WhereswilkoPekingtoParis

Peking to Paris 2007

whereswilko — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:36:19 +0000

Click here to see the a pdf of the powerpoint (large 15mb).

In May 2007 and Michael & Anne Wilkinson participated in one of the world’s great adventures. They retraced the original 1907 race in a 1951 Riley along with 133 other cars in the 2008 The Peking to Paris Motor Challenge – An Endurance Rally Association.

Anne’s detail journal of this amazing journey.

The entry is divided into three categories of vehicles dependent on the dates of production of the type of vehicle being driven.
The Pioneer Category:
Cars of a model-type in production prior to 1920 with only authentic period modifications permitted.
The Vintageant Category:
Cars of a model-type in production prior to 1940 without disc brakes, regardless of age or supporting manufacturer documentation.
The Classics Category:
Cars of any model-type in production prior to 1960.

For more technical information see the official Peking Paris Motor Challeange website.

I knew I could, I knew I could, I knew I could……

whereswilko — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 12:10:17 +0000

The traffic congestion grew and our pace slowed. The stop-start traffic of a busy city was for once a welcome inconvenience. The welcoming sight of the dome of Notre Dame came into view. We were still too worried about ATA to relax. Crossing to left side of the Seine we promenaded along the quais, Saint Bernard, de la Tournelle, past Place Saint Michel where Bill was waving from above, and along Malaquais and Voltaire to Pont de la Concorde, for our final river crossing. Horns tooting and people waving it is amazing how the familiar sight of the Australian flag catches your eye. There on the Seine we did meet… our dear friends of a lifetime… Bronnie and Andy dancing through the traffic on to Place du Concorde!
Intently we weaved through the mayhem and out onto Rue Royale humbled by the Madelaine and right into Cappucines and thump, one Tom Wilkinson jumped onto the running board of ATA, “I beat you, I beat you!” He won the race to Paris.
It becomes a blur, familiar faces and friendly faces, old friends and new, the Riley Club, the other participants the marshals were all there at the finish line for ATA’s final meters. Presented with Gold medals and sprayed with champagne we rolled to our final car park…Place Vendome.
There was time to party with ATA. Our welcoming party included our children Chris, Ed, Tom and Kate. Peter Brock, Bill’s friend from London, Sonia our exchange daughter and her parents Jaques and Mylene. Bronnie and Andy, Mary and Gary Giles, Richard Wardell and his wife Maria, Joe Cook and Nick Chapman. The Riley register was represented. Damien Breen was late.
We drank a glass with Richard and Judy and Robert Moore and his gang came over to ATA to steal the ashes trophy, but didn’t. We will have to post it. Our good friends and family had organised food and champagne for our picnic in the place. We would have liked to party and relax all afternoon. But best laid plans……. Heathrow had sabotaged our party. Chris and Kate had been delayed in Sydney, missed the connection in Heathrow but eventually arrived at CDG eight hours late, but with out luggage! This included all their belongings plus the driver and navigators clothes for Paris and beyond. We all had a black tie dinner to attend and nothing but burnt out travel clothes to wear. Ed had brought the dinner suits and shirts but the black shoes were missing. Jaques and Nick gave up their shoes. Bronnie, Sonia, Kate and I went shopping. It should be fun to shop in Paris, but with two hours, two dresses and shoes to purchase in the chaos of sale time is more difficult than driving from Beijing to Paris.
Five days later we still do not have the bags! Mike has spent much time and even more money on the phone trying to get our wardrobe. Oh well, it just made it even more interesting.
Kate and I did eventually find outfits and the boys assembled black, brown and even cream shoes to accompany cuff-links made from foil. The dinner was fantastic and a great reward for 35 days of hard work. A video was screened that had been filmed over the course of the rally. It was only then that we actually stopped to realise what we had been through and what we had achieved. Stay tuned for the book, the DVD….OH and by the way, we finished fourth in our category, Classic but first in our class 1940-1955. It’s never over until the fat lady sings! So two large trophy’s are heading down under.
None of this would have been possible if it were not for the tireless efforts of Ras. Months and even years of preparation went into getting this car ready. Ras was even awoken on several occasions late at night to provide advice on many of the car troubles being experienced. Thank you Ras, you got it right!
We would also like to thank all our family and friends at home for looking after our kids, especially Mum and Dad who had them over for dinner each week and helped them with any problems they had.
Thank you to the Riley Club for all the support. We are so proud of ATA.
Also all of those who have been following the blog and adding comments, your support has been fantastic and much appreciated. We really feel we didn’t do this alone.
To Richard, Judy, Simon and Liz in our rally team “Table for Ten” it’s been great fun, thanks for your support and friendship. And to everyone on the rally who helped us through, you made it so enjoyable and an experience we will never forget. There is no doubt that we have made some great friends on this rally that we will continue to catch up with over the years to come. Thanks Paul for our evening liaisons, your care is greatly appreciated, and thanks for not sending me home!
We look back and wonder how we drove over 13,000km, the answer is one day at a time. I anxiously await Michael’s next big plan.

Just one more……..a delayed but very big thanks to Pete Spencer…..our “go to man”. All our messages were first emailed or texted to Pete via Michael’s phone and it was he who blogged our stories. He is Wilkore/Minifabs I.T. guru and nothing is ever too much trouble for him, and no message forever lost. Xiexie, Asante, Spaceebah, Tanan, Aciu, Paldies, Dziekuje, Danke, Merci and much more Pete.

Mike, ATA and I are all grateful for the well wishes and messages of support we received. With all your encouragement we just had to……….get to Paris!

The Trophy

whereswilko — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 21:47:21 +0000

The Trophy

Originally uploaded by Michael Wilkinson.

Paris

whereswilko — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 21:46:38 +0000

P1000365.JPG

Originally uploaded by Michael Wilkinson.

Riley finish

whereswilko — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 21:45:59 +0000

Riley finish

Originally uploaded by Michael Wilkinson.

The Office

whereswilko — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 21:45:20 +0000

P1000345.JPG

Originally uploaded by Michael Wilkinson.

Put the Champagne on ice…cautious optimism.

whereswilko — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 04:50:38 +0000

Photos here

The next time Mike suggests we go for a drive I am going to suggest we go parking instead. Hopefully we will be in a bigger more comfortable car. It’s OK ATA can’t read.
We drove along the Mosel river valley and then the Rhein. The working waterway providing one vista after another.
Our day was controlled so as not to all race to the champagne house Chateau Henriot. We enjoyed a glass or two of bubbles and then headed back into the heavy traffic for the streets of Reims. A drink and a party tonight for one last time as the group was the plan but there was confusion and we all wandered off in small groups. Just as well not to have too late a night, driver has a bad cold and ATA a splutter.
The hot gossip of the day was David Ayres had been put in jail for 24 hours. Traffic, lip ? As driver of car 1 his prompt release was being negotiated.
A date with destiny awaits. One more piercing required and one more bout of anti dog nausea. An 11.00 am start for Paris the finish line in sight. I can smell the Seine, the crepes, the shops. Clean clothes and comforts of home await.
One last day ATA, 180 km and we can all rest.
We want to say, Peking to Paris, been there, done that!

Near yet so far

whereswilko — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 04:47:30 +0000

Photos here

We left Gdansk with only 1000km of this marathon remaining. We drove the secondary roads and lanes of Poland and enjoyed a speedy crossing to Germany. With multiple passage and time controls for the day the pace was relaxed. We found ourselves wedged between the Goodwin brothers. Roger in his Bentley Speed 6 and Jon in his Aston DB6. We had ringside seats when the brothers decided the game was to be chasey, better than tag.
The scenery is lush and trees line the roads, but everyone is done, the only view we are now looking for is the finish line in Paris. We met three young German boys in a petrol station and gave them a small koala each. When we explained we were off to Paris they were unimpressed, it’s just down the road.
We overnighted in Potsdam, only 30km from Berlin. The bravest lads headed to Berlin for apparently a memorable evening. I choose not to understand.
Winding our way on to Koblenz the four hundred killers dragged by. Bits are still falling off the car. We lost a carburetor cap along the way. More gaffer tape required.
The route is still lined with waving locals, they are still enthusiastic. We get lots of thumbs up. I convinced the weary driver to stop. I told him “secret checkpoint” screech of brakes….”where he asks?” Just at the Cherry kiosk, Yum Yum. I offered my Euro but was told no. Good luck a handshake and a photo was the only request.
Igor and his band of singer songwriters have composed the final lines to the rally song. Set to the tune, “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine” please don’t take my suspension away.
Gerry and Matt are struggling without a water pump. They are trying to sell their Buick, the ad reads, recently restored, one careful driver…… Good Luck.
Judith and Richard are enjoying the smooth roads, and our team leader can again overtake us Like the RoadRunner BEEP BEEP.
Liz and Simon had their first puncture….on the motorway.
God and ATA willing, we look forward to ……..champagne in Reims.

Solidarity and Gdansk

whereswilko — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 22:40:10 +0000

We awoke early on our day off in Gdansk to a grey sea and drizzling rain. Disappointed on two counts. One being the plan was to work on the car in the morning before heading off to explore. The second count being it was 6.00 am and we were wide awake when we could be sleeping.
The diligent mechanic had his list of repairs and maintenance, so he donned his overalls and fluoro waterproof and hit the carpark. My morning duties included once again attempting to hand wash mud splattered, oil stained clothing. It is hard to say which of us was sloshing around in deeper water. Eventually a cold wet mechanic gave up on the plan. The depression which had been over England causing flooding, was now hovering over our hotel and we had to get out. So tourist Mike took his wife for a ride on a tram into Gdansk.Gdansk and its port are known as the home of Lech Walenzka and the Solidarity movement. Formerly known as Dansig the historic old town has been totally restored from the rubble of 1945. I guess the tenacity of these people mould individuals such as Walenszka. Having met Digby and Neville on the tram, yes they did eventually rejoin the rally, we toured with them. We visited the church where John Paul II said mass,the old town square with its fascaded buildings, walked across the bridges and viewed the museum. The museum, the old town hall told some of the story of the reconstruction. First we were shown how the British, the Germans, the Russians and also the Americans had bombed and shelled the town and port. One photo showed a tank wedged in a hole in the road with cars behind and around it in various states of repair. It reminded us of our necklace of cars struggling along the potholed roads of Russia.
In the evening the rain eased. As we were situated on the Baltic waterfront we ventured down the boardwalk into the resort town of Sopol for dinner. We walked home along the beach likening it to Sorrento.

As Maxwell Smart would say….missed it by that much

whereswilko — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 04:45:25 +0000

updated photos here
The road from Mikolajki to Gdansk began with three Time Trial sections.
Having found ourselves well placed in the field due to our lack of road
penalties I must say we were just a tad apprehensive. The Riley was
strangely out of place, starting each day fifth on the road behind the
speed of the 61 Jag MKII, the 66 Merc 600, the cool orange Studebaker
with its V8 and with Jon Goodwins super fast Aston always in pursuit. I
would never underestimate my trusty driver but we were certainly the
kids playing on the experts patch.
We watch the faster cars at the start line, engines revving, the grr of
the Aston amazing, the countdown has relevance, 10,9,8 grr grr 5,4
GRR,GRR, 3,2 wheels spinning rear end swaying they’re off stones flying
into the air as the rocket forward. We approach the line, it’s
impossible to look cool, 9, 8 find road book, 7, 6 tighten seat belt,
5,4 please don’t stall, 3,2,1 we draw away. OK I feel better now lets
just get clean around, straight ahead I say, pretty obvious really, Look
tree ahead tree ahead it must be left phew on we speed. It’s a relative
term and I must add here Liz and Simon (2CV) are in agreement 50 to 60
seems much faster in our cars So back to the trial over the rise and
down into the copse of trees, the sunlight dappled across the track. Umm
dark patch across the road, nowhere to go but through Splat cch chh mud
and water was punched up through the floor of the car and over the
bonnet. The windscreen was blacked out with a film of mud, quick the
wipers! Not the fuel pump wipers water water mud sprayed through the
interior Michael enjoying a mud bath an then oh oh chug chug chuug
chuuug the engine failing distributor? Fuel? Pump pump chug chuuug we
slowed. PLEASE ATA I WANT TO GO TO PARIS PLEASE “What do I do, will I
get out Will I push?” is it over? Chuug chug chug ch ch she coughs and
splutters I think I can I think I can and she spluttered to the end of
the road.
OK that’s our place gone we think. Slow time, Nascar driver will easily
make up minutes on this one. WE ponder what to do now we have finished
the first trial with two more tests to qualify for a gold medal Stop or
push on hoping to dry out the engine? A dilemma and only a few
kilometers to think. ATA was sounding better, not missing, we arrive at
the next start. Stop we need to clean the windscreen at least and the
washer bottle has fallen off. I am very pleased we still have toilet
paper, even though most of it has been used stopping up a leaky
windscreen. This time the TP was used to scrub off the mud.
10,9,8 and off again please no mud. Oh OH splat splutter
chug,chuug,chuuug ATA groaned again,” I don’t like mud packs, I can’t
breathe and I won’t get you to Paris.”
OK we get it. The problem with being early on the track early is that we
clear the track for everyone else by scooping up the mud inside ATA and
carrying it away. The last car claims, what mud, what water? It’s all
over my legs, Michael’s lap and ATA’s engine.
One VERY last trial to go. By this stage we have stopped, opened the
hood and hoping to the determine problem by splay patterns discovered
not splays but tidal wave surges. Lets just close her up clean the
window again and crawl around the trial. Gold medal intact. Why couldn’t
we do this one first, open and sandy we zoomed along this is the style
we can do these tracks. The mud blackened faces began to smile we can
enjoy this one….. The navigator blipped excitedly calling the tulips
she jumped one ahead, oh oh back back she called a little off road
detour and on to the track again SORRY SORRY she called ,move on he said
“If the time difference is under 20 seconds it will be all my fault she
moaned.” ” Not to worry, they will make up far more than that on today’s
performance, Paris is the goal.” Hare can beat Turtle.
All over congratulations from marshal’s we moved onto the road travel
part of the day and negotiating our way to Gdansk. We use the smaller
road to avoid the heavy truck traffic where we can which often means
rougher roads. The pretty landscape and villages more than make up for
this inconvenience. We enjoyed a few moments stopped by a lake watching
the fish jump and collecting wildflowers. I enjoyed taking some photos
as the locals pedaled by.
The hotel is situated near Sopot overlooking the Baltic with a promenade
stretching from port to pier. The buzz in the bar lobby was great,
everyone was relived to have finished the tests with the only challenge
remaining …get to Paris.
Having decided to ignore the results board we went in to dinner. While
in the process of reviewing yet another buffet meal, Phillip Hasslam,
our friend and closely ranked competitor greeted me with a hug and
commiseration’s so close he said. What you don’t know? He asked. You
drop a place by ONE SECOND ……..
Of all the losers we now come fourth…… Will any one remember? David
didn’t kill Goliath this time, but ATA will take us to Paris!
I hope!