the timesheets. The Dubsʼ Rockne returned on day four, a rest day, but two head-gasket failures for Enrico Paggi and Federica Mascettiʼs 1971 Fiat 124 Spider were less encouraging.
The best-performing crews on day five, from Đà Nẵng to Măng Đen, were Martin and Gary Brauns (1972 Mercedes-Benz 450SLC) and Bob Harrod and Dana Hradecká (1974 Porsche 911), while Paggi/ Mascetti were likely just happy to still be in it. Cambodia beckoned on day six, with the Dubs not only back but in the mix as the legʼs best crew, and, with eight cars sharing that accolade come the close of the following day, the final result was always going to be tight.
Into Thailand on day nine and four teams were tied for top honours. By day 12, another rest period, the Dubs had retired with gearbox problems, then Phillip and Trish Monksʼ ʼ61 Mk2 Jag was out on day 15 as the rally entered Laos. That just these two and Nigel Dowding and Mary Antcliffʼs 1934 Aston Martin MkII failed to finish is impressive, and a testament to the mechanicsʼ tireless work and competitorsʼ resourcefulness.
Driver Daniel Sauter and his two navigators, Severin Senn and Martin Ruebel, who swapped partway through, were Pre-War victors in their ʼ38 Chevrolet, more than 3 mins ahead of Keith and Norah Ashworth (1927 Bentley 4�
